Determining When Application of Elastomeric Roof Coating Is the Best Option
When your facility roof requires a pick-me-up but you are not ready to shell out the big bucks to replace it, then applying an elastomeric roof coating can be the best option for you. Roof coatings can effectively extend roof life and they are suitable for several types of roofs, including single-ply, metal, built-up roofing (BUR), and modified bitumen systems. When professionally applied, elastomeric roof coatings can protect your roofing system for years.
High-quality elastomeric roof coatings provide a seamless surface with low-temperature flexibility to minimize the risk of leaks. Enhanced with solar protectants, a coated roof blocks and reflects UV rays from the Sun, which can otherwise deteriorate the substrate. Moreover, roof coatings are light and quick to install. With roof coatings, mostly you are able to get 5-10 year, or longer, limited warranties for professionally applied coatings.
In addition to all the above said, elastomeric roof coatings are an economical alternative to extend the life of an existing roof. The most important performance properties of quality elastomeric roof coatings are flexibility over a broad range of temperatures, resistance to dirt pick-up and hydrolysis, and ultraviolet stability. These coatings need to allow water vapor to escape while blocking the transmission of bulk water, CO2, and chloride Ions.
As commercial building owners and operators, it becomes your key duty to take care of your building’s roof. This is why it is crucial for you to have a brief knowledge and understanding about elastomeric roof coatings. But, before going further and describing more in this topic, let’s get an idea what elastomeric roof coatings actually are.
Elastomeric Roof Coatings – Defining in Brief
So, what is an elastomeric roof coating?
An elastomeric roof coating creates a uniform, seamless surface that remains flexible even at low temperature. It expands and contracts with changing weather conditions, protecting a roof’s surface from the Sun’s damaging rays. This enables the coating to handle the continuous thermal stresses over the lifetime of the roofing system. Its adhesion characteristics enable the coating to remain attached to the roofing system in wet or extremely windy conditions. Such a coating employs technology that helps maintain energy-saving reflectance qualities as well as bright, clean appearance.
Building owners and facility managers nationwide are realizing the lasting benefits of elastomeric roof coatings. These durable, liquid coatings prolong the life of the existing roof. In fact, elastomeric roof coatings have been used since the early 1980s over multiple roof types, including BUR, modified bitumen, metal, cement, and EPDM. Many white-coated roofs exist today with excellent adhesion and high solar reflectance, more than 20 years after their initial application.
Performance Benefits of Elastomeric Roof Coatings
Helps in Monitoring Energy Requirements
While the main goal of elastomeric roof coatings is obviously to protect your roofing system from wind damage and rain, these coatings also meet energy requirements as well. They do not contribute to detrimental ‘urban island’ effect and most of these coatings have a low VOC, which reduces their impact on the environment and on workers who access the rooftop.
High Reflectivity for Cutting Cooling Costs
Keeping facilities cool in hot weather is a major undertaking in some climates. With the application of a highly reflective coating that directs harsh sun rays away from the roof, you can minimize your cooling costs and the work demand on your HVAC units. While individual savings depend on facility’s size, location, and the amount of insulation in the roof, managers can realize a payback on coating installation costs in as little as three years.
Choosing Increased Fire Resistance
Special Fire resistant ingredients in some roof coatings add another element of protection when applied to metal, BUR, modified bitumen, EPDM and TPO roofing system. When exposed to intense heat, a chemical reaction occurs that creates a non-combustible carbon layer to retard the spread of flames. Fire retardant coatings are available with high reflectivity to do double duty in protecting your facility and minimizing your energy costs.
Finding a Reliable Elastomeric Roof Coating Contractor
There may be many roofing contractors, who can really provide you quality help for roofing related matters, but the roofing companies working as a part of the nationwide groups in USA offer the most efficient assistance with regard to all roofing concerns. The roofers working in these groups have a tremendous reputation of excellence and are the people, who carefully investigate your facility and factors in needs and your budget to determine if roof coating is the best choice for you. Not all roof coatings are right for all types of roofs, and applying roof coating is not a do-it-yourself project. Choosing the wrong product or not installing it to meet the manufacturer’s specifications can end up costing you more money to repair. So, taking up professional assistance for application of elastomeric roof coating is a must.
The highly trained roofers working in the nationwide alliances or groups in USA install high-quality roof coatings, matched to your facility to ensure that you get the most benefit and protection. For detailed information about these nationwide groups of roofing contractors, refer to the online sources.
