The 2025 Fall Technical Meeting of the Sealant, Waterproofing, and Restoration (SWR) Institute was held on October 5–7 in Boston. This annual event brings together top professionals and companies from across the industry to meet, network, learn, collaborate and have some fun together.
Highlights from this year’s meeting included presentations on how AI is shaping the future of waterproofing and restoration, along with meaningful conversations about supporting crews and teams during demanding, high-pressure jobs.
The SWR Institute is a leading trade association for contractors, manufacturers and design professionals involved in sealing, waterproofing and exterior building restoration.
The SWR Institute sets industry standards, provides technical resources and promotes best practices to ensure high-quality workmanship and long-term performance. It also offers career-boosting training, certification programs and access to a wide network of industry professionals.
The SWR Institute connects professionals with a network of peers equally committed to excellence. Whether you want to sharpen technical skills, build credibility or take on more complex projects, the SWR Institute helps you grow and stand out in a competitive market.
Both the fall and winter events provide industry professionals with access to cutting-edge research from leading innovators in the field, along with guidance on field-tested best practices and new certification programs that raise the bar for craftsmanship, safety and job site performance.
The 2025 fall meeting had a great balance of educational and entertaining events.
There were two full days of high-impact presentations and technical discussions covering the latest trends, innovations and challenges in the industry, plus two evening events to foster connections in a more relaxed setting.
The Boston scavenger hunt had everyone laughing, exploring and discovering the city’s hidden corners while creating lasting relationships. The award ceremony highlighted the importance of balancing fresh talent with the experience of seasoned professionals.
While there were plenty of opportunities to socialize, the presentations were the main event. Speakers shared insights on innovations in manufacturing and materials, as well as emerging trends that will shape 2026.
Some of the most thought-provoking key presentations and speakers included:
Scott Greenhaus from Pullman delivered a vital presentation titled “Hard Hats to Helmets” that led to a thought-provoking discussion on how helmet technology is changing safety standards in construction. Many of the attendees were surprised to find out that traumatic brain injuries account for 25% of all construction fatalities and that helmets can dramatically reduce that risk.
Kara McCaffrey from Houck & Company provided a new perspective on the impact of workplace stress in her presentation titled “Let’s Talk About Mental Health.” The presentation was heartfelt and powerful, putting a human face to the mental health crisis in the construction industry. It was an important reminder to managers and industry professionals of just how crucial it is to support workers beyond the job site.
Another standout was a joint presentation by Calvin Carter from Sunbelt Waterproofing and Frank Duarte from Keystone Waterproofing titled “Integrating AI: Our Journey Toward Smarter Operations.” Together, they demonstrated how AI tools (with no technical background) can be integrated into the waterproofing and restoration industries to make jobs easier, faster and more efficient.
This event is always a good place for industry professionals to “talk shop” and identify key trends.
This year, the trending discussions were centered around AI integration in production and installation, as well as the impact that low staffing has on crews trying to meet industry demands.
The SWR Institute’s fall 2025 event brought together a diverse mix of professionals, including contractors, consultants, engineers and manufacturers from around the country.
There were about 27 manufacturers in attendance, five of which were expansion joint companies. Notable sponsors and exhibitors included Balco, MM Systems, Inpro, Watson Bowman/Emseal and Nystrom. Lymtal wasn’t in attendance this year, though they did sponsor a few of the activities.
"Overall, it was a highly productive and positive few days. The location in the heart of Boston was perfect, the sessions were insightful, and the people—old and new—were genuinely warm and engaging." said Brian Carrillo, Expansion Joint Business Development Manager.
The fall 2025 conference also provided participants with valuable insights into recent industry developments, including:
Industry standards for sealant and waterproofing systems have evolved to meet higher performance demands, address environmental factors and accommodate new building technologies.
The latest American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and SWR Institute guideline updates emphasize long-term durability, material compatibility and installation practices that reduce failure rates. There’s also a growing focus on sustainable, low-VOC products in response to stricter environmental regulations.
Advances in research and testing are giving contractors better tools to evaluate products and systems before installation. The SWR Institute and other technical bodies are developing more realistic testing methods that simulate real-world conditions, such as UV exposure, temperature changes and joint movement, so performance is easier to predict.
There’s also a greater focus on adhesive compatibility, substrate preparation and moisture management. These improvements mean fewer surprises in the field and more confidence in what you’re installing, so you can reduce risk and deliver systems that last.
Looking ahead to 2026, industry professionals can expect continued innovation in AI tools that make customization easier and manufacturing faster and more precise. AI is changing the game for many industries and the construction and restoration sector is no exception.
As a sponsor of (and active participant in) the SWR Institute, Nystrom is committed to embracing AI and other advancement tools that push the industry forward. These innovations help professionals seamlessly combine design and practical construction techniques to bring their visions to life.
Think big, build bold and kick your next project up a notch with the Nystrom product lineup.
Our advanced tools, modern materials and time-tested quality give you everything you need to create buildings that impress today and endure tomorrow. Contact our team to find the solutions that bring your vision to life today.