Author: Dan Stout | March 14, 2023

You've likely never relished the thought of paying for a new roof for your commercial property. And this may be even more true today since inflation and rising interest rates have pushed roofing material costs to their highest point in years.

More than ever before, you might be looking for ways to put off capital expenses, and extending the lifespan of a roof has never been so appealing. One of the best ways to achieve this is with high-quality roof coatings.

What Is a Roof Coating?

A roof coating is a protective layer applied to an installed roof. The coating serves as a barrier against water, ultraviolet (UV) rays, wind and small impacts. Roof coatings are similar to putting a protective film on the front of a cellphone or tablet — they won't prevent catastrophic damage, but they can help defend against wear and tear.

Generally speaking, roof coatings are applied as a liquid. Depending on the specific product, a coating may be applied with a roller or brush, or with a sprayer. This may sound like simply painting the roof, but roof coatings are thicker-bodied than paint, and when cured, they retain elasticity. The coatings move with the roof's expansion and contraction and can withstand continual exposure to the elements.

Coatings are available as acrylics, asphalts, polyurethane and silicone to accommodate a variety of roofing materials, environmental conditions and budgets.

What Are the Benefits of Roof Coatings?

Applying a coating provides many benefits to the roof's physical structure and your property's budget, offering money savings both upfront and over the life of the roof.

Extended Roof Life Expectancy

A coated roof can last longer than an uncoated roof, meaning long-term savings and delayed replacement costs. Coatings do this in several ways:

• They reduce the wear and tear on a roof. They act as a protective barrier against the sun's UV rays, slowing the inevitable degradation of the roof surface. Coatings also protect against small impact damage from storms and fallen tree limbs.
• They reduce the temperature differential on the roof. This reduces the expansion and contraction that often weakens a roof.
• They're resistant to moss or mildew growth. They can reduce potential damage from these biological invaders.

Energy Savings

Roof coatings, especially reflective coatings, shield the roof from the sun's radiation. Coating a black roof with a white material reflects the sun's rays, leading to a cooler roof, a cooler interior and reduced AC costs.

Environmental Benefits

Coatings do more than reduce the energy consumption for single buildings. They also help improve the environment. The "heat island" effect is a phenomenon where an aggregation of uncoated, dark roofs raises the overall temperature in urban areas. A 2018 article from the Yale School of the Environment shows that reflective coatings help eliminate urban heat islands and reduce temperatures in rural areas as well.

Lowering a region's temperature reduces strain on the local energy grid, resulting in lower utility costs and a decreased carbon footprint. Roof coatings also delay roof replacements, resulting in less material in landfills.

Reduced Repair Cost

A roof coating covers the roof with a flexible, water-resistant membrane. Once the coating is in place, minor damage to the coating can be repaired without the need for replacing the roof below it.

Is a Roof Coating Right for Your Property?

Of course, no solution is universally applicable. In particular, asphalt shingle roofs aren't good candidates for roof coatings. Similarly, ballasted or gravel-topped roofs generally can't be coated. Still, the vast majority of commercial property roofs can be coated, often with direct money-saving potential.

To maximize return on investment, it's essential to select the right coating for your property's specific roof. For example, a water-based acrylic coating would be a poor choice for a roof with water ponding. But that doesn't mean you can't use a coating! Instead, consider a silicone coating, which is designed for maximum water resistance.

Similarly, if you need an unusual color for your property's roof coating, a silicone coating system combined with a tinting system can provide almost limitless flexibility.

It can be a little overwhelming to sort through all the roof coating options. If you're unsure about the best choice for your property, talk to your local Beacon supplier.

Subscribe to Beacon