Commercial roofing is one of the most important things that you would prefer to ignore. No one wants to have to spend money on their roofing, but the assets underneath commercial roofs tend to be substantial.
As a result, you need ways to extend the life of your roof and ensure that it is adequately protecting the interior building beneath it.
One way to do that is with a roof coating. Roof coatings can add years to a roof and improve its functionality.
With that in mind, which roof coating is the best? What should be on your roof?
For most applications, there are four frontrunners, each with its own pros and cons that can help you decide what you need for your roof. Read on to learn what the best roof coating is for your needs.
Acrylic
First up is acrylic. It’s an extremely popular option because it is so economical. Acrylic is a great coating to add general durability to a roof. It can be sprayed on, and a few layers of acrylic provide serious protection against hail damage and impact damage. If you live in an area with regular hail storms or high winds that blow branches onto your roof, then acrylic is a leading option.
On top of that, acrylic is really good for UV protection. On average, acrylic coatings can lower surface temperatures by up to 20℉, meaning it dramatically lowers cooling costs in hot areas.
One major downside of acrylic is that it can’t be applied in freezing temperatures. Depending on where you live, acrylic might not be a viable option unless you wait for the right time of year. In the DFW area, acrylic can go up a lot more freely, as the cold season doesn’t usually last too long.
The last thing to know about acrylic is that it doesn’t do well with ponding water. It does create a good seal, but ponding water that sticks around can overcome an acrylic coating, meaning that this coating is sometimes dictated by the rooftop’s design. If there are areas that can’t drain, they are better suited by another coating.
Silicone
Silicone is extremely effective in a number of ways. First, it’s very elastic, and this helps it deal with impact damage. It can shrug off a lot of impacts without risking punctures or being compromised. As a result, it provides some of the best weather resistance.
On top of that, silicone doesn’t really get hard or brittle. It can withstand long-term water ponding without any issues, making it the only option for some roof designs.
Silicone also produces great UV protection. It’s a material that just doesn’t suffer under UV light, and with so many colors available with silicone coatings, you can pick one that is reflective and helps lower cooling costs. Best of all, the color won’t fade easily.
The major downside to silicone coatings is that they are more difficult to apply than the other types of coating, making installation notably more expensive (in most cases). Silicone is a case of paying more money to get more protection for your roof.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a coating that is specifically designed for impact and physical stress. As a result, this coating provides the very best protection against hail and other impact damage. On top of that, it’s the best coating for foot traffic too. If your roof is in constant use with a lot of people walking around, polyurethane is probably your best choice for a coating.
On the other hand, polyurethane isn’t so great with UV resistance. It wears out faster under direct sunlight than other roof coatings. To compensate, polyurethane is typically applied with a specialized second coat that raises UV resistance. Even so, it will show signs of fading and wear from UV faster than silicone.
Asphaltic Membrane
Last up is an asphaltic membrane. Applied as a fluid, this is a rubberized membrane that maintains some key aspects of asphalt. As a result, you get the best of two worlds. You get the sealing properties of rubber and the durability of asphalt.
As a result, this coating is frequently used to expand roof lifespans. It’s a versatile coating that provides excellent weatherproofing. Price-wise, it sits between some of the other coatings, making it a cost-effective choice for roofs that don’t require any specialized properties from the other coatings. You can think of this as a bit of an all-arounder, providing good protection and value for the investment.
If you think a coating might be what your roof needs, Alpine Roofing Construction is here to take care of you. We regularly apply many types of coatings on roofs throughout Dallas/Fort Worth. We can inspect your roof, make professional recommendations, and get the coating you need on your roof.It all starts with a simple phone call. Contact us today. We’ll schedule a visit so that we can look at your roof and build a plan to get started.