Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Roof Coatings And Their Benefits

A monolithic and fully adhered liquid that is applied over the roofs is called roof coating. It is applied over the regular roof system. That is why it acts as a covering or a top layer over the traditional roof. This asks for many features that a roof coating must possess. As it is the outermost layer therefore it is also the most exposed layer.

That is why, it is manufactured in such a way that it is able to tolerate a lot of environmental factors like UV and infrared, temperature extremities like rain, hail and the physical damage caused due to these factors. It is very elastic in nature which enables it to endure the temperature extremities without cracking. Hence roof coatings if applied properly over the roofs can provide maximal protection to the roof from these deteriorating factors, ultimately extending the life of the roof.

The advantages that roof coatings deliver cannot be ignored. The foremost benefit is repairing roof leaks. In this way it reduces the cost of re roofing. In addition the reflective nature of roof coatings greatly reduces the cooling cost because these coatings reflect the heat and sun rays, generating a cooling effect. Also these coatings are sometimes used ornamentally. Where roofs are exposed and visible, the roof coatings results in providing a cosmetic effect.

Among many types of roof coatings which are available, the most common ones are polymer-modified acrylic elastomers and polyureas, asphalt cutbacks and emulsions, silicones, SPF and high-performance urethanes. White roof coatings, tinted roof coatings, elastomeric, aluminum and metal roof coatings are also few broad categories of roof coatings.

Elastomeric roof coatings are very versatile and can be applied on a large variety of roofs such as single-ply, metal, asphalt, polyurethane foam or concrete roofs (CSPE, EPDM, TPO, PVC). This compatibility feature is very useful and makes it prominent among other roof coatings. An elastomeric roof coating creates a uniform, seamless and durable surface that remains flexible even at low temperatures. It is very adhesive in nature and provides excellent UV protection for polyurethane foam. Its highly reflective nature not only reduces the cooling costs but also prevents premature degradation. Elastomeric coatings can be employed both in construction phase and the maintenance phase.

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