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Commercial Roof Coating: A Viable Alternative To Replacement?

Coating on a commercial roof.

Does your property need a new commercial roof? Are you actively looking for quotes for a new commercial roof and does it seem to be realistic for you? As you may expect, commercial roof replacement costs vary widely depending upon the system and how it will be used to replace the current roof. It may be advantageous to see if a commercial roof coating is a good alternative to replacing the roof altogether.

Pros and Cons for Coatings

Applying roof coatings to the existing roof membrane can eliminate ponding water on your roof and a coating protects the building from UV rays, resulting in energy savings. There are many types of roof coatings available for prolonging your existing roof’s life including silicone roof coating, acrylic roof coatings, elastomeric coatings to cover the roof surface and preserve it even if the multiple year warranty has run out.

Business Benefits

Commercial roof coatings are essentially designed to be adhered via spray or roll on to an existing roof surface. There are no seams in the application of a roof coating, so it makes the existing roof impervious to leaks due to the structure of the coating. It also doesn’t have any special applications around the HVAC system equipment or other pipes, so it naturally deflects water away from the roof’s surface. These applied elastomeric and polymer surfaces can potentially extend the life of your commercial roof for 5 or more years after the warranty period. Elastomeric roof coatings can literally save the day and your roof!

Roofs Ready For Coatings

With the “BUR” or Built Up Roofs, their top level of flat roof coating is reflective of the sun’s rays, and depending upon the amount of ponding and damage overall, it will benefit from cleaning and application of roof coating. On a metal roof, areas between the insulation and decking being coated can be a lot less money in the long run than replacing large sections of a metal roof. The top layer of modified bitumen roofing is used in flat or low slope roofs and can be coated to protect the asphalt underneath. All of the single-ply roofing systems — TPO, EPDM and PVC can be enhanced with a coating to repair puncture damage and stave off the need to replace the entire system.

When You’ll Need A Coating

Perhaps you’re trying to stop a piece of the roofing that you’ve recently discovered leaking after a big storm. Depending on the amount of damage that has already occurred, a commercial roof coating or recoat might be the solution you need. Rather than a complete new roof replacement, you can still get a great deal of use out of the existing roof with a coating that will fill in the gaps or puncture marks, but you’ll need an inspection by a professional roofing contractor like TEMA before making that final decision.

Which Coating Is Best?

Of the many commercial roofing coatings out on the market, there are certain types that perform  better on certain roofs. Professional roofing contractors like TEMA Roofing can make that determination. Today’s roof coating market includes: Silicone, Urethane, Acrylic and BUTYL. Each fulfill the need to coat the commercial roof and save the existing roof with slight variations.

 

Silicone works well because it’s usually applied white, known as a cool roof which reflects the sun’s rays back into the atmosphere, saving on energy costs due to its reflectivity and it doesn’t expand and contract much with the weather changes after a coating application. Acrylic roof coating has similar properties with expansion and contraction during climate changes but you can apply custom coloring to an acrylic coating and still remain energy efficient. Urethane roofing is usually reserved for high foot traffic roofs due to its high tensile strength and resistance to abrasion. A popular application of this is the spray polyurethane foam or “SPF” coating. Finally, BUTYL elastomeric rubber roof coating is known for its strength and durability but it’s not to be used in low VOC states because it’s not the most environmentally friendly.

Call TEMA Roofing!

The people at TEMA Roofing Services have experience with all types of these high performance commercial roof coating systems, from installation to inspection, service and repair. For the life of your commercial building, TEMA is committed to being partners with you on all of your roofing needs. It’s difficult for a commercial property owner to decide on all the above factors and roofing materials without professional guidance.

With all the types of coatings out there, the best way to choose the ultimate roofing solution for your precise needs is by consulting a seasoned roofing contractor. At TEMA Roofing we play the long game on commercial roofing and will be there for you to help guide you through the process in choosing the right coating for your property. Please call us today!

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Pitched Roof vs. Flat Roof: The Guide For Commercial Building Owners

Pitched roof vs. Flat roof side by side.

As a commercial property owner, it can be difficult to decide between the many roofing options available when replacing an existing commercial roof. As more and more homeowners and commercial property owners opt to modernize the look and responsiveness of their roofing systems, an increasing number of properties end up converting their flat roofs to a pitched roof system.

Are you a commercial building owner who is in need of a cost-effective new roof for your property? Read on to learn about the differences between a flat roof vs. a pitched roof.

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How Long Does a Commercial Roof Last?

Different commercial roofing types.

Whether you’re a new building owner or own multiple buildings, you might have asked yourself, “How long does a commercial roof last?” Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question of your roof’s lifespan. The type of roof typically dictates the number of years you can expect your roof to last. Different roofing materials have varying expected average lifespans. However, regardless of the type of roof, there are steps you can take to get the most years out of your commercial building’s roof.

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Common Commercial Roofing Skylight Issues and Maintenance

Skylights on a commercial roof.

Skylights are a great addition to the roof system of a commercial building. They are becoming more common not only for large commercial structures but also in schools, libraries, and hospitals. Allowing in natural light increases the building’s energy efficiency by reducing the use of artificial light. 

Natural light also comes with added health benefits, too as it increases the health and productivity of the occupants in the building. Natural light even helps ward off symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by allowing more light in during the fall and winter months. While there are many benefits, there are also common commercial roofing skylight issues.

Skylight installation, as with any building component, comes with its own set of challenges and concerns. Learn more about common skylight problems and how to address them. 

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The Delicate Balance Between Commercial Roofing and HVAC Units: What You Need to Know

Commercial roofing with a rooftop HVAC system

High-functioning HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units are important for your commercial building: they provide comfortable air temperatures for everyone inside! But, what’s that have to do with commercial roofing?

Many business owners choose rooftop HVAC units because they eliminate excess sound, improve the look of the building exterior (and are all-around more secure). But, while rooftop placement has many benefits, there is a delicate balance that should be maintained between your commercial roofing and the HVAC system itself. If you move your HVAC unit to the roof incorrectly, it can cause damage to your roofing system. And after installation, it should be a part of your regular roof inspection and maintenance. 

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Commercial Roof Inspection: Do it Yourself or Hire a Professional?

Regular commercial roof inspection helps avoid an early roof replacement

Commercial building owners have a lot on their plate, and sometimes regular roof maintenance falls to the wayside. But, making sure your commercial roof is in good condition is the first step in ensuring safety for everyone inside. 

Annual roof maintenance doesn’t have to mean footing the bill for costly roofing expenditures every year, especially if you’re being proactive about preventative maintenance and commercial roof inspections for peace of mind.  Read more

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Characteristics of Built-Up Roofing

Roofers applying a Built-Up roof system.

Built-up roofing, also known as BUR, is one of the most commonly utilized roofing systems for flat roof commercial buildings. BUR is a roofing method that has been in use for well over a century, and it provides excellent waterproofing protection due to the use of coal tar and bitumen. 

A built-up roofing system is typically constructed of alternating layers of reinforcing material and bitumen, covered with a finishing layer of aggregate material, such as gravel or small stones. 

First, a base sheet is fastened to the roof’s insulation or cover board. A layer of bitumen is then applied to the base sheet which binds with the next layer of reinforcing felt, also referred to as a ply sheet. Ply sheets are heavy-duty reinforcing fabrics strengthened with either organic material or fiberglass. Multiple coatings of bitumen and felt are applied, and after the desired number of layers have been placed, a mineral-reinforced cap sheet or aggregate material is used for the top layer. There are three main types of BUR systems:

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What’s the Difference Between Commercial Roof Restoration and Replacement?

Flat roof in need of roof restoration.

Roof maintenance should be at the top of any commercial property owner’s to-do list. Because lack of proper maintenance leads to faster wear, and replacing an entire roof can be very expensive.

But, even if issues have begun to arise, sometimes there are repairs that can prevent having to replace your entire roof.

Reach out to a trusted professional to see if commercial roof restoration is a possibility before you consider full roof replacement. This guide will help you get started!

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The Best Ways To Winterize Your Commercial Roof

Winterizing Your Commercial Roof

The midwest United States has weather extremes that create tremendous stress on buildings, so you can’t ignore the need to winterize your commercial buildings. Read more

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6 School Roof Replacement Mistakes to Avoid

School roof undergoing service with TEMA Roofing.

Ensuring that your elementary school, middle school or high school has appropriate and safe facilities is paramount, especially when buildings may be in need of roof replacement.

Like it or not, certain decisions can hinder the whole replacement process.  Read more

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