Maintaining A Commercial Roof? Spray-On Roof Coating Basics

One of the most complex tasks for commercial building owners is maintaining the roof. When you're looking for ways to keep your commercial roof in good condition and protected from the elements, you may have encountered spray-on roof coatings. For those business owners who have never dealt with this type of roof treatment, you may wonder if it's a good fit for your building. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know about a spray-on roof coating for your commercial property.

Do You Have The Right Type Of Roof?

Spray-on roof coatings are designed to be used on flat roofing or roofing with a low slope. This is an important consideration because a roof with even a moderate slope may be a challenge to apply a spray-on product to. 

Additionally, you should be sure that your roofing material is compatible with a spray-on roof coating. Your roof should be built-up asphalt, concrete, membrane roofing, metal, or spray foam if you want to be able to apply a spray-on roof coating.

Your roofing contractor can assess the roofing material as well as the slope to help you determine if your building's roof is a good fit for a spray-on coating.

Is Your Roofing Insulation In Good Condition?

Another important factor that your roofing contractor needs to consider before applying a spray-on roof coating is the condition of your roof's insulation. They will inspect the roof with a thermal imaging system to assess the condition of the insulation below the roof's surface.

Ideally, your insulation should still be dry and in good condition. If you have any areas with moisture, that damage needs to be addressed before the roof coating is applied. Small areas can typically be patched, but if you have a significant amount of insulation under your roof that's absorbed moisture and deteriorated, you'll need to have the roof repaired before you apply the coating.

This is an important and highly beneficial step in the spray-on roof coating process because many building owners are unaware of the damage to their roof and will remain so until it leads to failure or leaks. This allows you to address it before it becomes a serious threat to your building.

Do Your Roofing Seams Need Reinforcement?

Once you've passed the initial assessment and the thermal imaging scan, the roofing contractor will then evaluate the seams on your roofing. When the seams start to fail, that can allow moisture below the surface of your roofing, damaging the insulation and your building's structure. That's one of the benefits of having a spray-on roof coating. When the coating is applied, the seams can be reinforced to ensure that they stay sealed and secure. 

Your roofing contractor will get up on the roof to visually inspect all of the seams on the roof. If there are any signs of wear, the seams will all be treated with either a reinforced mesh material or reinforcing tape, either of which will then be sealed before the coating is applied to the roof.

Do You Know What Type Of Coating You Want?

Spray-on roof coatings are usually made from acrylic or silicone. You'll have the ability to choose either one for your roof. Although, your roofing contractor may recommend one over the other depending on your needs.

While both types of roof coatings will provide the ultraviolet protection and barrier that you need, silicone coatings can be applied in cooler temperatures and may last longer than acrylic coatings. Make sure that you talk with a company like Tillotson Enterprise Inc about the differences to choose the one that's the right fit for your building.


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