Westlake Royal Offers Innovative Exterior Solutions
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From roof tile to stone facade, Westlake Royal helped create the sustainable exterior of VISION House Las Vegas. Catch the full story in our exclusive video.
When it comes to all-electric, net-zero, healthy homes, an efficient building envelope is the first line of defense. Without a high-performance roof, exterior walls, windows, doors, insulation, and foundation, all of the smart interior technologies won’t make a difference.
Ron Jones, president of Green Builder Media, caught up with Steve Booz, VP of Marketing at Westlake Royal Building Products, outside the VISION House Las Vegas for a conversation focused on the exterior of the model home, spotlighting how Westlake’s products contribute to its performance, durability, and long-term environmental impact.
Westlake provided its Newpoint Concrete roof tile, elevated battens, and underlayments to create a cool roof system. Jones pointed out that “with the extremely hot climate in Las Vegas, it’s important to get air movement in between some of those layers to reduce cooling loads and improve energy efficiency.”
Booz agreed, explaining that “having an elevated batten system—where the roof tiles sit about an inch off the roof deck, with battens and underlayment in between—creates space for airflow. That air movement helps vent the hot air out from under the tiles and prevents it from transferring directly into the roof deck and attic.”
He emphasized that this design doesn’t just improve energy performance—it also adds a critical layer of fire protection. “We’re all concerned about fire,” he said, “and it just amazes me that people still choose combustible roofing materials when they could have something as beautiful and fire-resistant as this tile. It’s a non-combustible product—and it looks incredible too.”
Westlake’s contributions didn’t end with the roof. They also provided the stone facade, helping to complete the home’s high-performance exterior.
Booz notes that “it’s a man-made product of aggregate and cement but a lot thinner than natural stone, which requires less energy to get it out to the job site and onto the wall.” The stone facade also dresses up the home and adds a touch of curb appeal.
That visual impact is matched by an equally thoughtful approach to sustainability.
As Booz explained, “Reducing our carbon footprint is a big part of what we do as a company. Our roof tile and our stone are made with closed-loop water systems. We consume all our own scrap that we might make within the facility and try to send nothing to landfill.
That kind of circular approach—where waste becomes input rather than output—reflects a broader push across the company to minimize environmental impact at every stage.
That commitment extends not only to materials and processes, but also to logistics.
“We actually have 30 plants across the country,” Booz said. “So depending on the product, it might be made close to where it’s going. For example, we produce roof tile in Nevada, California, and Arizona, and our stone comes from plants in Mexico and Napa, California.” This widespread manufacturing footprint means fewer miles traveled, less fuel burned, and a lighter environmental load. “Having that kind of presence reduces the amount of transport needed in those markets and jurisdictions.”
At the same time, Westlake is focused on shifting the industry conversation—especially when it comes to roofing. Concrete tile may still be a niche player in a market dominated by asphalt shingles, but Booz sees plenty of room for growth.
“Concrete roof tile is a small part of the overall roofing industry,” he noted. “Asphalt shingles have remained the largest part. So for us to be able to penetrate that marketplace and bring a better product to areas like these desert climates is a big part of what we're trying to do.”
By investing in sustainable materials, cutting down on waste, and keeping production close to home, Westlake is helping redefine what high-performance, environmentally conscious building looks like—one tile (and stone) at a time.
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.
Westlake Royal Offers Innovative Exterior Solutions
From roof tile to stone facade, Westlake Royal helped create the sustainable exterior of VISION House Las Vegas. Catch the full story in our exclusive video.
When it comes to all-electric, net-zero, healthy homes, an efficient building envelope is the first line of defense. Without a high-performance roof, exterior walls, windows, doors, insulation, and foundation, all of the smart interior technologies won’t make a difference.
Ron Jones, president of Green Builder Media, caught up with Steve Booz, VP of Marketing at Westlake Royal Building Products, outside the VISION House Las Vegas for a conversation focused on the exterior of the model home, spotlighting how Westlake’s products contribute to its performance, durability, and long-term environmental impact.
Westlake provided its Newpoint Concrete roof tile, elevated battens, and underlayments to create a cool roof system. Jones pointed out that “with the extremely hot climate in Las Vegas, it’s important to get air movement in between some of those layers to reduce cooling loads and improve energy efficiency.”
Booz agreed, explaining that “having an elevated batten system—where the roof tiles sit about an inch off the roof deck, with battens and underlayment in between—creates space for airflow. That air movement helps vent the hot air out from under the tiles and prevents it from transferring directly into the roof deck and attic.”
He emphasized that this design doesn’t just improve energy performance—it also adds a critical layer of fire protection. “We’re all concerned about fire,” he said, “and it just amazes me that people still choose combustible roofing materials when they could have something as beautiful and fire-resistant as this tile. It’s a non-combustible product—and it looks incredible too.”
Westlake’s contributions didn’t end with the roof. They also provided the stone facade, helping to complete the home’s high-performance exterior.
Booz notes that “it’s a man-made product of aggregate and cement but a lot thinner than natural stone, which requires less energy to get it out to the job site and onto the wall.” The stone facade also dresses up the home and adds a touch of curb appeal.
That visual impact is matched by an equally thoughtful approach to sustainability.
As Booz explained, “Reducing our carbon footprint is a big part of what we do as a company. Our roof tile and our stone are made with closed-loop water systems. We consume all our own scrap that we might make within the facility and try to send nothing to landfill.
That kind of circular approach—where waste becomes input rather than output—reflects a broader push across the company to minimize environmental impact at every stage.
That commitment extends not only to materials and processes, but also to logistics.
“We actually have 30 plants across the country,” Booz said. “So depending on the product, it might be made close to where it’s going. For example, we produce roof tile in Nevada, California, and Arizona, and our stone comes from plants in Mexico and Napa, California.” This widespread manufacturing footprint means fewer miles traveled, less fuel burned, and a lighter environmental load. “Having that kind of presence reduces the amount of transport needed in those markets and jurisdictions.”
At the same time, Westlake is focused on shifting the industry conversation—especially when it comes to roofing. Concrete tile may still be a niche player in a market dominated by asphalt shingles, but Booz sees plenty of room for growth.
“Concrete roof tile is a small part of the overall roofing industry,” he noted. “Asphalt shingles have remained the largest part. So for us to be able to penetrate that marketplace and bring a better product to areas like these desert climates is a big part of what we're trying to do.”
By investing in sustainable materials, cutting down on waste, and keeping production close to home, Westlake is helping redefine what high-performance, environmentally conscious building looks like—one tile (and stone) at a time.
For a closer look at Westlake’s involvement in the VISION House Las Vegas project, watch the video.
By Victoria Muharsky
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.Also Read