National Coatings Blog

Do Roof Coatings Really Protect Roof Membranes and Extend Roof Life?

Posted by Nicole Gale on Thu, Jun 26, 2014 @ 12:00 PM

roof coatingsAbsolutely! Roof coatings lengthen the life span of your current roof membrane by protecting your roof from moisture and the damaging effects of the sun.

There are three elements that cause the most damage and increase the aging rate of roofs – moisture, ultraviolet rays and infrared radiation. Moisture is obvious as it causes deterioration and rotting of the roof substrate. This leads to a weaker substrate, prone to leaks and other damage inside the building, as well as, in the surrounding areas of the roof.  Ultraviolet (UV) rays are harmful because they initiate a chemical reaction that begins the process of breaking down the roof substrate, weakening its ability to protect the assets below. The infrared radiation is the actual heat from the sun, which intensifies and increases the chemical reaction that is occurring from the UV rays. The combination of the UV rays and infrared radiation is detrimental to premature roof failure and aging.  Roof coatings protect the substrate from this occurring, in turn, lengthening the life of the roof exponentially.

Roof coatings work by reflecting the infrared radiation and UV rays away from the building and radiating the absorbed heat from the roof surface back into the atmosphere. This keeps the roof cooler in temperature, decreasing the aging and weathering process. Cool roofs, or otherwise referred to as white roof coatings or reflective roof coatings, lower the roof surface temperature by up to 90 degrees compared to a traditional black surfaced roof. This is important because according to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) “It is estimated [that] the rate of the aging reaction doubles with each 15- to 20-degree F increase in temperature, so one may theoretically conclude that a dark roof ages at least 32 times faster than a light-colored cool roof.”

There are different roof coatings for different purposes and different substrates. National Coatings offers a wide range of roof coatings for asphalt, single-plies, SPF, metal and concrete substrates to meet your roofing needs. Our maintenance systems protect and lengthen your roofs’ life every 5-10 years so you can avoid a roof replacement indefinitely. Our roof restoration systems restore your already aging roof to a brand new roof that can then be maintained – also allowing you to avoid a costly roof replacement indefinitely.  We specialize in high quality, durable roof coatings to provide you with the ultimate sustainable roofing system. 

For more information download our Systems Brochure or one substrate brochures: Asphalt Roof SubstrateSingle-Ply Roof Substrate, Metal Roof Substrate, and SPF Roof Substrate.

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