Palmex – Revolutionizing Roofing in Panama
When anyone decides to make a career change, it doesn't usually include a move to the tropics to live in the mountains of Altos Del Maria and market and sell alternative thatch covered roofs. Sylvain Duford and his wife Diane were truly thinking out of the box when they made the decision to leave Canada and head up Palmex Panama. Sylvain and Diane former Captains in the Canadian Army established Palmex operations in 2008 with their first project being their guest house in Altos Del Maria. Since then they have completed over 100 roofs in Panama.
Palmex is an alternative roofing material featuring an exceptionally high-quality product: polyethylene palm leaves. It has the same look and comfort as the natural thatch roof but without the inconveniences of dirt, insects, mildew, rot, snakes and leaks. It is a thatched roof for life that will pay for itself in less than 10 years and is guaranteed for 20.
The leaves are made from a combination of recycled plastic and a by-product of crude refining. It is a plastic and a reused by-product of the oil industry, but this pales in comparison to the amount of harvesting of natural palms and subsequent damage to the environment that goes into making a natural palm shelter.
Your natural palm covered medium size bohio/shelter would have to be replaced 10-15 times in a 50 year period. This equates to more than 2000 m2 of palm leaves or several hundred palm trees damaged. This combined with the chemicals and man hours and other materials that go into treating the natural palms for waterproofing, insects and mould does not bode well for the environment.
One of Palmex’s recent successes is the completion of a thatch roof in Bocas Town. This is the first palm covered roof of any fashion that has been built in the town of Bocas for over 100 years. Natural thatch was banned following the historic 1906 fire and metal roofs were the cheap and reliable alternative. Duford feels like he is in the midst of changing the face of Bocas for the better.
The highlight of this year for Palmex Panama and the biggest project to date was the covering of a 2000m2 outdoor restaurant at the Westin Playa Bonita. This is the largest Palmex covered structure in the world. Sylvain estimates that it saved over 3000 palm trees from being destroyed.
As the world is turning GREEN, and tropical countries like Tahiti and Costa Rica are actively establishing concepts to preserve the environment, Panama is not too far behind. There are more eco-resorts emerging in Panama and resorts in general are considering the environment in construction and operations.
What started with a personal career and life change for Sylvain and Diane, has now lead to changing lives and making an instrumental impact on saving the environment. Palmex Panama is definitely making great changes.
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