Roof coating can both protect and restore a roof. Besides repairing leaks and minor surface damage, coating acts as a protective membrane for dulling the impact of sunlight, rain, hail and other natural elements. Consequently, the right coating can preserve your roof and maximize its lifespan.
As a water-based solution, acrylic coating boasts eco-friendliness and cost efficiency. It is highly reflective and elastic, making it excellent at cooling roofs. The material’s ability to shrink and expand allows it to perform in all climates, too. This translates into lower hydro bills year-round and longer lasting roofs. Arguably, it is the best-valued coating.
Unlike the acrylic coating, polyurethane is more durable and rigid, suiting high-stress areas best (i.e. around penetrations or flashing). It comes in two varieties: aromatic and aliphaltic.
Aromatic coatings are cheaper but less UV stable. For this reason, roofers typically coat only the base with aromatic and reserve the top for something more sunlight resistant. Aliphaltic is UV stable and thus retains more colour. This makes it the more appropriate choice for top-layer coatings.
Silicone coatings work best on spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofs in extreme climates with lots of sunshine. Compared to other coatings, silicone weathers best; however, it can lose reflectivity over time. Likewise, if you walk along your roof often, silicone is easily damaged and slicker than the other coating types.