Avoid the unnecessary costs of roof replacement when a roof coating may solve your roofing problems. Knowing how roof coatings are applied to existing roofing systems can help you save money while extending the lifespan of your roof.

atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com gathered the following information and tips about roof coatings and their advantages when applied to your roofing system.

What Are Roof Coatings?

Roof coatings are monolithic, fully adhered, fluid-applied roofing membranes. Roof coatings are typically applied to cover, protect, and extend the lifespan of a structure’s roofing system. Many roof coatings are elastomeric, having elastic properties that allow them to stretch and constrict to their original shape without suffering any damage or deformities.

Are Roof Coatings Worth it?

Yes. Coatings are often seen as an economical way of increasing a roof’s reflectivity. Thus, reducing a structure’s cooling and heating costs. However, a coating is not always necessary if enough insulation is installed with the original roofing system.

Applying a roof coating can add extra protection to a roofing system’s components, adding years or decades to its lifespan.

Considering the lowered air conditioning and the building’s roof preservation, applying a roof coating is worth the investment as it will likely pay for itself over time.

What Are Types of Roof Coatings?

Depending on the type, size, and geographical location of your roofing system, one of the following roof coatings may be applied to your roof:

Metal Roof Coating – Metal roof coatings stop leaks, eliminate stubborn rust, and turn hot metal surfaces into a cooler energy-saver. This could be considered metal roof restoration when preparations are made before this weather and heat-shielding coating is applied.

Note: Commercial metal roof coatings start saving you money immediately. Since it is a reflective roof, it can reduce roof temperatures by 30%. This means that heat isn’t transferred to your building, which significantly reduces energy use.

Flat Roof Coating – Flat roofs are typically plagued with leaking, ponding, drainage problems, and rapid deterioration. Whether your current roofing system is hot-tar, modified bitumen, built-up, single-ply, metal, or polyurethane foam, you can apply a roof coating that adds up to 20 more years of useful roof life.

Rubber Roof Coating – Silicone roof coatings are the preferred choice regarding UV protection and resistance to ponding water on rubber roofing systems. They erode much slower than other coatings without becoming brittle or hard.

Extend your existing roof’s lifespan while adding energy efficiency and extra protection for your commercial, industrial, agricultural, or residential structure. Rubber roof coatings can efficiently solve current problems and prevent them from recurring.

Elastomeric Roof Coating – These roof coatings are applied to your roofing system as a liquid. After application, the acrylics dry to a seamless, clean coating that significantly extends roof life.

Note: Correctly installed elastomeric roof coatings are practically weatherproof and can keep your property shielded from most weather conditions. The coating material is elastic, so it can expand and contract as the weather and temperature change.

Cool Roof Coating – Cool roof coatings, or cool roof paint (as it is known in the roofing industry), is a coating that’s applied to a variety of roofing systems to better reflect sunlight, keeping buildings cooler on the inside and significantly reducing energy costs.

Tip: Reducing a structure’s air-conditioning usage will naturally extend its cooling equipment’s lifespan, decreasing maintenance costs and saving you even more money.

When considering a roof coating, be mindful that mechanical fixes to your roofing system are always a better choice than coatings to stop leaks or repair cracks. If you discover leaks, cracks, or other damages, replace and repair them before applying a coating or sealant.

Roof Coating Installation Costs

According to homeadvisor.com, you can expect to pay anywhere between $0.65 and $5 per square foot for an installed roof coating or sealing. Variables can include:

• Type of roof
• Type of coating or sealant
• Condition of the current roof
• Geographic location

Coating a flat or low-sloped roof is a common way to extend the life of your roof while reducing maintenance expenses and cutting down on cooling costs.

Note: Costs for roofing material and installation vary significantly and are heavily influenced by demand, supply chain interruptions, inflation, and fuel/transportation expenses.

Roof Coatings

In this article, you discovered essential information and tips about different types of roof coatings and their inherent benefits.

Installing a roof coating over your current roofing system can save you significant money in air conditioning costs and reduce your roof’s maintenance needs over time.

Not installing a roof coating can leave your roofing system more vulnerable, in need of constant repairs, and requiring a premature roof replacement.

Sources:
heatisland.lbl.gov/resources/roof-coatings
homeadvisor.com/cost/roofing/seal-a-roof/
energy.gov/energysaver/cool-roofs

See Everything You Need to Know about Roof Coatings for the first version of this content.

Without a protective coating your roofing system may deteriorate prematurely and lead to repairs that can be avoided. By applying a butyl elastomeric roof coating, you are providing your roof with superior resistance to the elements and severe weather.

atlantacommercialroofingcontractors.com gathered information about the definition, application, and advantages of butyl elastomeric roof coatings.

What Is A Butyl Elastomeric Roof Coating

A butyl elastomeric roof coating is a liquid sealant applied to the entirety of your flat, metal roof, or single-ply membrane roofing system. This sealant is highly effective at preserving and protecting your roofing system from the elements, while substantially extending the life of your roof.

Isobutylene was discovered by Michael Faraday in 1825 and developed into butyl rubber by William Sparks and Robert Thomas in 1937. Currently, the majority of the global supply of butyl rubber is being produced by two companies. ExxonMobil and Polymer Corporation.

Butyl is a synthetic rubber, or elastomer, that is impermeable to air and possesses excellent flex properties. Besides being made into a liquid to weatherproof your roofing system, butyl is also used as or to make:

• Solvents
• Adhesives
• Fiber Optic Compounds
• Fuel Additives
• Speakers and Audio Equipment
• Gas Masks
• Sporting Equipment
• Tire Inner liners and Innertubes
• Window Insulation
• Gloves
• Chewing Gum

The versatility of butyl is unquestionable, and its flex properties, when applied as a roof coating, make it an ideal protective addition to almost any roofing system.

What Are The Advantages of A Butyl Elastomeric Roof Coating

After investing in a new roof or repairing an existing roof, the need for protecting that investment becomes apparent. The advantages of applying a butyl elastomeric roof coating include:

• Once applied, it is a seamless, durable membrane.
• Completely waterproof
• Excellent flex/elongation properties
• Resists cracking from shrinkage
• Withstands ponding in low slope roofs
• Excellent adhesion to multiple substrates
• Reduces building cooling/heating costs
• Reflects UV rays, preventing premature degradation
• The coating can come with pesticides and mildewcides
• Can stop weathered roofing systems from leaking and further degrading

As this coating is applied to the entirety of a roofing system, it protects the roofing material, flashing, pitch pans, penetrations, and joints. By creating a watertight and element repelling coating, the life of the roof can far exceed expectations. This makes butyl an ideal restoration solution for nearly all commercial roofing substrates. A butyl elastomeric roof coating can be applied to the following commercial roofing substrates:

• Metal
• Modified Bitumen
• Built-Up Roofing (BUR)
• Polyurethane Foam
• Single-Ply (TPO, PVC, EPDM)
• Concrete

Furthermore, once the coating is applied, it will provide superior resistance against most weather conditions. Because it acts similarly to rubber, it stretches when temperatures rise and returns to its original shape as it gets colder. This is how a butyl elastomeric coating resists cracking.

How Is A Butyl Elastomeric Coating Installed

Here’s an overview of how a butyl elastomeric coating is installed on a roof:

1. The roof must be dry, clean, and free of oil, grease, or dirt. Any previous coatings or paint peeling from their surface should be removed.

2. All seams, joints, trim, hardware, and fastening points are hand-painted with a brush to ensure complete coverage and protection.

3. Larger spaces are covered using sprayers or rollers

Typically, more than one coat of butyl is applied to the roofing system for better adhesion and coverage.

Does A Butyl Elastomeric Coating Require Maintenance

Yes. To maintain the seal – created by the coating – and ensure your roofing system’s longevity, periodic maintenance and cleaning are highly recommended.

Immediately after the following events impact your roof, a professional roofing company should be called to inspect your roof and make any necessary repairs:

• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Hail storms
• Lightning strikes
• Earthquakes
• Long periods of extreme temperature fluctuations
• Vehicle or tree impacts to your building
• Animals nesting
• Insect infestation

Your roof (with or without a butyl elastomeric coating) should be inspected twice annually, once during mid to late fall, and again in late winter or early spring. This inspection/maintenance schedule will help detect and prevent small issues from becoming expensive problems down the road.

Butyl Elastomeric Roof Coating

In this article you discovered what a butyl elastomeric roof coating is, its advantages, and its application.

By installing a butyl elastomeric roof coating on your newly installed or current roofing system, you are providing an extra layer of defense to your commercial property, and extending the life of your roofing system by countless years.

Leaving your roofing system fully exposed to the elements can result in its premature failure and costly repair or replacement.

Sources:
academia.edu/12098985/Exxon_butyl_rubber_compounding_and_applications_manual
pslc.ws/mactest/pib.htm
0-pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.mypanther-lib.pvamu.edu/compound/Butyl%20rubber#section=Information-Sources
rci-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2001-05-schaak.pdf

See Butyl Elastomeric Roof Coating Explained for the first version of this content.