Siplast RISE Blog | High-Performance Building Solutions

RISE Blog

Roofing
The Role of Roofing Design in Life Cycle Cost Analysis

In commercial building design, the roof is often considered just another building component. However, roofing systems can have a significant effect on a building, serving as a critical element in its longevity, energy efficiency, and overall operational cost. To make informed, impactful decisions, architects and building consultants must be able to recognize the importance of roof design in life cycle cost analysis (LCCA).

April 02, 2026

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Waterproofing
Waterproofing Membrane Types, Applications, and Best Practices

Waterproofing membranes help protect structures from water damage by creating a barrier against water infiltration. This makes them ideal for applications that involve higher levels of moisture due to environmental conditions or the presence of water, such as foundations, parking garages, and green roofs.

March 19, 2026

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Building Enclosure
An Introduction to Air and Water-Resistive Barriers

An Introduction to Air and Water-Resistive Barriers Moisture management is perhaps the most perpetual damage function of a building enclosure, which is why air and water-resistive barriers are critically important. In moist and dry climate regions alike, if an enclosure fails to prevent bulk water intrusion or does not manage condensation risk, moisture can linger in an assembly, which can lead to failures like:

March 19, 2026

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Building Science
Stormwater Management for Resilient Design

Stormwater Management for Resilient Design Urban flooding has become an increasingly frequent occurrence in recent years, prompting the need for effective stormwater management at commercial properties. In addition to the damage floods can cause, uncontrolled stormwater flow creates potential risks to individuals' health and well-being. If debris, pollutants, and trash are allowed to flow into drainage and sewer systems, this could ultimately end up contaminating local drinking water.

March 19, 2026

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Inside Siplast
Advancing Roofing Technology: The Role of the Siplast RISE Center

Advancing Roofing Technology: The Role of the Siplast RISE Center As commercial roofing systems grow increasingly complex and weather conditions become more extreme, the demand for roofing and waterproofing solutions that provide durability, sustainability, and ease of installation is higher than ever. Siplast is addressing these challenges head-on through its innovative RISE Center, a facility that integrates research and development with education, hands-on training, and rigorous product testing.

March 19, 2026

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Sustainable Roofing Materials and LCCA

Sustainable Roofing Materials and LCCA In commercial building design and maintenance, the choice of roofing materials plays a pivotal role in the financial, functional, and environmental outcomes of a project and its life cycle. Understanding how sustainable roofing materials can lead to significant long-term cost savings while meeting increasingly stringent environmental and performance goals can help commercial building consultants, owners, and architects make informed, strategic decisions.

April 02, 2026
Advantages of a Hybrid Roof System

Advantages of a Hybrid Roof System Durability, protection against chemical exposure, cool roof requirements, and potential savings on cooling costs can make roofing choices feel overwhelming. At Siplast, we face the same conundrums you face when we re-roof one of our own warehouses, plants, and offices. This is a project that shows how roofs can adapt to modern roofing demands.

April 01, 2026
The Benefits of SFT Adhesive and Cement in Commercial Roofing

The Benefits of SFT Adhesive and Cement in Commercial Roofing In commercial roofing design and construction, material selection is not only about performance and durability. Indoor air quality, sustainability, and jobsite safety are of equal importance. Specifying and using solvent-free SFT adhesive and cement products, specially developed for SBS-modified bitumen roof installations, can contribute to all of these goals.

March 31, 2026
Understanding Diagonal Wrinkling in Roof Membrane Base Flashing

We've all seen it: diagonal wrinkling, sometimes called "racking," appearing in membrane base flashings along parapet walls. While seemingly minor, this condition can compromise the long-term performance and watertight integrity of a roof membrane system.

March 19, 2026

Designing for Roof Overburden: Solutions for Effective Waterproofing

Overburden systems, any material or assembly installed above the roofing membrane, have become an integral feature of modern building design. From green roofs and pedestal paver plazas to outdoor amenity decks and solar arrays, overburden assemblies offer aesthetic, environmental, and functional benefits. But while these rooftop enhancements are highly visible and often the focus of the roof, what lies underneath them is more critical to long-term success.

March 19, 2026
Factors to Consider When Choosing Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems

Hidden from view once buried underground, below-grade waterproofing systems are often overlooked in construction. Once it's out of sight, it's out of mind. However, taking the appropriate measures to select the right moisture control system is essential to a building's structural integrity. Getting this detail right the first time around can help minimize the risk of problems and expensive repairs over the long term.

March 19, 2026
Different Types of Below-Grade Waterproofing Solutions

Like many components of a building project, some of the most important are never seen. This is certainly the case with below-grade waterproofing, which can have a lasting impact on a building's lifespan and performance. Let's explore the factors that determine when below-grade waterproofing is needed and how it should be designed.

March 19, 2026
Designing for Roof Overburden: Solutions for Effective Waterproofing

Overburden systems, any material or assembly installed above the roofing membrane, have become an integral feature of modern building design. From green roofs and pedestal paver plazas to outdoor amenity decks and solar arrays, overburden assemblies offer aesthetic, environmental, and functional benefits. But while these rooftop enhancements are highly visible and often the focus of the roof, what lies underneath them is more critical to long-term success.

August 06, 2025

Vapor Barrier Basics for Design Professionals

The ways moisture moves through a building enclosure are complex and collectively comprise a phenomenon that affects the way buildings are designed and constructed. Two major modes of moisture travel—gravity and capillary action—are related to bulk water management, which is essential to the longevity of any assembly consisting of porous materials.

March 19, 2026
Sustainable Roof-to-Wall Transitions: Optimizing Performance and Efficiency

Sustainable Roof-to-Wall Transitions: Optimizing Performance and Efficiency The building enclosure is a crucial set of assemblies and components that separate the interior conditioned space from the elements outside. The building enclosure covers the entire exterior surface area and therefore has a critical role in controlling heat loss and gain, air infiltration, and moisture. Together, these attributes can significantly affect the energy-efficiency of commercial buildings.

March 19, 2026
Future-Proofing Buildings with AWBs

Unpredictable weather signifies the onset of a new era of climate challenges, whether it's with record summer heat or widespread wildfires. With this, resilience—defined by the American Institute of Architects as "mitigating risk for hazards, shock, and stresses and adapting to changing conditions"—has become a crucial principle in the architecture, design, and construction industries.

March 19, 2026
Vapor Barrier Basics for Design Professionals

The ways moisture moves through a building enclosure are complex and collectively comprise a phenomenon that affects the way buildings are designed and constructed. Two major modes of moisture travel—gravity and capillary action—are related to bulk water management, which is essential to the longevity of any assembly consisting of porous materials.

October 21, 2025

The Nuts and Bolts of Resilient and Sustainable Roofs

The Nuts and Bolts of Resilient and Sustainable Roofs Resiliency. Sustainability. These terms get tossed around a lot in the industry, especially when it comes to defining sustainable roofs. These terms, to most of us, are more nebulous than practical when it comes to buildings and roofing. Of course, dictionary definitions trend to the common uses of the words. Simply put, resilience is the ability to bounce back, and sustainability is the ability to continue over time.

March 19, 2026
Energy-Efficient Roofing for Climate-Responsive Designs

As demand for sustainable buildings grows, architects and consultants play a crucial role in ensuring energy efficiency and resilience—especially at key junctions, like roof-to-wall transitions. With this in mind, here are some advanced design strategies to help professionals design energy-efficient roofing for climate-responsive buildings.

March 19, 2026
Wind Tunnel Testing of Low-Slope Edge Metal

Much of the damage that happens to roofs during high-wind events starts at the perimeters and corners. This means that the edge metal system at the roof-to-wall interface is critical to a roof's success during wind events.

March 04, 2026
Roof Insulation: A High-Impact Path to Lower Operational Carbon

As changing climate conditions continue to influence commercial building design, the building envelope is more critical than ever. Among the myriad components of the building enclosure, roof insulation plays an important role.

January 30, 2026

From Puzzles to Products: How Tom Stuewe Is Driving Innovation at Siplast

Tom Stuewe, Senior Product Manager at Siplast, has always had an insatiable drive to solve problems, shaping the course of his career. Tom joined Siplast in 2024 and was drawn to the company's ambitious growth trajectory. "Siplast is under an aggressive growth structure right now," he says. He's excited to help support Siplast's path to growth with his expertise and experience.

March 19, 2026
Meet Ben Meyer: Director of Buildling Enclosure at Siplast

Ben Meyer, Building Enclosures Roofing Director at Siplast, has been building bigger from day one. As a kid playing with LEGO sets, "I would build things, tear them down, build something else—always something new," he says.

September 16, 2025
Meet Jennifer Keegan: Leading Building Science and Roofing

"I love to build things," says Jennifer Keegan, Senior Director, Building & Roofing Science for GAF and Siplast. "I knew really young that I wanted to be an architect." And, despite hearing "women need to be teachers or nurses," as a girl, her vision never wavered.

September 10, 2025
Innovating Green Solutions: Meet Rick Kile

"Design isn't stagnant," says Rick Kile, Director of Green and Amenity Business at Siplast. "Every project is unique, and that problem-solving aspect is exciting—you're constantly evolving." This forward-thinking approach caught Siplast's attention in 2023. Today, Rick leads the company's growth single-source vegetated roof, amenity, and stormwater management solutions which are all designed to integrate seamlessly with Siplast roofing systems and guarantees.

August 20, 2025

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