GAF to build $146 million plant for TPO roofing

Parsippany, N.J.-based GAF, a Standard Industries company that manufactures roofing and waterproofing products, will invest $146 million in a new plant that will add 135 jobs in Valdosta, Ga., to expand capacity for commercial products.

GAF officials purchased a 130-acre parcel for the facility, which is expected to start manufacturing the EverGuard line of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) products in the first quarter of 2024.

Earlier this year, at the International Roofing Expo in New Orleans, GAF put a spotlight on its EverGuard SA products, which come with a factory-applied adhesive. The company says EverGuard SA installs up to 60 percent faster than traditional GAF TPO bucket adhesives, according to GAF tests.

The new jobs to produce EverGuard products in Valdosta will be created over the next six years. GAF currently employs 225 people in Georgia at facilities in Savannah, Statesboro and Cumming.

"GAF is committed to ensuring that our commercial roofing customers receive the highest quality service, and adding another manufacturing plant in Georgia will help ensure that our customers get the GAF products they need as quickly and efficiently as possible," GAF CEO Jim Schnepper said in a news release.

TPO products are popular for their performance and price, particularly for low-sloping roofs. The single-ply roofing membranes are strong, flexible and resist heat and UV light.

GAF officials say the EverGuard TPO products are proven to stand the test of time. They point to a study of 20 GAF TPO roofs installed between eight and 16 years ago that found the membranes performed above ASTM standards for newly manufactured TPO in most instances.

The plant in Valdosta will be GAF's fifth TPO processing site along with operations in New Columbia, Pa.; Mount Vernon, Ind.; Gainesville, Texas; and Cedar City, Utah.

"We're excited to take this next step in expanding our manufacturing capacity, which is critical to continue delivering our best-in-class service and becoming a leader in the commercial roofing industry," said John Altmeyer, executive chairman of GAF Commercial Roofing. "Valdosta is a great location for us to continue TPO production and we're looking forward to establishing GAF as a committed member of this community."

In July, GAF announced it would build a fifth polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturing plant on 100 acres of land it bought in Peru, Ill., The 450,000-sq.-ft. plant, which also will make EnergyGuard brand products, is expected to begin operations in 2024 and employ more than 70 people.