How Roof Coatings Extend the Life of Your Roof
Have you heard of roof coatings to extend the life of your roof?
Are you worried about the cost of roof repairs or a new roof? Roof repair and roof replacements can be expensive, but they’re not your only option when it comes to protecting your roof.
Steele Roofing and other East Texas roofing companies like them offer roof coating services in addition to traditional roofing services such as emergency roof repair, storm restoration services, seasonal roof preparation, roof cleaning, and professional roof inspections.
When it comes to roof coatings, Mulehide is an excellent coating option that will extend the lifetime of your roof, which can be especially helpful if your roof is getting older and you’re facing the cost of a new roof.
Some of the main benefits of using a roof coating besides prolonging the life of your roof are: the use of tested and reliable products; a clean, simple application so there’s less mess and cleanup time; the added value that coating your roof helps lower utility costs by also providing a UV reflective surface that helps lower temperatures within the building.
How Do Roof Coatings Work?
The various coatings are applied by layer, depending on the necessary thickness needed for the individual roof.
- First, the roof is prepared by being thoroughly cleaned.
- Primer might be necessary, but it depends on the type of roof you have.
- Base is applied.
- If maintained by a professional roofer, the coating can protect for up to twenty years.
Types of Roof Coatings
There are two main types of coating: acrylic and silicone. What type of coating you use depends on the type of roof you have and other details, such as whether your roof accumulates water, what your budget is, and the types of temperatures your roof experiences.
Acrylic Coatings
Acrylic coatings consist of a water-based roof coating/maintenance coating that can be used to coat metal or asphalt roofs.
The benefits of acrylic coating include being usable in both hot and cold climates, UV stability, and excellent exterior durability that will help extend your roof’s life for years to come.
Silicone Coatings
Silicone coating is created from silicone resins that create a durable, reflective surface to reinforce your roof.
Silicone coating can be used on a wide range of roof surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, metal, and more. This coating is not just low-maintenance—it also reduces damage from the sun and thermal shock from rapid temperature changes that could cause damage to the roof.
It also works to fully waterproof your roof by creating a complete, seamless seal, even in areas where water is known to pool or pond. Silicone coating is easy to apply, cures quickly, is low-odor, and is solventless.
Limitations of Roof Coatings
When it comes to roof coatings, while they’re incredibly beneficial in numerous ways, they won’t fix a roof with an established leak or leaks. The purpose of roof coatings is to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you’re experiencing leaks or your roof is seriously deteriorated in places, it might be time to look at your options for a new roof.
Before Coatings Are Applied, It’s Necessary to Determine/Fix Any Issues Such As:
- Make sure there’s no moisture present anywhere. It would be seriously detrimental to your roof if coatings are applied to areas that contain moisture. If any wet areas are found, it’s necessary to take out and replace those areas before coating is applied.
- An adhesion test will be done to ensure the coating will properly adhere to the roof’s surface. This is crucial, as coatings won’t work if they can’t properly adhere to the roof surface.
- Not all roofs are ideal surfaces for roof coating (gravel roofs are a good example, as the coating applied needs to be extra thick, which can lead to issues such as cracking).
- There are multiple ways to apply silicone and acrylic coating—coatings can be sprayed on, rolled on, or brush-applied. Spraying is ideal, but also a more expensive option.
- It’s crucial that your roof is clean before coatings are applied. These coatings won’t stick to a dirty roof surface.
Why Roof Coatings Are Worth It
There are many benefits to choosing a roof coating for your roof: protection from damaging UV rays, protection from water damage, protecting your roof from everyday wear and tear—which can be especially significant in a place like East Texas that experiences storms with hail, high winds, and torrential rains, as well as major fluctuations in temperature—all elements that can decrease your roof’s longevity.
Whether you’re coating a residential or commercial roof, silicone or acrylic roof coatings are a great option to protect your roof for many years to come.
Contact your local East Texas roofing company today for a roof inspection and find out your roof coating options.
