As summer winds down, the low‑slope roofing market shows steady activity while a few developments are worth immediate attention: a major M&A close, material pricing moves, municipal cool‑roof policy activity, and faster adoption of permanent roof‑monitoring systems. Below is a short, actionable briefing you can use for bids and owner conversations.
Market & M&A - TopBuild closes Progressive Roofing acquisition
TopBuild completed its acquisition of Progressive Roofing in mid‑July, expanding its commercial roofing services and distribution reach. This deal reinforces continued consolidation in distribution and service platforms; expect suppliers and large contractors to reposition product availability and service territory coverage in the coming quarters.¹
Material pricing signal - polyiso uptick
Major polyiso suppliers implemented price increases effective July 15 (roughly +5%), which will ripple into late‑summer and early‑fall bids if not hedged. If you’re pricing jobs that rely on polyiso or specifying cover boards, consider short‑term price locks or staged purchasing to manage margin risk.²
Policy & codes - local cool‑roof mandates are expanding
Municipal cool‑roof policies continue to spread: Atlanta recently advanced an ordinance requiring higher aged reflectance targets for low‑slope roofs, signaling more local code drivers for reflective membranes and higher CRRC compliance needs. If you work in metro areas, confirm local cool‑roof thresholds when preparing specifications.³
Market health - NRCA indexes show steady demand (but regional variance)
NRCA’s most recent Market Index shows the low‑slope inquiries index remains healthy while project awards are generally neutral; owners are shopping, and contractors are winning work selectively. Use inquiry/contract trends to balance lead times and crew allocation.⁴
Tech & products — smart, monitored roofs are becoming mainstream (practical note)
Permanent roof‑monitoring systems, embedded moisture grids, point sensors at drains/penetrations, and modular monitoring platforms, are now offered by multiple vendors and getting traction for commercial clients who want risk reduction and warranty evidence. Key commercial products to note: Detec Systems’ PermaScan (FM‑approved continuous moisture monitoring), VILPE Sense (leak mapping and humidity control), and Sika’s SikaRoof monitoring modules for leak detection and condition logging. These systems are practical to pilot on high‑value or mission‑critical roofs and have clearer ROI when paired with service contracts.⁵ ⁶ ⁷
Quick install/use tips:
-
Pilot 6–12 sensors at drains and HVAC curbs to prove value.
-
Baseline with an IR survey before install so alerts have context.
-
Require data export (API) in PO language so building owners can aggregate data into their CMMS.
Pro tips
-
Hedge polyiso exposure: Hold pricing or pre‑buy for scheduled re‑roofs where insulation is a major cost driver.² convoy-supply.com
-
Specify CRRC-aged targets where local policy exists: Add 3‑year aged reflectance requirements for Atlanta/like jurisdictions.³ Smart Surfaces Policy Tracker
-
Sell monitoring as a service: Package sensors + annual thermal scans + response SLA to justify a recurring service line (owners pay for risk reduction and documented ROI).⁵ detecsystems.com
Learning Topic - NRCA: PV‑Ready Roofs
NRCA’s recent white paper on PV‑ready roofs emphasizes early coordination and specification so rooftop PV and the roof membrane reach compatible service lives. Key items to include in specs and proposals:
-
Match service lives: Select membranes and cover boards rated for the expected PV system life (typically 25–30 years).
-
Detail racking/attachment approach: Clarify ballasted vs. mechanically attached racking and impacts to warranty/seam details.
-
Coordinate trades & warranties: Document roles (roofer vs. solar contractor) to preserve roofing and PV warranties.
Include the NRCA white paper as an appendix in proposals for any PV‑forward or solar‑ready roof job.
Sources:
-
TopBuild press release — TopBuild Completes Progressive Roofing Acquisition. TopBuild Corp.
-
GAF Commercial / pricing bulletin — Polyiso price increase effective July 15, 2025 (≈+5%). convoy-supply.com
-
Atlanta cool‑roof ordinance / Smart Surfaces policy tracker. Smart Surfaces Policy TrackerColumbia Law Blogs
-
NRCA Market Index — Q2/Q3 2025 findings (low‑slope inquiries & contracts). National Roofing Contractors Association
-
Detec Systems — PermaScan continuous moisture monitoring product pages and FM approvals. detecsystems.comRoofing
-
VILPE — VILPE Sense leak detection and humidity control system product info and case studies. Vilpe+1
-
Sika — SikaRoof Monitoring System product literature (modular leak detection / dashboards). Sika+1