Each product technology has its own advantages. Here’s how to determine which solution is best suited for your needs.
Tile roofs are a common sight throughout the American Sunbelt, prized for their eye-catching aesthetics and long-term durability.
For professional roofing contractors doing business in these regions, tile roof jobs can be an attractive and high-margin business opportunity—but only with the right solutions for doing the job.
To those ends, roof tile adhesives have proven themselves as one of the most effective methods for installing tile roofs. Compared with mechanical methods like screws, nails, wire ties, or mortar sets, foam adhesive products can be applied more quickly and consistently, helping professional roofers complete jobs more efficiently. What’s more, today’s foam adhesives offer industry-best wind uplift ratings, making them ideal for extreme weather and hurricane-prone environments.
A number of options exist in the marketplace today, and notably, they fall primarily into two categories. One-component adhesives and two-component adhesives. Let’s explore some of the differences:
- In one-component adhesive products, all chemical and raw material components are combined and the adhesive moisture-cures upon dispensation.
- Two-component adhesives’ adhesion chemistry and other materials are kept separate (A-side/B-side); the chemical reaction begins once the two components are mixed together in the application assembly nozzle. These components are fed through hoses and are combined at the point of application.
Both one- and two-component adhesive options will provide high levels of performance, but there are some key differences that may make one more suitable for a given application than the other.
For example: Third-party lab testing protocols and adhesive manufacturers’ code approvals show higher wind uplift performance for two-component systems. Depending on the paddy size, tile profile, paddy placement, and gram weight, properly installed two-component adhesive systems have the ability to withstand a category 5 hurricane.
For these reasons, two-component adhesives have been widely used in locales where hurricane resistance is top of mind with building professionals. Two-component options can also deliver additional tile support, contributing to higher break strength and overall long-term durability. Also, two-component products have higher seismic performance compared to wire-tie applications, making them attractive in areas with regular seismic activity like California.
One-component options also maintain high levels of performance but have their own unique advantages. Primarily, they’re easier to use than two component refillable systems, though two component is available in both refillable and disposable—applicators can move around the roof area more freely since one-component adhesives come in handheld, user-friendly cylinders. Additionally, multiple applicators equipped with individual cylinders can help complete a job more quickly. One-component systems’ portability also lends itself to easier application around hips, ridges, cut pieces and trim tiles. Elsewhere, one-component systems can be applied to damp substrates, making it easier to perform work following rain or without waiting for morning dew to evaporate. APOC’s one-component adhesives have higher yields, enabling contractors to maximize the number of tiles that can be secured with a single tank of product.
Both one-component and two-component polyurethane adhesive systems can bring their own unique advantages to a roofing project. And while the selection of one system over another typically comes down to contractor preferences, adhesive professionals who are armed with the right information on the benefits of each can help guide them to the right choice. Products that have been formulated for the highest levels of performance and ease of use can contribute to more reliable and more durable roofs—even in the most extreme weather environments—while enabling professionals to work more efficiently and grow their business.
Want to learn more about roof tile adhesives? Our team is ready to help. APOC offers both one-component and two-component roof tile adhesives to suit the needs of roofing professionals everywhere, all backed by our expert service, support, and training programs that can help you get the most from these solutions.