Meet Acrylabs

We spoke with Barry Lucas, President and Contractor Support Services Representative, about how Acrylabs’ commitment to quality, education, and long-term partnerships has shaped the company’s steady growth.

What role does Acrylabs play in the roofing industry?

At Acrylabs, we focus on doing one thing really well: manufacturing high-performing liquid roofing systems. Our product is specifically designed for roofs and walls, and that focus has allowed us to serve contractors and customers with consistency and quality for nearly 30 years.

One of the biggest advantages of our system is its seamless application. Traditional roofs rely on seams, where materials overlap and are glued together, and those are often the first points to fail. Our product is applied as a liquid, creating a reinforced, seamless membrane that eliminates common leak points. Because it adheres to almost any surface, there’s no need to tear off the existing roof, which reduces waste and landfill impact. It’s also water-based and solvent-free, making it safer for contractors and more environmentally friendly. As it wears over time, it can simply be refreshed with a single maintenance coat, extending the roof’s life for another decade and, if repeated, as many decades as serviced.

We’ve built our success on three pillars: the product, the distributor, and the contractor. Everything revolves around that core liquid roofing solution, and we spend a lot of time educating contractors and distributors, so they understand not just how to use the product, but why it performs the way it does.

What sets Acrylabs apart?

Quality and service.

Our product works, and we stand behind it. It’s water-based, renewable, sustainable, and far less hazardous than traditional solvent-based systems. Contractors come back because they know they’re using something dependable and safe.

What’s more—our sales team understands roofing. Many are former contractors themselves. We don’t just train them to sell; we train them to think like contractors. As part of their training, all our salespeople work on a roof and learn to act like roofers. They need to know what they’re selling and be able to explain it technically. That hands-on knowledge makes all the difference when educating customers and building trust.

How has Acrylabs evolved since its inception?

Founded in 1998 by a contractor and builder, Acrylabs was created to address a gap in the roofing market. Barry joined in 2006 to educate and train contractors on how to apply liquid roofing with simple tools and commercial painting equipment, something Barry was familiar with from the commercial painting industry.

At the time, most contractors were still using traditional systems like B.U.R. hot mop or rubber EPDM. Liquid roofing was new and not widely trusted. Our role was to bridge that gap by educating them, showing them how to apply our product and why it works.

As the company grew, we moved from selling directly to contractors to building out distribution partnerships. Patience and consistency have been essential. Roofing is not a fast-moving industry, and growth comes from doing right by your customers and earning their trust. Today, thanks to our partnerships with the largest roofing supplies distribution companies, our product is available at thousands of locations across North America and the Caribbean.

How does Acrylabs play a part in the broader community?

We actively support our local community, especially when municipalities need roofing work. We offer steep discounts and hands-on guidance to help them get quality results within budget. With friends and family pricing, we take pride in looking out for our neighbors, from local residents to township partners across the region.

What impact has having the right banking partner had on your business?

Having the right banking partner turned our dreams into reality. When we faced some significant transitions in our company, our banker stepped in and provided the steady support we needed to move forward with confidence. Their responsiveness and commitment helped us clear a major hurdle and focus fully on growing the business. Even during challenging times, we never had to worry about our financial partner. That kind of trust and reliability is invaluable for any business owner.

What piece of advice would you give to other entrepreneurs in order for them to be successful?

Know your industry, know your product, and most importantly, be patient. Every business faces ups and downs, but consistency, continuous learning, and persistence always lead to progress. 
If some years don’t go as planned, use it as momentum—next year could be your best yet. Keep learning, keep connecting, and never stop moving forward.