Roof coatings are one of the most cost-effective ways to repair, replace, or improve flat room systems. With all their advantages, there is little reason not to consider a roof coating when the time for repair or improvement comes. However, there are various best practices to keep in mind that make your selection of a roofing contractor just as important as the decision to go forward with the coating in the first place.
Considering Your Flat Roof Coating Options
Depending on what you are looking to accomplish and what your building requires, there are different flat roof coating options to consider. The applications can range from waterproofing and sealing to energy efficiency.
At Rainville-Carlson, our consultative approach goes beyond supplying a prescription for your problem. We’ll take the time to understand the overall health of your roof, your goals, and the roof’s history to supply a solution that aligns with your needs now and into the future. We want you to receive the best roof coating possible and that starts with complete understanding.
In that vein, below you will find a few of the best practices we follow that ensure you are getting the correct solution.
Choose the Right Product for the Job
If your goal is to increase your roof’s ability to reflect sunlight and thus reduce heating costs, a waterproof roof coating isn’t necessarily the product you need. Likewise, if you were looking for the best roof sealant and instead applied a coating designed to reflect sunlight, you’d be out of luck.
This is not to say that there are not solutions that meet all of these needs, just that your roofing contractor needs to work with you directly to understand what it is you are trying to do.
Prep the Surface
A roof coating isn’t going to adhere properly or accomplish its goal if your roof is not properly cleaned first. The entire project would be a waste of money otherwise. Rainville-Carlson takes special care to prepare your roof before a coating is applied so that your investment is secured.
Now’s the Time for Repair
You want your new coating to be applied over a freshly maintained roof. If the coating isn’t applied this way, it will end up being broken when you have a repair completed. If your coating was designed to prevent water intrusion into your facility, this partially defeats the purpose.
Consider Coatings in Combination With Membranes
When used together, coatings and rooftop membranes can increase the durability of your solution and can offer a more robust waterproofing and energy efficiency solution. Of course, these systems don’t need to be used together, but the combination is worth asking your roofing contractor about.
Patch Cracks and Porous Areas
One of the main jobs of a waterproofing and sealing coating is to create a waterproof solution. However, no coating in the world is going to stop water from leaking into a large crack or other surface that needs repair. Large areas of porous surface should be sealed to ensure the final coating is doing its job appropriately.
Use Multiple Coats
Just like when you are painting a wall in your house, the best roof sealant or energy efficiency coating is one that uses multiple coats. Even if the roof has been prepared properly with a thorough cleaning and maintenance plan, a single coat might not get the job done.
For example, if your roof is black and you are having a white, reflective coating installed to reduce energy costs, it may be more effective to have two layers. When you are working with Rainville-Carlson, we’ll ensure that you get what you pay for. If your coating is advertised as energy-saving, we’ll ensure it does just that.
A Reliable Coating Solution
No two roofs are exactly alike, so no two coating application jobs should be tackled the same way either. Of course, the general process is the same, and all of the best practices outlined above should be followed in every case. However, your needs may be different.
If we come out to provide an inspection prior to your coating project, our team will provide a comprehensive analysis of what needs to be accomplished to get that project done effectively. From repairs to coating selection, we’ll consider your project from every angle. Connect with us today to get started.
