What Is a Roofing Recoat Service?

Let’s face it: replacing a commercial roof can be tremendously expensive, extremely difficult, and isn’t always the best option when it comes to running your business. However, sometimes you simply can’t avoid the fact that your roof needs some serious professional attention and will likely continue to suffer if something isn’t done quickly. For many types of roofing materials, a roof recoating service may be the perfect solution.

What Is a Roof Recoating Service?

Roof coating is the application of a membrane to the outer surface of your roof that provides extra durability and longevity. A recoat service is reapplying a new, fresh layer of this protective coat to the surface of your roof. Think of it sort of like a sealing service for a deck or outdoor patio—with proper sealing, your deck will be considerably more resistant to the worst the elements can throw at it. The same goes for your roof: with a new protective coating, your roof will gain substantial extra protection against the rigors of daily use for a number of additional years.

A roof coating is generally applied through one of several different methods. Because these coatings usually are applied in liquid form, they are usually applied using sprays, rollers, or even paintbrushes. Depending on the size of your roof and the material your roof is built from, your application process could change substantially. Roof coating is available for both commercial and residential roofing, however, it’s far more common in commercial flat roofs that often need the additional protection.

How Do Roof Coatings Benefit Me?

We’ve already discussed probably the biggest benefit of a roof coating service: providing your roof with extra protection. Roof coatings are reflective, and that means they’re designed to bounce the heat and damaging sunlight back into the atmosphere rather than absorbing it. This means less damage to your roof, a longer-lasting roof surface, and a better investment in your property.

However, there’s another huge benefit to a reflective coating: energy savings. Reflective roof coatings actually help keep solar and thermal energy away from your roof as well, and this means your roof will absorb less heat. When your roof absorbs less heat, your structure stays cooler, and that means you spend less on air conditioning costs every month, particularly during sweltering-hot summer months.

Do I Need to Prepare for a Roof Recoat Service?

It’s important to prep your roof to ensure a properly-applied coating. Preparing your roof primarily involves thoroughly cleaning the surface of your roof to remove any built-up dirt, dust, and other debris that could have come to rest on it. A pressure wash cleaning is the best way to do this, however you need to make sure your roof is completely dry before your recoating process can begin. Be extremely careful not to damage any sealed lap seams or disturb the underlying membrane when cleaning your old coating on your roof—this can lead to damage that would need to be repaired before your roof can be recoated.

Will My Roof Coating Come with a Warranty?

Yes! Every roof recoat comes with a warranty that covers the life of the product and the installation labor for your peace of mind. How long your warranty will last depends on the coating you choose and the surface of the roof we apply it to. However, no coating warranty covers roof leaks. Recoats are a maintenance procedure, and they do not impact the waterproofing on your roof in any way. Any leaks that existed before will continue to exist afterward and likewise, a coating is not a guaranteed way to stop leaks from forming. Think of it sort of like painting over rust—it might make the problem look better, but the metal is still going to corrode beneath it anyway.

How Often Should I Recoat My Roof?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. What material is your roof made out of? How large is it? How old is it? Generally, larger and older roofs will need to be recoated more frequently than smaller ones. Likewise, roofs that regularly have issues with standing water or ponding will need recoated far more frequently than roofs that have a more substantial slope or drainage system.

Want to learn more about recoating your roof and adding additional protection to its surface? Call the experts at Lyons Roofing at (520) 447-2522 today!