Posted on January 5, 2022 by Phillip Camerer

Roof coatings, which are different from the material used in building the roof, are used to help protect against deterioration from weather conditions and extend the lifespan of your roof. Adding a roof coating also provides many benefits such as additional protection, cost-effectiveness, and energy savings. The issue that comes into play is which type of coating is suited best to cover the needs of your roof. Characteristics such as the roof type, age, condition, aesthetics, and even climate all factor in to finding the best roof coating for you. The weather conditions that your roof faces on a daily basis are an important factor. The seasons and temperatures of the climate will give insight into the type of damage that threatens your roof.

Common Types of Roof Coatings

Depending on the challenges your roof is facing will help in deciding the type of coating that is best for your roof. For instance, if you have a large amount of rainfall every year then waterproof qualities and resistance to mold would be incredibly important compared to someone else who has to face unrelenting heat from sun rays. Here are some common types of roof coatings that will help to offer protection and extend the life of your roof.

Elastomeric Roof Coatings

If your roof is needing additional flexibility then a type of elastomeric coating is the best choice for the job. This roof coating allows the roof’s surface to stretch from thermal expansion due to heat without stressing or cracking. Just like how there are several types of shingles, there are also several types of elastomeric roof coatings with different properties such as:

Acrylic Roof Coatings: These are common for their durability as an inexpensive option. Climates with continuous extreme UV rays count on the Acrylic’s highly reflective coatings to help prolong the life of the roof as well as reduce energy bills needed to keep the building cool. Acrylics are also available in a variety of different or even custom colors but overall acrylics are only recommended for roofs that have no issues with drainage as they don’t hold up well against standing water.

Silicone Roof Coatings: This roof coating is the most popular when it comes to juggling UV protection while having resistance to damage from standing water. When compared to other coatings, silicone is highly resistant to weather erosion and deteriorates at a much slower pace. In addition, silicone doesn’t need as much material to achieve the required result meaning it is more cost-effective. On the other hand, silicone accumulates dirt quite easily causing it to gradually lose reflectivity if not cleaned periodically. Another weakness of silicone is its resistance to tearing from foot traffic when maintenance on appliances is needed so incorporating roofing granules is usually recommended at an extra cost.

Urethane (Polyurethane) Roof Coatings: Urethane coatings offer the highest level of protection for your roof. Regardless of whether it’s the level of impact resistance for foot traffic or the level of elasticity and resistance against standing water damage. Compared to the abilities of other roof coatings, urethane is top of the line. To be noted, there are two main types of urethane coatings. The first is Aliphatic which is the higher end of urethane coatings as it is resistant to dirt build-up, and offers a superior level of protection from UV rays while retaining the original color. The other option is Aromatics as it is less expensive at the expense of losing some protection against UV rays.

Reflective Roof Coatings

If your climate supports being more energy-efficient, using reflective coatings will significantly help with heat retention. Reflective coatings are categorized as a ‘cool roof’ as the coating is primarily used to reflect the sun’s rays in order to decrease the amount of heat absorbed into the building. Depending on the circumstances, using this type of roof coating helps decrease the roof’s temperature up to 60 degrees!

Polymer-Modified Roof Coatings

Sometimes upon inspection, a roof will need more than what a standard roof coating will provide. This is when Polymer-modified coatings step up to offer additional protection with better flexibility and performance. Due to the modifications needed for the extra level of performance, it is also costly compared to the standard coatings.

Choosing the Right Roofing Professional

Choosing the proper coating helps improve the performance of your roof while protecting the surface from degrading weather elements. Regardless of whether it is a new roof that needs an additional protective layer of waterproofing or on an older roof to reinforce and extend its life expectancy, each roof has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Thankfully with a professional roofer, you can get direction on the options that are beneficial to your home. Our teams at Phillip Camerer Roofing are professionally trained and have served the four states area for several years. No matter the challenges that your roof is facing, Phillip Camerer Roofing can help you protect it. We are happy to answer any questions or concerns, so give us a call today!