When it comes to waterproofing, the conversation often gets technical—fast.
Hot-applied vs. cold-applied systems. Membrane chemistry. Application layers. Cure times.

But on the jobsite, the decision usually comes down to something much simpler:

What works best for your conditions, your crew, and your schedule?

Let’s break it down into a straightforward, no-overthinking-required guide.

First, the Basics (Quickly)

At a high level, both systems are designed to do the same thing:

Create a monolithic, fully adhered waterproof barrier that protects the structure from water intrusion.

• Hot-applied systems (like RamTough 250) are heated on-site and applied as a fluid membrane that cools into a seamless layer
• Cold-applied systems (like Black Pearl®) are applied at ambient temperature and cure chemically into a durable, bonded membrane

Both work. Both perform.
The difference is how they get there—and what that means for your project.

Choose HOT-Applied If…

1. You Need Proven, Long-Term Performance in Demanding Conditions

Hot rubberized asphalt systems have decades of real-world performance behind them. They’re engineered for durability, even under ponded water and extreme temperature swings.

Best for:

• Plaza decks
• Green roofs
• High-traffic assemblies
• Projects where long-term reliability is the top priority

2. Your Project Has Complex Geometry or Heavy Detailing

Because hot-applied systems are fluid and seamless, they naturally conform to irregular surfaces, penetrations, and transitions.

Fewer seams mean fewer potential failure points.

3. You Have Time (and Equipment) on Your Side

Hot-applied systems require:

• Kettles or melters
• More installation steps and reinforcement layers
• Longer prep timelines (often requiring fully cured concrete)

Bottom line:
If your schedule allows for it—and your crew is set up for it—you get a robust, time-tested system.

Choose COLD-Applied If…

1. Schedule is Tight (or Phasing Matters)

Cold-applied systems dramatically reduce installation time:

• Faster prep
• No heating required
• Faster return to service

Some systems can even be applied to younger concrete, helping accelerate project timelines.

2. Jobsite Logistics Are Challenging

No kettles. No flames. No hauling hot material to elevated decks.

Cold-applied systems:

• Use smaller, easier-to-handle materials
• Reduce equipment needs
• Minimize safety risks tied to high heat

Best for:

• Tight urban jobsites
• Occupied buildings
• Projects with strict safety or fire restrictions

3. You Need Flexibility and Toughness During Construction

Cold-applied membranes are often highly elastomeric and resistant to jobsite abuse:

• Better resistance to abrasion and impact
• Strong crack-bridging capabilities
• Handles building movement and temperature swings

Ideal when:

• Trades are overlapping
• The membrane may see temporary exposure or traffic

The Reality: It’s Not Either/Or

Both systems create seamless, monolithic waterproofing layers—and both can be the right answer depending on the project.

At Barrett, systems like:

• RamTough 250 → hot-applied, seamless, built for long-term durability
• Black Pearl® → cold-applied, flexible, ideal for faster-moving jobs

…are designed to solve different jobsite challenges—not compete with each other.

The Simplest Way to Decide

If you’re still unsure, use this:

Choose HOT-applied if:

• You want maximum long-term durability
• The project allows for more setup and install time
• You’re working on large, complex, or high-risk assemblies

Choose COLD-applied if:

• You need speed and efficiency
• The jobsite has logistical or safety constraints
• You want flexibility and faster return to service

Final Thought: Don’t Overthink It

Waterproofing failures don’t usually come from choosing hot vs. cold.

They come from:

• Mismatching the system to the jobsite
• Overcomplicating installation
• Ignoring schedule and sequencing realities

The best system is the one that fits how the project will actually be built.

If you’re evaluating a project and want help narrowing it down, The Barrett Company can help guide you to the right system for your application.

For over seven decades, Ferrari has embodied a legacy of excellence, seamlessly blending tradition with cutting-edge innovation to deliver unmatched performance in the automotive world. This enduring commitment to precision and progress set the tone for the construction of its premier dealership in Long Island.

To ensure the structure met the highest standards of durability and design, especially in the critical area of roof waterproofing, developers turned to a company with an even longer history and a shared dedication toward innovation, performance, and enduring quality.

For the utmost performance and protection, Barrett recommended contractors utilize 120 mils of RamProof GC (Green Concrete) single-component, fluid-applied elastomeric rubberized asphalt roofing and waterproofing material for this 15,000 sq/ft application.

Topped with a Ram 306W white granular cap sheet, the resulting asphaltic-rubber membrane provides a fully adhered monolithic waterproofing system that is VOC-free, environmentally friendly, and LEED certified. And like that of a Ferrari, it guarantees performance, speed, and quality.

Parapets were coated with 60 mils of RamProof GC reinforced with PolyFelt 125VP polyester reinforcement fabric, followed by a second 60-mil coat of RamProof GC. Similarly, all drains were coated with 60 mils of RamProof GC reinforced with RamFlash 327 HDR uncured neoprene flashing, followed by a second 60-mil coat of RamProof GC overtop the neoprene.

Once fully adhered, the Ram 306 is covered with RamDrain DD-025 prefabricated dimpled drainage board, followed by a layer of insulation and a concrete slab. This assembly comes with a complete 20-Year Single-Source Warranty.

A national leader in the roofing and waterproofing industry since 1928, The Barrett Company has provided customers with hands-on experience and professionally engineered products. As with many before, Barrett’s advanced roofing and waterproofing systems proved integral to delivering a high-performance solution worthy of the Ferrari name.

NOTES FROM CRAIG:

• Reinforced all transitions 8” inches up the vertical and 8” on the horizontal (minimum reinforcing height is 3” up and 3” out).

• CONCRETE was poured over Ram 306 after application.

• Applicator wanted to bring the material up higher ending just below the final elevation once topping slab was poured (horizontal to vertical up the Parapet walls) 60 mils RPGC then embedded the Polyfelt 125 VP and applied an additional 60 mils of RPGC

• RamProof GC (120 mils)
  • Ram 306 W
  • Ram DD025 Dimpled Drainage Layer
  • Insulation
  • Topping Slab over Insulation

• Drains were reinforced with HDR 327 Uncured neoprene set in 60 mils of Ram Proof and applied another 60 mils on top of the neoprene.
  • 2 ft x 2 ft piece of neoprene tape
  • Set it over the drain
  • Star cut and push

• Field work was 120 mils of Ram Proof GC unreinforced with our 306 White Granulated Cap Sheet.

• 20-year warranty

With Miami-Dade’s approval, RamTough 250 stands out as a proven performer in high-wind and storm-prone environments, ensuring robust protection for critical infrastructure and commercial buildings.

Looking for a waterproofing solution you can trust? Choose RamTough 250 for uncompromising performance and peace of mind.

To our valued customers,

With the continued pressure of supply chain issues and price volatility in our industry, Barrett is working hard to protect our applicators and distributors.

Fortunately, over the past 8 months we have been able to stay ahead of the curve in terms of maintaining sufficient supply & stock of all products. In order to meet the product supply & schedule demands of all upcoming projects, we have been able to offer our customers…

At Barrett, we pride ourselves on the ability to make sure our customers always come first and will do whatever it takes to provide their projects with the best quality and service possible. As always, we will do our very best to ensure you have price protection and no supply issues.

In our efforts to continue this service through the remainder of the year, I ask all of you to please contact your local sales representative or reach out to our office directly to discuss all awarded projects or any upcoming jobs you may have in the pipeline.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to servicing you with the highest quality materials for roofing and waterproofing to fit your project needs.

Sincerely,

Saverio Minucci

President, Owner

The Barrett Company

Unlike “weatherproofing”, a true waterproofing membrane will maintain its watertight integrity and prevent the passage of liquid under dynamic, static, continuous, or intermittent hydrostatic pressure.

Black Pearl® is a true waterproofing membrane.

Tenaciously adhered Black Pearl waterproofing also prevents the passage of liquid water between the membrane and concrete substrates, even under 250 pounds per square inch of hydrostatic pressure. Black Pearl also resists deterioration from common identified chemical exposure and resists root penetration.

Offered with long term warranties assuring it will perform its waterproofing function, Black Pearl is backed by the first name in American commercial moisture protection, The Barrett Company.

What sets Black Pearl® apart?

Unlike similar waterproofing membranes reinforced with glass fabric, Black Pearl® Membranes are made with FSC Textbond® spunbond polyester that is reinforced with integral longitudinal fiberglass strands set 3/8” apart in the machine direction. This synergistic combination provides polyester’s well-known elastic elongation, puncture and tear resistance with the tensile strength and stability of fiberglass. The rubberized asphaltic matrix is the same unique waterproofing material as Black Pearl® Primer + Adhesive for 100% compatibility and high performance.

Superior Performance, Longevity and Durability

Unlike similar waterproofing adhesives that only use one or two rubber polymer modifiers with oxidized asphalt, Black Pearl® Primer + Adhesive uses three rubber modifiers; butyl, neoprene, and SBS with unoxidized asphalt. Each component imparts a desirable property. This unique and superior combination provides aggressive full adhesion to the substrate and chemically fuses with Black Pearl® Membranes to form a thick, semi-monolithic waterproof membrane delivering superior performance and durability. The extra mass also provides improved damage resistance during construction, an environment well known for abusive exposure.

Security through Superior Engineering and Redundancy

Unlike similar waterproofing assemblies, Black Pearl® was not “value-engineered” to provide the least expensive “adequate waterproofing”; it was engineered to provide a qualified substitute for hot-melt rubberized asphalt and to be the best it could be. The multiple layers of Black Pearl® waterproofing provide the back-up redundancy not provided by single ply systems while retaining all of the elastomeric benefits offered by single ply systems. Extra thick detailing at all flashings provides extra mass and strength where most problems occur.

Fast, Easy Application with Increased Productivity

The Black Pearl® system has been engineered to provide bona fide elastomeric waterproofing that can be installed as low as 0°F as a cold process, unheated application. The waterproofing can be completed quickly, with high quality results, in a wider range of circumstances than other options. Black Pearl® eliminates the need for propane, open flames or heating and allows a building to be closed-in quickly so interior work can proceed.

Eliminates Concrete Curing Delays

Mindful of the inconvenience and cost of weather and curing delays, Black Pearl® Systems have been engineered to be installed on fresh “green” concrete, eliminating typical 28-day curing periods and the expense of curing agents. Black Pearl® Systems do not require cants, swales, or crickets further reducing costs and making application easier.

Versatile

Most Black Pearl® applications are over concrete substrates, however, exterior grade plywood, blindside lagging, sheet piling, cement board and even asphalt protection boards are also acceptable substrates with some waterproofing designs. Consultation and peer reviews are encouraged and welcomed.

Black Pearl® systems are compatible with extruded and expanded foam boards, PVC, EPDM, drain mats, asphaltic materials and coal tar pitch. Unlike similar systems that require winter grade, summer grade and spring/fall grade, Black Pearl® is an all-season material that can be installed anytime between 0°F and 100°F, eliminating stocking and out-of-date problems.

Black Pearl® System Warranties

Bituminous roofs and flashings oxidize and dry out as they age, becoming increasingly brittle until they inevitably split open from natural contraction and expansion cycles. These and other forces cause roofs to become increasingly susceptible to moisture entry as they age.

Once moisture enters the system, the roof insulation quickly deteriorates to a point where the roofing and insulation must be completely removed before the roof can be replaced. With timely intervention, it is possible to avoid the necessity of costly and disruptive roof removal. 

THE SOLUTION

Ram Cold Tar® Plus can extend the service life of an existing roof for many years and reduce the life-cycle cost of the original roof while reducing energy usage. Using the existing bituminous roof as a substrate, Ram Cold Tar^® Plus fuses a new high-strength fluid-applied rubbery membrane to the mass of the old roof mat, creating a new double-thick elastomeric waterproof membrane. 

Current IRS tax regulations require new roofs to be depreciated over a 39-year period. Roof repairs can be written off in the same year the expense is incurred. Ram Cold Tar^® Plus can be a great tax advantage to consider and it may also be eligible for Energy Star^® conservation rebates and incentives. While classified as a “repair,” the end result is a new, fully detailed, watertight roofing system that is guaranteed to perform. 

TOP SURFACE OPTIONS

FAST INSTALLATION

• Roof preparation begins with removal of loose gravel, first, and dust
• All metal edges and flashings are reinforced or, if necessary, replaced.
• Blisters, ridges, open laps, and similar defects are repaired.
• Spot removal and replacement of wet insulation is covered with replacement plies.
• Ram ColdTar® Plus is squeegee-applied over roof surface and cures to a mass of highly elastomeric rubber, tenaciously fused to the old roof membrane.
• After the Ram Cold Tar® Plus cures for 90 days, an Energy Star® reflective coating can be applied. Additionally, the old gravel can be recycled and/or new shingles can be set into the fresh, uncured Ram Cold Tar® Plus.

Want to learn more about our Ram Cold Tar® Plus? CLICK HERE