Coatings are not a new concept in the commercial roofing industry. What began as a simple tar on thatch coating concept over 3,000 years ago has developed into a cutting-edge technological marvel.
Some owners and managers labor under the misconception that a coating is little more than fancy paint slapped on the roof. That is like saying New York City is a little burg on an island.
Today’s coatings improve the roof, add years to the lifespan and even improve energy efficiency, reduce cost and waste, and support environmental consciousness and the efforts to improve our societal awareness. So much for fancy paint!
Overall Benefits of Coatings
To truly appreciate all the benefits that coatings offer, a deeper dive is necessary.
First, a coating is a liquid applied roofing system. It is either sprayed or rolled directly onto the existing roofing substrate. The application includes the edges and partially up the sides of protrusions like HVAC units and vents, as well as partially up the sides of parapets.
As the coating dries, it forms a seamless layer of monolithic protection. Please read that carefully; this system is literally 100% seamless. As seams are the #1 location for leak development, that single attribute is game-changing.
The very nature of coatings leads directly to the innate benefits it offers.
Waterproofing. Regardless of the type of coating selected, the chemical composition leads itself to being highly water resistant. The lack of seams or breaks in the system eliminates the risk of leak. As the flashings and other areas of juncture are included, there is no way for water to find its way into your building.
Longevity. Without water leaking into the substrate and ultimately the substructure of the roof, it will last longer.
Cost. Restoring your existing roof with a coating is vastly less expensive than the old tear-off and replace routine. It saves you time and money, while keeping your business open and running.
Savings. Not only are coatings relatively inexpensive to install, they actually save you money. Various options reflect up to 85% of solar rays from your building, resulting in cooling cost reductions up to 50%.
Renewable. Maybe one of the best features, coatings may be re-applied repeatedly as needed. Meaning, as long as your roof structure remains sound, there is no limit to how long we can continue with the restoration process.
Restoration Options
Not every roof is a good candidate for a coating or roof restoration. Condition, substrate, and age of the roof all play a role. However, certain roofing systems easily lend themselves to restoration with a coating.
EPDM. Also known as “rubber roofing”, EPDM roofing systems are generally black in nature and consist of rolls of rubberized material. Applying a coating eliminates the seams between the sheets, as well as changing that heat-retaining black into a heat-reflecting white color.
PVC. A type of single-ply membrane, PVC frequently comes in a white color, and is applied in sheets. The seams are then chemically “glued” together. Application of a coating across the membrane eliminates those seams and the risks they present.
TPO. Much like PVC, TPO is also a single-ply membrane that is rolled across the roofing surface. One primary difference is that TPO seams may be heat welded. Though this does reduce risk, a coating does an even better job.
Fabric Reinforced. Another roofing style is fabric reinforced roofing. Basically, this is roofing where a fabric sheet is placed over the sheet seams, then a pseudo-coating is rolled across the fabric to reduce leak risk. It is also a suitable candidate for a full coating restoration.
For more information, please call Louisville Top Choice Roofing today at 502-777-1844.