This week I met a fellow countryman who builds homes here in the Coronado area and when I told him that I owned Palmex Panama S.A., the synthetic thatch roofing company, the first words out of his mouth were: “How much per square meter?” Oh boy, I thought to myself, here we go again; the same one-way discussion has happened to me at least three or four times over the last two years…
I tell them the range of prices per square meter, which depends on the exact variant of Palmex used and the type of installation, and they immediately launch into a diatribe about how they can install a zinc roof (or Tejalite, etc.) for a fraction of the cost of my product. I tell them that I don’t compete with those products and they usually come right back with: “Right, but I can give my customer a quality roof that will last a long time for a fraction of the cost of Palmex.” At this point I repeat that I don’t compete with those products, I compete only with natural thatch, and they come right back with… Well, you know where this is going.
It is no secret that Palmex is an expensive roofing product and that is not because I’m gouging; believe me I work hard to keep my costs down as much as possible. But the fact remains that if your main concern is cost and you are OK with the look of zinc, or Tejalite or other conventional roofing products, then clearly Palmex is not a valid option for you. Palmex is for those who want the exotic, traditional look of a tropical thatch roof, but without all of the associated drawbacks and problems. I repeat: Palmex is not an alternative to zinc roofs, it is an alternative to natural thatch roofs!
Natural thatch roofs made of palm fronds look great (when new), but they are not a very practical, durable or quality option. Those thatch roofs last between three and ten years (depending on the type of leaves, quality and type of installation, the geographical location, and your tolerance for degradation), they mold and rot (causing health and allergy problems), they attract insects and other pests (including termites), they leak (causing structural damage), they constantly shed bits and pieces that soil the furniture and floors and clog pool filters, they must be replaced every few years (an incredibly messy process) and they kill or damage hundreds of beautiful palm trees.
If you want the look of a thatch roof and you are willing to live with all the issues mentioned above, then perhaps a natural thatch roof is the solution for you. But if you want the look without the problems then Palmex is the only solution. What’s more, while Palmex may cost 3 to 5 times more than natural thatch, it actually is much cheaper to own over the lifetime of the product (35+ years). And if you care about the environment (and you should), then Palmex is a great ecological solution.
Palmex is a premium product, made from high-quality polyethylene with structural colour and UV protection that will last at least 35 years (this is the same sturdy polymer that is used to manufacture kayaks and gasoline containers). Because of the nature of this product (it really is not easy to replicate the look of natural thatch), it is quite complex and costly to manufacture and we must install it with high quality hardware like stainless steel screws and construction staples (no point installing a 35 year roof with 5 year zinc screws!) This all adds up but it does provide a premium customer experience that is economical in the long run. Palmex is actually stronger, lasts longer, rejects more heat and is much more impermeable than classic clay tiles!
Palmex is a permanent solution that will outlast most structures and provide a maintenance-free and trouble-free customer experience. Palmex is the only practical alternative to a messy natural thatch roof without giving up the exotic look.
