A roof coating is a protective layer applied over an existing flat or low-slope roof. It seals surface wear, sheds water, reflects heat and adds years to a roof that is aging but still sound. For a lot of commercial buildings in Dallas-Fort Worth, it is the step between patching the same leaks every season and paying for a full tear-off.
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Why building owners look at coatings
A full replacement is expensive, and tenants, employees and customers have to work around the crew while it happens. Ignoring an aging roof costs money too: leaks, damaged inventory, interior repairs and complaints from tenants. Applied at the right time, a coating gets more years out of the roof the building already has, while you plan and budget for the eventual replacement.
What a coating does
Protects an aging surface
Sun, rain, heat, wind and foot traffic wear a commercial roof down every year. As the surface dries out and cracks, a coating covers it and cuts its exposure to UV and moisture.
Reduces the risk of leaks
Water gets in at seams, flashing, penetrations, low spots and worn areas. Once those are repaired, a coating seals over them as one continuous surface. It should never be used to cover up serious damage. Trapped moisture, structural problems or a roof that has failed across large areas have to be dealt with first.
Puts off replacement
Silicone and acrylic systems over a sound roof typically last 10 to 15 years, and most can be recoated at the end of that time. That gives owners time to schedule a replacement around the business instead of in an emergency.
Why coatings suit DFW buildings
Long stretches of sun and summer heat break roofing materials down faster here. White reflective coatings reduce how much heat the roof absorbs, which lowers rooftop temperatures and can ease the load on cooling equipment under a large roof. How much that saves depends on the building, its insulation and its HVAC system.
Flat roofs also have to drain. Water that sits for days after a storm speeds up wear, so drainage, seams and flashing all need checking before anyone recommends a coating.
Coating or replacement?
Replacement removes the old roof and installs a new system. A coating goes over the existing roof after it has been cleaned and repaired. A coating is usually a good fit when:
Replacement is usually the answer when:
Preparation decides how long it lasts
A coating applied over dirt, moisture or unrepaired damage fails early. The surface has to be cleaned, and seams, penetrations, flashing and damaged areas repaired, before any coating goes down. Your contractor should tell you which coating they recommend, why it fits your roof, how long the work will take and what maintenance comes after.
That is why our process starts with a moisture survey. If the roof does not qualify for a coating, we will tell you, because a coating over a wet roof fails.
We inspect, repair and coat commercial roofs across the Dallas-Fort Worth area from our yard in Justin. Call (855) 741-ROOF to schedule a commercial roof inspection.