This is the “million-dollar” question in the roof coating industry – “how long do elastomeric roof coatings last?” The answer will depend upon many variables. In fact, we have written some similar information that may help in a previous article called “How Often Should I Coat My Roof?” The generic number of years thrown around the business is simply “five.” Your roof may not last five years between coatings or it may last longer. If the conditions are right some roofs can last up to seven years before recoating. Here are some things to consider when trying to get the most out of your roof coating. Tucson residents with elastomeric roof should used these guidelines.
Use The Best Elastomeric Roof Coating
The best roof coatings last the longest on the roof. We are not going to use this space to let you know the coatings we feel are the worse, instead we will tell you that we believe that the best elastomeric acrylic coating on the market today is Tucson Rubberized 7000. This coatings has the correct amount of solids, the right amount of elongation and is top of the game in reflectivity. There have been studies of the best coatings in the Arizona market and Tucson Rubberized 7000 was at the top of the chart. If you want to make sure your elastomeric roof coatings lasts the longest, start with the best coating.
Apply Two Coats of Roof Coating
The best roof coating in the world will not last 5-7 years in the Tucson heat even if it is applied by the best roofing contractor if it is not applied with the proper thickness. The best way to ensure the proper thickness is to apply two coats of material. Elastomeric roof coatings are water-based. The water in the coating evaporates leaving the rubberized solids to protect the roof. If only one coat is applied the dried rubberized solids will be much thinner. Applying a super thick coating is not feasible because the coatings will crack if applied too thick. This is why it is best to apply two coats. Two coats of premium rubberized coatings should last most roof 5-7 years.
Use Polymembrane Patching For Roof Repairs
Polymembrane (Tietex) is a polyester weave that is used to repair cracks on built-up elastomeric roofs. A polyester patch is saturated and applied over the areas that tend to crack because of movement in the roof materials. These patches will often prevent cracking which will also prevent moisture from getting under the roof coating. If water gets under the roof coating it will begin to lift and will ultimately cause the coating to lift from the roofing substrate leading to a need to recoat the roof sooner than later. The use of polyester membrane is absolutely important to ensure the longevity of your elastomeric roof coating.
Perform Routine Maintenance on Your Cool Coated Roof
Cool coated elastomeric roofs will need routine maintenance. These coatings are strong but they will sometimes rip when the roofing materials expand and contract during extreme temperature swings. Also, if there are areas on your roof where water is ponding greater than 1/4 inch, the coating will break down quicker leading for a need to recoat that area sooner. It is important to check your roof once or twice a year to make sure small cracks don’t turn into larger ones in your roof coating. Tucson heat is brutal against these roofs so it is important to make this a yearly routine. Applying more roof coating or a crack and joint filler or even a polymembrane patch on the cracks when the start will help your entire roof coating will last much longer. Finally, remove the debris while up on the roof. This will go a long way in preventing problems where the debris settles.
These are the major considerations when asking how long elastomeric coatings last before needing recoating. It is impossible to give a concise answer but it is possible to provide the keys to getting it to last the longest. If you follow these four suggestions your roof coating should last a long time before needing to be recoated. If you would like a free inspection of your roof coating in the Tucson area (Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Tanque Verde), give us a call and we can come out and help you determine how much time you have left on your elastomeric coating.