Many roof coating types make an excellent addition to industrial or commercial buildings. They are perfect for businesses that need an instant solution for aging, worn-out, or leaking roof. Commercial roof coating in Houston has become a popular option to prolong the lifespan of roofs.
Interestingly, depending on condition, temperature, and building needs, you can choose from many commercial roof coating types.
But what options do you have for your roof restoration needs?
Here is all you need to know about roofing coating types.
Why Does Choosing the Type of Roof Coating Matter?
A variety of commercial roof coating types in Houston offer different benefits. However, choosing the right type of roof coating is crucial to maximize the benefits and prolong the lifespan of your roofing system.
Roof coating contractors use different products to improve the intended use and make coating compatible with the roof type. Quality roofing products ensure that the coating bonds tenaciously to the substrate and withstands extreme weather and anticipated movement.
While some roof coatings are suitable for only membrane systems, others work better for sheet, metal roof panels, and spray polyurethane roofing systems.
It is always better to consult professional roof coating experts in Houston to assess your coating selection and its respective primer. It is a great way to ensure the coating’s compatibility with the substrate before you apply it.
Benefits of Roof Coating Types
Commercial roof coating types serve as a protector for your roof membrane. From harmful weather conditions and UV rays to mold and fungus, a roof coating can keep the roof safe and great-looking in Houston. It provides a water-resistant layer on your existing roof while improving the overall performance of your roofing system.
The coating application enhances the reflectivity of the roof surface. As a result, it lowers the strain on your building’s HVAC system. With a properly installed roof coating, you can reduce the contraction and expansion of the membrane.
Moreover, the protective layer minimizes temperature fluctuation. This helps prolong the roof’s lifespan and keeps it in good shape. As a bonus, a coating system also improves the aesthetics of the building.
A major reason for buying a roof coating is that it’s often more cost-effective than roof replacement. The added layer secures the roof and helps you put off costly replacement.
You can use commercial roof coatings for numerous roof surfaces, such as:
- Built-up (BURs)
- Modified bitumen
- Metal
- Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) systems
- Single-ply
Most Common Commercial Roofing Coating Types
There are nine roof coating types that you can use to protect your roofing system. Some of the most common roof coating types that commercial contractors use includes;
Acrylic Roof Coating
As the name suggests, an acrylic roof coating is an acrylic binder with different proprietary additives and pigments left in water or solvent. It is one of the most common commercial roof coating types businesses choose for its proven performance. The well-established roof coating uses high-grade non-bituminous binders.
You can find several different acrylic binders in the roofing industry that create products with various properties. Roof contractors select acrylic binders to improve the adhesion of roof coating to specific substrates, including polyurethane spray/ metal foam or asphaltic.
Binders in acrylic roof coating produce varying durability, hardness, and elasticity. In some coatings, product manufacturers add proprietary additives to enhance their performance and functions over various roof conditions and substrates.
As a result of this formulation, acrylic roof coating offers easy installation and handling. Another prominent feature that makes acrylic roof coating popular for commercial contractors is its breathability.
Most acrylic roof coatings are breathable and show a perm rating of 5 to 10. However, water-based products like acrylic coatings are often sensitive to temperature until they are properly cured.
Silicone Roof Coatings
Silicon is another popular and common commercial roof coating in Houston. Typically, it is a solvent-based, moisture-curing formulation that demonstrates brilliant water resistance and excellent weather resistance. It has good elongation with a significantly lower tensile strength to be reasonably soft in the cured film.
This cured film is breathable and has a perm rating of 15. The primary use of a silicone roof coating is to provide shielding for SPF roofing systems. To recoat silicone roof coatings, contractors use a primer before adding the extra layer.
However, the cured film’s softness can collect dirt over time and has slightly low resistance to physical abuse and foot traffic.
Polyurethane Roof Coatings
Polyurethane roof coatings are formulated to provide different properties. The roofing contractors develop this coating type from an organic solvent base.
Overall, the binders in Polyurethane exhibit high-quality adhesion that is compatible with many roof materials. It also shows excellent tensile strength and high elongation, making the coating more durable.
In addition to these benefits, Polyurethane roof coatings exhibit high chemical and acid resistance to plenty of materials. Most of them are cured coatings, and you can use them as a significant part of several commercial roof coating systems.
Elastomeric Roof Coatings
Elastomeric coatings are famous for their thickness and premium-quality adhesion, and performance. The coatings are typically liquids that are 10 times thicker compared to roof coating types. They also contain a good quantity of solids that make them more durable and flexible than their counterparts.
Elastomeric coatings are primarily used for exterior projects such as low-slope roofs. Many commercial contractors use this roof coating for masonry, stucco, and concrete walls. The waterproof coatings are used layered to close small holes and cracks.
They can also protect commercial roofs from UV damage that may lead to costly repair and replacement.
Depending on your coating color, white elastomeric coating aids in cooling a structure by reflecting the sunlight, and grey one aids in heating the buildings during winter.
Summing Up
Knowing the benefits and limitations of commercial roofing coatings help you to make an educated decision. Thus, the article elaborates on the most common commercial roofing coating types you can benefit from.