Save Money by Coating Your Flat Roof!

Over time, any roof will wear out. Even the most well-built roof will eventually deteriorate, and this effect only compounds for the larger flat roofs over many commercial facilities. Because these roofs could measure tens of thousands of square feet or more, it’s easy for problems to develop, resulting in the need for frequent repairs which can become costly over time.

But what if there was a way you could improve your roof’s condition, prolong its lifespan, and save money on repair costs and other concerns? You can: by coating your flat roof, you’ll save money in several different ways. In fact, it’s these savings which makes a flat roof coating one of the most cost-effective maintenance procedures you can have done to your roof.

What Are Roof Coatings?

Roof coatings are essentially a coating which is designed to renew the surface of your roof. These coatings are made from materials that are durable against heat and other elements, are resistant to impact, and they keep your roof itself sealed for an extended amount of time. As a result, they protect your building from the elements better, and they prevent you from having to outright replace your roof for even longer. In fact, a roof which is frequently re-coated at the proper intervals will last potentially even decades longer than an uncoated roof! That alone makes this coating service one of the most valuable and economically-prudent services you can get.

Why Coat Your Roof?

The reasons for coating your roof speak for themselves, however, what truly sticks out is the savings you receive from a high-quality coating service. Generally, the best time to coat your roof is just before the initial warranty expires. If coated by the same roofing company, a coating service will often extend the roof warranty as proper maintenance goes a long way to extend the serviceable life of the roof.

Then there are the other benefits as well: a coated roof helps you save money in other ways, beyond just your roof. For example, a coated roof is a sealed one, and a sealed one is less prone to air leaks which can be costly to your energy bills. Even a few small air leaks can cause your air conditioner to have to run for quite a bit longer in order to keep the building cool, and that means more money from your pocket and a higher overhead cost of doing business.

Types of Roof Coatings

There are also different types of roof coatings, each with their own pros, cons, strengths, and weaknesses. Here are some of the most popular choices among business and commercial building owners. There are pros and cons of each to be noted dependent on the type of roof being coated. It is important to lean on a professional roof estimator to determine the right coating for your particular roof.

Elastomeric: Far and above the most popular coating material in sunny Arizona specifically related to its reflectivity of UV rays. This coating is easy to install on most systems, very cost effective and benefits the energy consumption of the building being coated.

Silicone: Silicone is one of the most popular and versatile types of roof coating. It’s cost-effective, simple to apply, and extremely durable. Made from silicone polymers, it’s known for having UV damage resistance, which makes it brilliant for protecting the rest of your roof beneath it. Likewise, its bright white color makes it a “cool roof” option. In other words, the white color rejects so much heat that it actually contributes to savings for your facility.

Acrylic: Acrylic is unique in that it gives you the ability to have a custom color for your roof. It’s a water-based coating made with acrylic resin, a fairly common construction material that’s often used in a lot of decorative furniture and other functional uses these days. This particular material is phenomenal at handling the expansion and contraction of each day’s heating and cooling cycle, and likewise, it’s a popular choice for businesses where the color of the roof really matters. There is a downside, however: there’s a narrow window for application (must be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), and your roof has to cure for a full seven days before it’s ready to handle any rainfall.

Urethane: Urethane roofing is growing in popularity because its high tensile strength makes it great for roofs which are frequently walked on. Walkways, penetrations, and flashings are all exceptionally well-sealed by a urethane coating, which is made from a solvent-based solution. These coatings do take some work to apply, and in some cases, their cost is somewhat prohibitive. But if you know that there will come fairly frequent times where you’ll need to access your roof, then urethane is by far the best to go.

Butyl: Like their urethane counterparts, butyl roof coatings are also solvent-based and have exceptional tensile strength, but the similarities end there. Butyl roofing is known for being extremely durable and resistant to cracking, but they have a particularly high volatile organic content level, which means they’re not the most eco-friendly. Some buildings swear by them, but those who are looking for an environmentally-friendly option should consider a different course.

To learn more about coating your roof, call Lyons Roofing at (520) 447-2522 and let our Phoenix commercial roofers go over your roof coating options with you.

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