Roof Coatings
When we talk about roof coatings, it is important to understand that not all roof coatings are created equal. In fact there are a wide variety of different roof products and chemistries that make each roof coating unique in qualities. Below are the basic types of roof coating products that are designed for different applications.
The oldest and most commonly used roof coating technology is acrylic coatings. They are by far the most cost effective, but not always the right answer for your roof coating needs. One of the most attractive qualities of acrylic coating is its ability to apply smoothly on rough, textured surfaces. They are water-proof—though we suggest you avoid use on roofs that are prone to ponding water. Many of these products are also fire retardant!
Silicone roof coatings are highly durable and can be applied to a variety of roof substrates. In addition to their adhesion, Silicone coatings can expand and contract, a great benefit during periods of extreme temperature changes. Reflective Silicone coatings provide excellent solar reflectivity and UV protection.
Polyurethanes are known for their flexibility. They are frequently sought to serve as a protective coating for sprayed-in-place foam roofing. These coatings do a great job of protecting both commercial and industrial surfaces, such as: smooth BUR, EPDM, concrete, masonry and the lining and sealing of interior gutter systems.
It is also very important to know that there is a HUGE difference in simply coating your roof & actually doing a full roof restoration system using roof coating products. Roof coatings and roof coating products when used individually or outside of a full system are generally suggested to be a temporary fix or repair. These types of “fixes” are great to help buy some time until a more long term solution like a full restoration or replacement can be afforded.
As far as doing a full roof restoration, whether it be on metal, tpo/pvc, modified bitumen, epdm, foam, or tar/gravel roofs, there’s a more in-depth approach that usually begins with extensive cleaning, along with extreme preparation work around all the seams, penetrations, and other more problematic areas, this is followed by a durable primer or base coat being applied to the entire roof, then once this layer has properly dried a top coat which is typically bright white is applied to the entire roof. Depending on the desired warranty length which range from 10-20 years extra top coat layers can be added.
Again with there being several types of roof substrates and a multitude of roof coating chemistries out there, it is critical to know what products and systems work the best on each type of roof, this is where ARS-Restorations is the expert to trust!