A roof is a huge investment. Not only is a new roof rather costly, but it is also designed to protect the rest of your home from possible damage due to elements largely outside of your control. Because of this, it is important to not only choose the proper type of roof, but to have it correctly installed and situated on the home itself. Part of this process involves choosing the proper coating for the roof. Because of the extensive labor costs associated with installing a roof, not to mention the environmental considerations involving a possible roof tear-off that must be taken into account, roof coating systems are becoming a more popular option for residential and commercial buildings alike. The current market for roof coatings that are polymer-based, for example, is currently estimated to be approaching $600 million. White cool roof coatings, designed to reflect extreme heat situations, take up nearly 1/3 of this market. The market for roof coatings is growing at about 4% a year, which means that it is expanding much more rapidly than other traditional types of roofing products. To determine what type of roof coating might be best for your home, it is helpful to first understand your roof.
Know the Structure of Your Roof
It is important to know whether or not your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. You budget really does not dictate this, as to choose incorrectly could have negative consequences down the line. It is recommended that you have a trained professional help you determine this by coming out to your property to visually inspect the roof for any damage or leaks. These two items are most typically found in either the flashings or penetrations of the roof, so it is important to deal with these areas first before applying an actual roof coating. In addition, if you have any wet insulation on the roof, it will need to first be removed and then replaced before the restoration process can begin and the coating applied. A professional can come out and do a quick infrared scan of the roof to determine any areas of the roof that have wet insulation. If this amounts to more than 30% of the roof’s structure, then a complete tear off would typically be in order.
Choosing the Right Coating for Your Roof
There are numerous types of coatings available on the market today, each comprised of various chemicals. It is important that you select the coating that is most suited to your particular environment. In choosing the coating, you want to consider the existing condition of the roof and its location. You also want to analyze its slope and the potential that it has to pool water. Finally, you want to determine its exposure to chemicals, high heat, and UV rays. This will help you, in consultation with roofing professionals, to determine if any acrylic or polyurethane based coating would be most appropriate for your roof. Consider starting the process today by contacting your local roofing professional to come out and take a look.
