PABCO Roofing: EPDs and the spec opportunity
PABCO Roofing Products focuses on asphalt shingles for steep‑slope roofs, primarily across the Western U.S. That tight focus keeps the lineup clear for buyers, yet it also raises a simple question for specifiers chasing LEED points and corporate policies that prefer product‑specific EPDs. How well is PABCO’s portfolio covered today, and where are the quick wins to boost specability without derailing the team’s day job?
PABCO Roofing in brief
PABCO Roofing Products manufactures asphalt shingles and matching accessories out of Tacoma, Washington, distributing mainly across the Northwest, Mountain West, and Western Canada. The brand sits within Pacific Coast Building Products and is known for architectural looks, a patented diamond‑cut Cascade shingle, and regionally attentive service.
What they sell, at a glance
PABCO is a pure play in steep‑slope asphalt shingles with coordinated accessories. Core lines include PABCO Premier and PABCO Prestige in the architectural category, the Signature Cut family with Paramount, Paramount Advantage, and Cascade, plus the solar‑reflective Premier Radiance. Add starters, ridge and hip components, and algae‑resistant options, and the SKU count lands in the dozens, easily stretching into the low hundreds when colors and regionals are included.
EPD coverage today
On its site, PABCO points readers to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association’s industry‑wide EPDs for asphalt roofing systems, validated by UL. That helps with transparency conversations and can contribute to disclosure credit, but it is not the same as a product‑specific EPD for PABCO Premier, Prestige, Paramount, or Cascade. We did not find product‑specific EPDs listed for these shingle lines as of December 2025. If those exist elsewhere, they are hard for specifiers to locate, which amounts to the same problem on bid day.
Why that matters in specs
Architects working toward LEED v5 and owners with procurement screens tend to prefer manufacturer and product‑specific EPDs because they reduce modeling penalties and make comparisons cleaner. With only an industry‑wide EPD in hand, a good shingle can still be sidelined when a competitor shows up with a line‑item, third‑party verified declaration.
A likely best‑seller without a product‑specific EPD
PABCO Premier is often positioned as the value workhorse in the lineup, the go‑to architectural shingle for broad residential use. Without a product‑specific EPD, Premier risks getting swapped for a like‑kind architectural shingle that does have one when projects emphasize disclosure. Malarkey, for example, publishes EPDs for several steep‑slope lines like Highlander, Vista, Legacy, and Windsor, which gives their reps a neat spec lever in those matchups. See Malarkey’s EPD page for details.
Competitors PABCO meets most often
Expect to see Malarkey, GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, IKO, and TAMKO in the same bid rooms. Several of these brands actively publish product‑specific EPDs in steep‑slope or adjacent roof categories, and all can reference ARMA’s industry‑wide documents. In practical terms, that means an otherwise even contest can tilt fast toward the product with the clearer disclosure trail.
Where PABCO already has a sustainability story
PABCO reports diverting over 30,000 tons of waste from landfills each year, backed by on‑site recycling and alternative raw materials use, which is strong narrative fuel for an EPD data package (PABCO Roofing Sustainability, 2023). That page also highlights cool‑roof color options in Premier Radiance and links to the Cool Roof Rating Council. Read their sustainability notes here.
Quickest route to credible coverage
Start with a product‑specific EPD for PABCO Premier, then follow with Premier Radiance to cover energy‑reflective SKUs that specifiers ask about. Round out with Paramount, Paramount Advantage, and Cascade to defend the premium tier. The common PCR families used across asphalt shingles and modified bitumen make this sequence straightforward, and the data footprint is concentrated in one facility, which shortens the run‑up. A white‑glove LCA partner that handles cross‑functional data wrangling keeps engineering and plant teams focused on throughput while the EPD pipeline moves in parallel.
What good looks like on the sales side
With product‑specific EPDs in place for the highest‑velocity SKUs, reps can answer sustainability questionnaires in minutes, not days. Distributors keep stocking guidance simple, architects get firm model inputs, and buyers feel less risk. The upshot, more shortlists and fewer late‑stage substitutions. That is how a disclosure credential quietly becomes a revenue credential.
Final take
PABCO’s portfolio is tight, distinctive, and tuned to its core markets. The opening is not product engineering, it is documentation. Nail a product‑specific EPD for Premier, then Radiance, then the Signature Cut lines, and the brand turns transparency from a hurdle into a highlight. Do that, and they wont just meet spec, they will set it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PABCO already publish product-specific EPDs for its asphalt shingles and accessories?
We did not find product‑specific EPDs for PABCO Premier, Prestige, Paramount, Cascade, or Premier Radiance on their site as of December 2025. The site references ARMA industry‑wide EPDs, which help transparency but are not product‑specific declarations.
Which PABCO products should receive EPDs first to maximize commercial impact?
Prioritize PABCO Premier for volume coverage, then Premier Radiance for cool‑roof demand, followed by Paramount, Paramount Advantage, and Cascade to protect the premium tier.
Who are PABCO’s most common competitors in steep-slope asphalt shingles?
Malarkey, GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, IKO, and TAMKO commonly compete in the same residential and light‑commercial steep‑slope segments.
Do industry-wide EPDs count for LEED and owner policies?
Industry‑wide EPDs can support disclosure credit, but many teams prefer manufacturer and product‑specific EPDs because they enable cleaner comparisons and can avoid modeling penalties in practice.
What sustainability claims from PABCO could strengthen an EPD narrative?
Their reported diversion of over 30,000 tons annually and cool‑roof offerings provide credible anchors for life‑cycle data and spec notes (PABCO Roofing Sustainability, 2023).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
