Washington Patent of the Month – January 2023
VaproShield LLC, a company focused on revolutionizing the roofing industry with their high performance vapor permeable water-resistive barriers (WRB), has recently been granted a patent for their technology.
The newly patented non-asphaltic permeable water resistive roof underlayment is designed to resist water, UV, air, and be permeable to vapors. This means that it is designed to allow moisture in the form of water vapor to escape from inside the roof assembly, while preventing water vapor moisture from destroying the roofing composite of insulation and roofing membrane.
The roofing industry has traditionally used asphaltic underlayments that are hazardous to manufacture, can contribute to fire, and are non-renewable. Non-asphaltic underlayments have also been developed, but they tend to be water-resistant but substantially non-breathable. This leads to the moisture from the interior of the roofing assembly being trapped in the roof composite of insulation and top roofing membranes, causing damage over time.
VaproShield’s underlayment is a polyester substrate coated with a foamed n-butyl acrylate copolymer containing carbon black and cured to maintain air bubble pores in place. The pressure sensitive copolymer adhesive coating on the back of the underlayment allows for easy installation without the need for additional adhesives or fasteners. The carbon black and UV resistance of the underlayment make it durable and long-lasting, providing protection for the roof for years to come.
For over a decade, VaproShield has designed and manufactured high performance, mechanically attached and self-adhered vapor permeable, WRB and air barrier (AB) systems and accessories, creating a total solution-based approach to protecting the building envelope. Their designs mitigate moisture and control air infiltration, leading to a lifetime of improved air quality and energy savings.
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