Are you ready for the winter months? With them fast approaching you need to think about roof coating to add an extra layer of protection from the elements. How do you know to choose the right one though?
There are many factors that go into choosing a roof coating, like reflectivity, tear resistance, adhesion, and elasticity.
You want it to be able to stand up to anything and last you more than a few years. In this article, we’re going to go over these and other factors that you need to consider when choosing a proper coating for your roof.
1. Consider Reflectivity
Reflectivity is the coating’s ability to reflect light away from your roof. This is important to consider if you want to save money on your power bill. A roof with high reflectivity will keep your roof cool which means less heat will get into your home.
A cool roof will keep all of your roof components working as they should and not only reduce maintenance costs but wear and tear damage as well. Things like flashing rely on screws to stay in place, and high heat will eventually cause the metal to warp and the screws to pop out for example.
2. Look at Tear Resistance
Tear resistance is important for rooftops that are going to be used quite often. So if you own a business that has a rooftop sitting area, you’re going to want to think about tear resistance because you’ll have people sitting on it.
Coating tends to also wear down as the environment changes so if you get one with a large tear resistance you won’t have to worry about that as much.
3. Research Moisture Gain
When you’re deciding on a roof coating you want to find one that doesn’t soak up a lot of moisture. In fact, you want it to actually repel water. If it pulls in too much moisture that could lead to rot and other issues.
There are two things you want to look at when considering moisture gain and that’s perm factor and moisture gain by weight.
Perm Factor
The perm factor measures the amount of water vapor that the coating will allow through it. When looking at this, you want to go for the one with the smallest number.
The lower the number, the less vapor that the coating will allow through it. This means it’s less likely for moisture to build up and get inside the roof.
Moisture Gain By Weight
This moisture gain by weight is exactly what we stated above. It’s the roof’s ability to repel water instead of absorbing it. You want water and precipitation to run off the roof rather than be absorbed into the material.
If it’s absorbed into the roof it can cause leaks and make the roof age before it’s time which leads to costly repairs on down the road. So when you’re looking for a coating, you want it to have both these things to be effective, especially during the winter when there is so much snow.
4. Check Out Adhesion
You want a roof coating that’s going to stick around year after year through the toughest conditions. This is why you want to check out its adhesion. Adhesion is the measure of the roof’s ability to withstand various weather conditions.
If the coating can’t stay adhered to the roof for very long, then it’s not exactly doing its job. If it can’t withstand rain, and snowy weather than it will leave your roof vulnerable and could cause it to crumble.
5. What is it’s Elasticity
Elasticity is exactly as it sounds. It’s the coating’s ability to stretch as the roof does. Now you may be asking the roof stretches?
The answer is yes. As the weather changes the roof contracts and expands. It’s notorious for doing this in the hot summer months and you need a coating that’s going to move with it.
To be more specific the coating needs to move with it while not cracking or breaking apart. Not only do you need it to expand without breaking but you need it to recover when the roof material shrinks back as well.
Think of it like bubblegum. Bubblegum can stretch far, but it just gets thinner as it goes. You don’t want your coating to do this.
6. Tensile Strength New and Aged
Tensile strength is the coating’s ability to stay together and not break. Roofing companies usually do a measure of the tensile strength but it’s always a measurement of the coating’s ability when it’s new. They don’t account for when it starts to break down after a while.
It’s inevitable that its tensile strength will break down over time due to the elements. This is why you want to go with a product that has a reading for when it’s new and after it’s been used for a bit. this will give you a good idea of how long you can have the coating before you have to replace it.
Choosing the Right Roof Coating for Your Home or Business
Since the cold weather is starting to sneak in, it’s not too late to consider adding on a roof coating or replacing an old one. There is a lot to look at when choosing one such as it’s elasticity, it’s tensile strength, tear resistance and moisture gain. Keep your roof protected year round!
Do you need to get your roof inspected for any damages? Contact us to make an appointment today.
