Your roof’s performance and dependability are significantly impacted by your decision on the best coating. You can choose wisely if you are aware of the characteristics and advantages of the most popular roof coatings.
For additional information about roof coatings and the best places to use them, continue reading.
What is a Roof Coating?
We’ll start with a brief definition to demystify the information regarding roof coating.
A protective covering known as a roof coating is put on a roof’s surface. Consider the function of a roof: to shield and protect a home or business structure’s inside.
The “cherry on top” is a coating for the roof. Therefore, the coating:
- prolongs the roof’s life
- the roof is sealed to stop leaks
- acts as a reflecting coating to block heat
It’s crucial to realize that roof coating preserves a roof’s current condition. This implies that a new roof will maintain its pristine appearance for a longer amount of time. However, roof coating only serves as a temporary fix if a roof is outdated and in need of replacement. The majority of roofs fall somewhere between these two extremes.
Standing water on commercial rooftops is a well-known problem. The reason for this is that many roofs are horizontally flat. Over time, materials degrade in standing water. Due to the additional layer, it adds between the water and the exterior roof, a roof coating can assist avoid leaks.
We are all aware that the summers in and around Atlanta can be quite hot and muggy. Sunlight heats rooftops, some of which can pass through; however, some roof coatings can reduce the temperature of the roof and interior by reflecting the sun’s rays. Your energy costs will immediately decrease in price as a result.
| Dicor RP-CRCT-1 EPDM Roof Acrylic Coating | Dicor RP-IRC-1 CoolCoat Roof Coating |
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Physical properties to consider in roof coating purchases
Several physical qualities need to be taken into account when choosing the best elastomeric roof coating to utilize on your roof.
Every roof is unique in terms of its design, location, climate, amount of sunlight, etc. Since it is hard to predict which physical characteristic will have the most impact on the long-term performance of your roofing system, we strongly advise you to compare all of them while evaluating the various roof coating options. The top roof coatings should deliver on every level for you.
Tensile Strength (new): Tensile strength gauges a product’s capacity to maintain its shape and resist breaking. Tensile strength is often only reported by roof coating firms when the product is brand-new and in the lab. Spoiler: Once aging and exposure to the outside world start, it always changes.
Tensile Strength (Aged): A roof coating’s tensile strength can quickly diminish with time and exposure to the elements. We strongly advise you to choose a manufacturer who can give you written, independent estimates of the tensile strength of their coatings after they have aged and been exposed to the environment. You get an additional degree of comparison as a result. The best roof coatings’ older measurements frequently outperform their rivals’ new product measurements. That denotes a significant shift in coating value and quality over time.
Perm Factor: The coating’s resistance to moisture vapor traveling through it is known as the perm factor. A lower number indicates that less moisture can permeate it.
Moisture Gain By Weight:The coating’s capacity to absorb water versus resist it and safeguard the roof underneath is measured by moisture uptake by weight. Instead of soaking water into the roofing material, which can hasten the aging and degeneration of the roof itself, you want a roof coating that deflects water away from the roof.
Peel Adhesion: Peel adhesion evaluates how well a coating system adheres to a roof surface despite challenging circumstances. Your roof will not be adequately protected if your roof coating doesn’t adhere tightly.
Tear Resistance: Just as it sounds, a coating’s tear resistance refers to its ability to withstand tearing brought on by environmental changes like the movement of the roof or foot activity.
Reflectivity: this is a measure of how much solar heat is reflected by the coating and away from the roof. All building components operate more effectively when the roof is cool and reflecting, which also lowers maintenance requirements and prevents premature roof failure brought on by UV ray damage and heat shock.
Henry’s white roof coating products
| Elastomeric Roof Coating, .9 gal., White | Henry HE587372 Roof Coating, 5 Gal |
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Your Budget
You have three main options for improving your roof: roof repair, roof replacement, and roof coating. Anyone considering roof improvements must always consider their budget. The good news is that roof coating is less expensive than a complete roof replacement. Roof coating typically costs between $0.55 and $4.50 per square foot, whereas a new roof can cost anywhere between $3.50 and $5.00 per square foot.
Your Current Roof Condition
Roof coatings, as we’ve mentioned throughout this post, can help your roof last longer, but your roof should typically be in good shape. It might be advisable to start with a repair or complete replacement if your roof is old, has extremely wide cracks, or is sagging. A roof coating can repair tiny cracks if the roof has any. We will be pleased to assess your roof’s condition and advise you regarding the best course of action, including coating.
Your Timeline
A roof coating can be applied faster than a whole roof replacement. As was already indicated, if you choose the roof coating option, operations won’t need to stop, unlike a roof replacement. How long does it take to apply a roof coating? Depending on the size of your roof, a full roof coating can usually be finished in one or two days. Thus, it is undoubtedly quicker than replacing the entire roof.
Tax Benefits
Potential tax advantages are another benefit of choosing a business roof coating.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s Section 179 deals with tax advantages and deductions for commercial structures. Certain upgrades to current non-residential buildings, including roofing, HVAC, fire suppression, alarm, and security systems, are listed in Section179.org.
