If you are researching ways to fix a leaking roof, are in need of some roof repairs or are looking to do a roof replacement, you will find many roofing specialists who recommend white elastomeric coatings. Though white elastomeric coatings are on the rise in the roof maintenance market, there are several factors one needs to consider before purchasing a white elastomeric coating for your metal roof from any roofing company.
A buildings roof is open to the harshest environments; rain, wind and ultraviolet (UV) rays. The fact that one’s roof is always exposed demands a significant amount of coating to be applied in order to withstand the harsh elements of the environment. Although a white elastomeric coating can be applied using a variety of means such as a brush, a roller, or an airless spray, care must be exercised to ensure that sufficient coating is applied. It is very easy to apply an insufficient amount of coating. If an insufficient amount of coating is applied to your roof, breakdown of the roof membrane will occur at a much quicker speed resulting in more roof leaks.
It should also be known that a white elastomeric roof coating can only be installed on steel roofs when the air temperature is at a minimum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Failure to meet the temperature requirement can lead to major problems in the application process not allowing the material to adhere properly. This 40 degree Fahrenheit requirement limits the amount of days in a year an elastomeric coating can be properly applied to one’s roof. If you live in a northern state where winters tend to be long and cold, there is nothing roofing companies using white elastomeric coatings can do for you until the winter months are gone and past.
Before applying a white elastomeric coating to any roof, it is imperative that the roof surface is checked thoroughly and prepared properly to avoid possible sensitivity to problem surfaces. Extensive repairs to the roof need to be completed prior to application in order for the coating to work properly. Any areas on the roof where ponding water may be an issue must be corrected before application. Standing water on a white-coated surface for over 3 days may permeate the coating to the coating/membrane interface. If water were to permeate the roof membrane, it can result in delamination problems.
Finally, the most important point to be made regarding white elastomeric coatings. Never should a white elastomeric coating be considered a way to correct leaks-the roof membrane keeps water out. White elastomeric coatings are a water-based paint job that have a short life cycle and fade very quickly.
