By The Roofing Brief Team · Last reviewed: October 2026
Kemper roofing is a cold liquid-applied, polyester-fleece-reinforced membrane system sold in North America by Kemper System America, Inc. of West Seneca, New York, under the KEMPEROL brand. Its 2025 and 2026 technical data sheets put every reinforced roofing resin at 90 mils finished thickness, and its warranty page offers No Dollar Limit coverage of 10 to 20 years on edge-to-edge jobs of at least 1,000 sq ft.
Kemper System America is the manufacturer. It is not related to Kemper Corporation (the insurer), and local roofing contractors that use “Kemper” in their business name are separate companies; a warranted Kemper roof is installed only by applicator firms that Kemper trains and approves, according to the warranty terms on kemper-system.com.
Kemper roofing key numbers at a glance
Six figures settle most Kemper roofing questions: 90 mils of reinforced membrane, a 2 hour rainproof time for the polyurethane resins against 35 minutes for the PMMA resin, an initial SRI of 110 on the white roof resin, a 1,000 sq ft minimum for the NDL warranty, and roughly $13 per sq ft in retail resin and fleece before primer and labor.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Finished membrane thickness | 90 mils (2K-PUR, 2K FR and 1K-LF with 165 fleece; AC Speed FR with 120 fleece), tested to ASTM D5147 | KEMPEROL technical data sheets KEM-4-0201, 0202, 0203, 0207 (Oct 2025 to Jun 2026) |
| Rainproof time at 73°F | 2 hours (2K-PUR, 2K FR, 1K-LF); 35 minutes (AC Speed FR PMMA) | Same data sheets |
| Coldest application temperature | 41°F for the polyurethane resins; 23°F for AC Speed FR | Same data sheets |
| White roof reflectance | Reflect 2K FR: SRI 110 initial, 98 after 3 years; CRRC product 0950-0010 | 2K FR-Color Series data sheet, Oct 2025 |
| Longest standard warranty | Premier NDL, 10 to 20 years, labor and materials, minimum 1,000 sq ft | Kemper warranty page and QSF473 specimen (07/07/2026) |
| Retail material cost, 2K-PUR system | About $13.31 per sq ft for resin plus 165 fleece (Roofing Brief arithmetic below) | Metro Sealant listings, October 2026; Kemper yields |
What is a Kemper roof?
A Kemper roof is a monolithic membrane built on site: a crew rolls about two thirds of a KEMPEROL resin onto a primed deck, embeds a non-woven polyester fleece, then rolls the last third over the fleece, per the 2K-PUR data sheet. The cured layer has no seams, termination bars or lap welds.
The fleece is what makes it a membrane rather than a coating. Kemper’s Premium 165/120 fleece sheet lists a 165 g/m2 fabric at 44 mils and a 120 g/m2 fabric at 34 mils, sold in 164 ft rolls from 4.1 in to 41.3 in wide. Kemper’s own unreinforced coating, KEMPEROL 1K AQUA, is rated at just 20 mils dry by comparison.
Kemper’s US site groups the uses into roofing (new assemblies, recovers, green and blue roofs), waterproofing (plazas, balconies, planters, fountains) and surfacing (traffic decks). Kemper says its membranes cover more than 2 billion sq ft worldwide, including the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden; those are the company’s own claims on its history page.
Who owns Kemper System?
Kemper System is owned by IBG Industrie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft, an industrial holding company based in Cologne, Germany. Kemper’s group company page says IBG has owned it since 1986, and the US timeline says the family-run firm was sold to IBG that year. Kemper System America, Inc. is the North American subsidiary.
| Year | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Dr. Kemper founds “Kemper Kunststoff & Lackfabrik” in Vellmar, Germany | Kemper US history page |
| 1969 | Patent filed for KEMPEROL V 210; first major job is a Volkswagen AG industrial roof | Kemper US history page; group company page |
| 1986 | Family sells the company to IBG, Cologne | Kemper US history page |
| 1990 | Renamed Kemper System GmbH & Co. KG; first US subsidiary formed | Kemper US history page |
| 2009 | Buys a 45,000 sq ft plant at 1200 North America Drive, West Seneca, NY | Kemper North America history |
| 2010 | US production starts in West Seneca; Canadian subsidiary formed | Kemper US history page |
| 2017 | Kemper System America acquires STS Coatings, Inc. | Kemper US history page |
| 2025 | Brett Steinberg named President of North American operations; Christian Schaefer becomes head of the Kemper System Group | Kemper US history page |
One discrepancy is worth knowing before you repeat it. The company’s LinkedIn profile dates the IBG acquisition to 1990, while Kemper’s own timeline and group page both say 1986; 1990 is the year of the rename and the first US subsidiary. The group also owns the COELAN coatings brand and CANTESCO welding chemicals, per the group site.
KEMPEROL product lines and data sheet specs
The US product menu on Kemper’s products page (checked October 28, 2026) lists KEMPEROL 2K-PUR, 2K FR Color Series, AC Speed FR, 1K AQUA, 1K-LF, KEMPEROL 022 (interior wet rooms), KEMPERDUR TC (traffic coating) and a KEMPEROL SBS modified bitumen line. The five roof resins compare as follows.
| Product | Chemistry | Thickness and fleece | Peak load / elongation | Made in | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEMPEROL 2K-PUR | 2-part polyurethane, solvent-free, VOC 6 g/L | 90 mils, Premium 165 | >70 lbf/in / min 30% | Buffalo, NY | KEM-4-0202, Oct 2025 |
| KEMPEROL 2K FR Color Series (incl. Reflect 2K FR) | 2-part polyurethane, UV and color stable, VOC 2 g/L | 90 mils, Premium 165 | >90 lbf/in / min 30% | Buffalo, NY | KEM-4-0201, Oct 2025 |
| KEMPEROL AC Speed FR | 2-part PMMA with catalyst powder, VOC 32 g/L | 90 mils, Premium 120 | >70 lbf/in / min 30% | Germany | KEM-4-0203, Jun 2026 |
| KEMPEROL 1K-LF | 1-part silane-terminated (STPE) moisture cure, VOC 3 g/L | 90 mils, Premium 165 | >60 lbf/in / >40% | Germany | KEM-4-0207, Oct 2025 |
| KEMPEROL 1K AQUA | 1-part water-based hybrid elastomeric, ASTM D6083 Type I | 20 mils dry unreinforced; 40 mils with KEMPEROL 90 fleece | 300 psi tensile, 220% initial elongation (unreinforced) | Ohio | KEM-4-0204, Oct 2025 |
2K-PUR is the general-purpose resin. Its data sheet adds a 56 lb puncture resistance (ASTM D5602), 0.08 perms vapor transmission (ASTM E96), a pass at -15°F crack bridging (ASTM C957/C1305) and FLL root resistance for green roofs. It is not colorfast: the sheet warns that UV-exposed 2K-PUR may yellow, so exposed roofs get a KEMPERDUR topcoat or the 2K FR resin instead.
1K AQUA is the one product in the line that is a roof coating rather than a reinforced membrane. Its sheet rates 30 perms, a 50°F to 104°F application window below 75% humidity, and a 5 gal pail or 55 gal drum. The modified bitumen page lists six KEMPEROL SBS rolls (torch, mop, cold adhesive and self-adhered) that pair with liquid flashings.
What are KEMPEROL V210 and KEMPEROL 165?
KEMPEROL V 210 is the polyester-resin product Kemper patented in 1969, and it remains on Kemper’s European sites; it is not on the US product menu as of October 2026. “165” is a fleece weight, 165 grams per square meter, and the US resins 2K-PUR, 2K FR and 1K-LF are all specified with Premium 165 fleece.
Cure times and temperature limits by KEMPEROL resin
Cure time is the biggest practical difference between the resins. The PMMA resin, AC Speed FR, is walkable 35 minutes after application at 73°F and accepts overburden after 60 minutes, while the two-part polyurethanes need 24 hours before foot traffic and 16 hours before pavers or soil, per the 2025 and 2026 data sheets.
| Resin | Air temp range | Pot life | Rainproof | Walkable | Overburden | Full cure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2K-PUR | 41°F to 90°F (accelerator below 50°F) | 30 min | 2 h | 24 h | After 16 h | 3 days |
| 2K FR | 41°F to 90°F (accelerator below 50°F) | 30 min | 2 h | 24 h | After 16 h | 3 days |
| AC Speed FR | 23°F to 95°F (catalyst dosed by temperature) | 20 min | 35 min | 35 min | 60 min | 6 h |
| 1K-LF | 41°F to 104°F | 90 min | 2 h | 48 h | 48 h | 3 days |
| 1K AQUA | 50°F to 104°F, under 75% RH | 30 min | 2 to 4 h | 2 to 4 h | Not rated | 48 h |
All times above are Kemper’s values at 73°F and 50% relative humidity. Two timing rules catch crews out: a 2K-PUR membrane must be surfaced within 16 to 48 hours or it needs abrading first, and Kemper’s 2K-PUR sheet says not to split a work pack, so the full 12.5 kg kit (2.46 gal) is mixed at once.
Kemper 2K FR colors and cool roof ratings
KEMPEROL 2K FR is the exposed, through-colored roof resin, sold in six colors with no topcoat required. Reflect White starts at SRI 110 and measures 98 after three years, and its Cool Roof Rating Council listing (product ID 0950-0010) shows solar reflectance of 0.87 initial and 0.79 weathered.
| Color or product | Initial SRI | 3-year aged SRI | CRRC solar reflectance (initial / weathered) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2K FR Reflect White | 110 | 98 | 0.87 / 0.79 (ID 0950-0010) | 2K FR data sheet, Oct 2025 |
| 2K FR Military Beige | 57 | 63 | Not CRRC listed on sheet | 2K FR data sheet |
| 2K FR Light Gray | 51 | 61 | Not CRRC listed on sheet | 2K FR data sheet |
| 2K FR Patina Green | 48 | 57 | Not CRRC listed on sheet | 2K FR data sheet |
| 2K FR Stone Gray | 25 | 25 | Not CRRC listed on sheet | 2K FR data sheet |
| 2K FR Bronze | 6 | 8 | Not CRRC listed on sheet | 2K FR data sheet |
| AC Speed FR White | 108 | Not stated | 0.86 / 0.71 (ID 0950-0011) | AC Speed FR data sheet, Jun 2026 |
| 1K AQUA (coating) | 110 | To be determined | 0.87 / to be determined (ID 0950-0014) | 1K AQUA data sheet, Oct 2025 |
The aged numbers matter more than the initial ones for energy codes that use 3-year aged values, such as California’s Title 24. Buyers can confirm the three Kemper product IDs in the CRRC Rated Products Directory under licensee 0950. Note that 1K AQUA’s sheet lists 0.84 reflectance in one table and 0.87 in its CRRC block, so the directory is the figure to quote.
FM, UL, Florida and code approvals for Kemper roofs
Kemper’s strongest third-party document is Florida Product Approval FL17442-R12, an evaluation report by CREEK Technical Services issued September 17, 2026 under the Florida Building Code, 9th Edition (2026), including the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. It lists FM Approvals (QUA1860) as the quality assurance entity and cites FM 4470 (2022) and FM 4474 (2020) test reports.
| Approval or rating | What the document says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Product Approval FL17442-R12 | 2K-PUR, Reflect 2K FR and AC Speed FR approved for wind resistance, HVHZ included; minimum slope 1/4:12 for new construction | CREEK evaluation, 09/17/2026 |
| Lowest listed design pressure | -52.5 psf: 2K-PUR over 1.5 in polyiso and 1/8 in cover board fastened 1 per 2 sq ft (assemblies C-1, S-1) | FL17442-R12, Appendix B |
| Highest listed design pressure | -502.5 psf: Reflect 2K FR or AC Speed FR direct to concrete (C-20, C-21) and 2K-PUR over smooth BUR on concrete (R-20) | FL17442-R12, Appendix B |
| Fire classification | Class A as part of an assembly per ASTM E108 / UL 790 (2K FR and AC Speed FR); fire is outside the Florida report’s scope | 2K FR and AC Speed FR data sheets; FL17442-R12 Limitation 1 |
| Root resistance | Meets FLL guidelines (2K-PUR, AC Speed FR, 1K-LF) | Respective data sheets |
| Coating standard | 1K AQUA complies with ASTM D6083 Type I | 1K AQUA data sheet |
The Florida report’s design pressures were calculated with the 2:1 safety margin of FBC Section 1504.9, and they only apply to the exact deck, insulation, fastener and primer combination listed. Outside Florida, the 2018 International Residential Code Section R905.15.1 sets the same 1/4 unit in 12 minimum design slope for liquid-applied roofing.
Kemper warranty: Premier NDL, Select and Material Only
Kemper System America publishes three standard warranties, and only one covers installation mistakes. The Premier NDL warranty (form QSF473) covers labor, materials and the applicator’s workmanship for 10 to 20 years on edge-to-edge jobs of 1,000 sq ft or more; the Select warranty for houses caps Kemper’s liability at the original cost of its material.
| Warranty | Covers | Term | Minimum size | Liability cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier NDL (QSF473) | Material defects and applicator workmanship; labor and materials | 10 to 20 years | 1,000 sq ft, full edge-to-edge encapsulation | No Dollar Limit | QSF473 specimen, 07/07/2026 |
| Select (QSF475) | Material defects only; labor and materials to repair; intended for individual residences | 10 to 20 years | 500 sq ft, full or partial installs | Original cost to owner of Kemper material | Kemper warranty page |
| Limited Material Only (QSF477) | Replacement material only, no labor | 10 years | None stated; keep proof of purchase | Original cost to owner of Kemper material | QSF477, rev. 7/5/2019 |
All three require a Kemper-approved applicator firm trained under Kemper’s “Training and Approval Procedures”. Kemper’s 2K-PUR master guide specification (Rev. 04/2011) also lists a Full Assembly Premier option that pays to remove and reinstall insulation, pavers and vegetated overburden, which the standard Premier form leaves to the owner; ask whether that option is still offered before you specify a green roof.
Kemper warranty fine print to read before signing
- Wind: damage from winds above 72 mph measured at 33 ft is excluded on reinforced systems, and above 54 mph on unreinforced coatings such as 1K AQUA (QSF473; QSF477).
- Hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, foot or vehicle traffic and falling objects are excluded (QSF473).
- Leaks at flashings lower than 6 in, or at tie-ins to other roof systems, are excluded (QSF473).
- The owner must report a leak in writing within 30 days of discovery, and any lawsuit or claim must be filed within 1 year; disputes go to American Arbitration Association arbitration under New York law (QSF473).
- Removing and replacing overburden for inspection is the owner’s cost under the standard Premier form (QSF473).
- The warranty does not transfer unless Kemper agrees in writing and the new owner pays a fee; the form is the QSF419 Kemperol System Warranty Transfer Agreement (QSF473; warranty page).
How much does Kemperol coating cost?
Kemperol 2K-PUR resin listed at $452.37 per 2.46 gal (12.5 kg) work pack at Metro Sealant in October 2026, and that pack covers 38 sq ft with Premium 165 fleece, so resin alone runs about $11.90 per sq ft. Adding fleece brings retail materials to about $13.31 per sq ft before primer, accelerator, flashings and labor.
| Line item (1,000 sq ft field, 2K-PUR + 165 fleece) | Inputs | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resin work packs | 1,000 sq ft / 38 sq ft per pack = 26.3, round up | 27 packs | 2K-PUR data sheet yield |
| Resin cost | 27 x $452.37 | $12,213.99 | Metro Sealant listing, Oct 2026 (shown out of stock) |
| Fleece needed | 1,000 sq ft x 1.10 for 2 in laps and waste | 1,100 sq ft of fleece | Premium 165/120 fleece data sheet |
| Fleece rolls | 41.3 in x 164 ft roll = 564.4 sq ft; 1,100 / 564.4 = 1.95 | 2 rolls | Fleece data sheet roll sizes |
| Fleece cost | 2 x $720.15 (41.3 in roll) | $1,440.30 | Metro Sealant Fleece 165, Oct 2026 |
| Materials before primer and labor | $12,213.99 + $1,440.30 | $13,654.29, about $13.65 per sq ft as purchased | Roofing Brief arithmetic |
The per-sq-ft rate of $13.31 uses exact usage ($11.90 resin plus $1.40 fleece); the $13.65 figure includes rounding up to whole packs and rolls. For comparison, the SOPREMA ALSAN RS 230 FIELD PMMA resin works out to about $11.50 per sq ft in resin alone on our liquid applied roofing cost breakdown, so Kemper’s polyurethane sits in the same band as competing reinforced liquids.
Work packs per 1,000 sq ft by KEMPEROL resin
| Resin and reinforcement | Pack size | Yield per pack | Packs per 1,000 sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2K-PUR + Premium 165 | 12.5 kg (2.46 gal) | 38 sq ft | 27 | KEM-4-0202 |
| 2K-PUR + Premium 120 | 12.5 kg (2.46 gal) | 45 sq ft | 23 | KEM-4-0202 |
| 2K FR + Premium 165 | 12.5 kg (2.41 gal) | 33 sq ft | 31 | KEM-4-0201 |
| AC Speed FR + Premium 120 | 15 kg (3.19 to 3.30 gal) | 60 sq ft | 17 | KEM-4-0203 |
| 1K-LF + 165 fleece | 6.5 kg (1.32 gal) | 25 sq ft | 40 | KEM-4-0207 |
| 1K AQUA + 90 fleece | 5 gal pail | 40 sq ft per gal (2.5 gal per 100 sq ft) | 5 pails (25 gal) | KEM-4-0204 |
Installed Kemper prices are not published by Kemper or by national cost guides. The only public figures found are 2011 posts on a Brownstoner forum thread about New York City townhouse roofs, where posters quoted $16 to $20 per sq ft, “over $25 a sq ft” with materials about $7, and “the $50 per sf range”; treat those as 15-year-old anecdotes, and get two written bids from Kemper-approved applicators.
How a Kemper roof is installed
A KEMPEROL roof goes down in one wet-on-wet pass per area: prime, resin, fleece, resin. The sequence follows the 2K-PUR data sheet (October 2025) and that 2011 master guide specification, with the PMMA differences noted.
- Prepare the substrate per the 2K-PUR data sheet (KEM-4-0202): remove dirt, ice, oil and loose material, and scarify, grind or sandblast where needed; the 1K-LF sheet adds cleaning existing membranes with acetone or MEK and abrading with 60-grit paper.
- Prime with the KEMPERTEC primer the Primer Selection Table assigns to the substrate, such as EP or EP5 epoxy, D polyurethane, or AC PMMA primer, and let it cure fully.
- Acclimate the resin at 65°F to 70°F for 24 hours, then mix Component A with a spiral agitator; below 50°F, mix in 2K-PUR Accelerator for 2 minutes.
- Add Component B and mix for 2 minutes; mix the whole work pack, never part of it. For AC Speed FR, dose the catalyst powder by the temperature table.
- Roll about 2/3 of the resin (roughly 8.3 kg of a 12.5 kg 2K-PUR pack) onto the primed area, then roll the fleece into it with the smooth side up, avoiding folds and fish mouths.
- Roll the remaining 1/3 over the fleece until it is glossy with no white spots; lap fleece 2 in at side joints and 4 in at end joints.
- Detail drains, curbs and penetrations with the same resin and fleece, keeping flashings at least 6 in high so the warranty applies.
- Surface a 2K-PUR membrane within 16 to 48 hours, or abrade it first; AC Speed FR accepts coatings or overburden after 60 minutes.
- Book Kemper’s inspections: the guide specification lists a job-start, in-progress, final punch-list and warranty inspection by a Kemper technical representative.
The 2011 guide specification also has the applicator run adhesion tests with an Elcometer Model 106 or similar device (ASTM D4541 pull-off) and log daily inspection reports. Owners can ask for both in the contract.
Kemper vs SOPREMA, Siplast and Johns Manville PMMA
Kemper competes with three other makers of fleece- or scrim-reinforced liquid roofs. Kemper’s distinguishing point is that it sells polyurethane, PMMA and silane resins under one warranty program, while the 2K-PUR and 2K FR resins are made in Buffalo; its AC Speed FR PMMA is imported from Germany.
| System | Resin type | Rainproof at about 70°F | Cold limit | Reinforcement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kemper KEMPEROL AC Speed FR | PMMA | 35 min | 23°F | Premium 120 polyester fleece | KEM-4-0203, Jun 2026 |
| Kemper KEMPEROL 2K-PUR | Polyurethane, odor-free | 2 h | 41°F | Premium 165 polyester fleece | KEM-4-0202, Oct 2025 |
| SOPREMA ALSAN RS 230 FIELD | PMMA | 30 to 45 min (summer grade), 45 to 60 min (winter grade) | 23°F (winter grade) | ALSAN RS Fleece | ALSAN RS 230 FIELD PDS |
| Siplast Parapro Roof Membrane | PMMA | 30 min (Siplast page, Oct 2026) | Not checked | Not checked | Siplast Parapro page |
| Johns Manville JM PMMA | PMMA | Not checked | Not checked | JM PMMA Scrim | JM liquid-applied systems |
For a full SOPREMA line-up with FM and UL listings, see our SOPREMA roofing review. If the job is a restoration coat over an existing roof rather than a new membrane, compare the unreinforced acrylic and silicone options in our flat roof spray coating guide; they go on at a fraction of the 90 mils a KEMPEROL fleece membrane builds.
Kemper roofing reviews: what the public record shows
There are no verified building-owner review scores for Kemper roofing systems. A search for “Kemper system review” in October 2026 returned employee-review pages on Glassdoor and Indeed, the 2011 Brownstoner thread, a UK MyBuilder question comparing Kemper with Europolymers, and reviews of the unrelated Kemper insurance company.
Posters in the Brownstoner thread described Kemper as expensive and limited to certified installers, and one cited a 25-year warranty, longer than the 10 to 20 year terms on Kemper’s current US warranty page. The Roofing Brief does not assign Kemper a star rating; the scorecard that matters is the data sheet, the FL17442 assembly and the warranty form named in your contract.
Which Kemper system fits your roof?
Match the resin to the schedule, exposure and warranty you need. The thresholds below come from the data sheets, the warranty page and FL17442-R12; a Kemper representative still assigns the final assembly and primer.
| If your project is… | Kemper choice | Why (checkable threshold) |
|---|---|---|
| A plaza, podium or green roof that must take pavers or soil the same day | AC Speed FR | Overburden after 60 min; FLL root resistant |
| Being worked between 23°F and 41°F | AC Speed FR | Only KEMPEROL resin rated below 41°F |
| A hospital, school or occupied building that cannot tolerate odor or solvent | 2K-PUR (topcoated) or 2K FR (exposed) | Solvent-free; VOC 6 g/L and 2 g/L vs 32 g/L for AC Speed FR |
| An exposed roof needing a CRRC-rated white surface | Reflect 2K FR | SRI 110 initial, 98 aged; CRRC 0950-0010 |
| Small details, drains, skylights or a repair patch | 1K-LF | No mixing; 90 min pot life; 6.5 kg can covers 25 sq ft |
| A maintenance coat over sound metal, single-ply or mod-bit | 1K AQUA | ASTM D6083 Type I; 2.5 gal per 100 sq ft with 90 fleece; 54 mph wind exclusion if unreinforced |
| A house roof or balcony under 1,000 sq ft | 2K-PUR or 2K FR with the Select warranty | Select starts at 500 sq ft; liability capped at original material cost |
| A Florida or HVHZ low-slope roof | An assembly listed in FL17442-R12 | Pick one whose design pressure meets or exceeds the Chapter 16 load; -52.5 to -502.5 psf listed |
| A large open field where torches are banned | KEMPEROL SBS cap with cold adhesive or self-adhered, plus liquid flashings | Kemper sells cold-process and SA mod-bit rolls in its hybrid program |
How to vet a Kemper roofing applicator
Kemper sells resin and fleece through distributors, but Kemper’s warranty page says all three warranties, from the 10-year Material Only form to the 20-year Premier NDL, are available only on projects by Kemper-approved applicator firms. Six questions confirm a bid is a real Kemper system and not a look-alike coating job.
- Ask for written proof the firm is a current Kemper System America approved applicator, and confirm it with Kemper at (800) 541-5455.
- Get the warranty form number in the contract: QSF473 Premier NDL, QSF475 Select or QSF477 Material Only, plus the term in years.
- Ask which resin and fleece are specified (for example 2K-PUR with Premium 165) and the target thickness of 90 mils.
- In Florida, ask for the FL17442 assembly number (such as C-3 or S-4) and its design pressure.
- Check that every flashing will be at least 6 in high and that tie-ins to other roofing are addressed, since both are warranty exclusions.
- Ask whether Kemper’s job-start, in-progress, final and warranty inspections and ASTM D4541 adhesion tests are included in the price.
Kemper’s 1K-LF data sheet makes primer optional for patch repairs over existing cold fluid-applied, modified bitumen and PVC membranes, but full recoats need a primer match. Before recoating an older Kemper or other liquid roof, check primer compatibility and recoat windows in our guide to resealing a flat roof, and see our green roof maintenance checklist for vegetated assemblies.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kemper roof?
A Kemper roof is a cold liquid-applied membrane made by embedding a polyester fleece in KEMPEROL resin on site, producing a joint-free layer about 90 mils thick. Kemper System America, Inc. of West Seneca, New York, makes the polyurethane resins and imports the PMMA resin from Germany. It is used on flat roofs, plazas, balconies, green roofs and flashing details.
How much does Kemperol coating cost?
Kemperol 2K-PUR listed at $452.37 per 2.46 gal work pack at Metro Sealant in October 2026, covering 38 sq ft with 165 fleece, or about $11.90 per sq ft in resin. Adding Kemperol Fleece 165 brings materials to about $13.31 per sq ft before primer and labor. Kemper does not publish installed prices, so get bids from approved applicators.
Who owns Kemper Systems?
Kemper System is owned by IBG Industrie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft, an industrial holding company in Cologne, Germany, which bought the family-run firm in 1986, according to Kemper’s own timeline. The parent is Kemper System GmbH & Co. KG of Vellmar, Germany, founded in 1957. Kemper System America, Inc. in West Seneca, New York, is its North American subsidiary.
What is the best waterproof membrane for a green roof?
A green roof membrane should pass FLL root-resistance testing, be fully adhered so a leak cannot travel under it, and carry a warranty that pays for removing overburden. Kemper’s 2K-PUR and AC Speed FR both meet FLL guidelines; AC Speed FR accepts soil after 60 minutes, while 2K-PUR needs 16 hours. Compare those terms against SOPREMA and Siplast assemblies.
Is Kemperol a coating or a membrane?
Most Kemperol products are reinforced membranes: 2K-PUR, 2K FR, AC Speed FR and 1K-LF are embedded with polyester fleece and built to 90 mils, per Kemper’s data sheets. KEMPEROL 1K AQUA is the exception; it is a water-based ASTM D6083 Type I roof coating applied at about 20 mils dry, or 40 mils with KEMPEROL 90 fleece.
Can a homeowner install Kemperol?
Kemperol 2K-PUR and Kemperol fleece are sold online, but Kemper’s warranty page says its Premier, Select and Material Only warranties are available only for projects installed by Kemper-approved applicator firms, so a self-installed roof may carry no Kemper warranty. The 30-minute pot life and the rule to mix a full 12.5 kg pack also make large DIY areas difficult.