Once a roof has been evaluated and it has been determined that it is an ideal candidate for restoration, proper steps must be followed in order to guarantee a successful application of the roof coating to the aged substrate.
- Seam splits, cracks, and gaps must be addressed and solved before the application of the roof coating system begins. While roof coatings can fill small voids and bridge small gaps, they are not intended to solve the larger splits and gaps that can occur in an aged roofing membrane. A trowelable or brushable sealant, such as AcryFlex, is recommended for cracks, surface imperfections, seams and detail areas.
Major leaks need to be resolved. Leaks can create wet areas in the existing roof deck that need to be removed and replaced before a roof coating system is installed. All existing moisture must be removed and/or dried out completely as roof coatings should only be applied to a clean, dry substrate.
- Slope and ponded water issues should be fixed. Proper water drainage on a roof will help ensure the roof coating system will perform to its fullest potential throughout its lifespan. Once an adequate slope has been formed to promote proper water drainage, the application of a roof coating with the ability to provide protection against future ponded water issues is ideal.
- Clean the roof. Power wash or scrub the roof surface to remove any dirt, dust, debris, chalking, etc. Proper adhesion is obtained when the roof substrate is clean and free of anything that would interfere with the coatings direct contact to the roof membrane.
Now that the pre-application stages are complete, choosing a proper roof coating system and specific roof coatings for your particular roof membrane is necessary. If your roof has experienced severe aging, a roof restoration system with a fully reinforced roof membrane is necessary. If your roof has experienced some aging and some failures, a roof maintenance system with customized local reinforcement would be ideal.
Once you’ve determined the system you will install, selecting the ideal roof coatings for your roof substrate is next. Roof coatings are generally created with specific roofing substrates in mind (single-plies, metals, concrete, asphalt, etc.) in order to offer the best adhesion to that particular substrate. It is important to choose a base coat that will adhere tenaciously to your substrate for proper bondage and water protection. Once you’ve determined what type of basecoat you will use, there are several topcoats to choose from that provide different benefits. For example, National Coatings offers several different topcoats for the application over asphalt. The benefits of these topcoats can range from “bleed blocking” properties, low temperature flexibility, fire retardant packages, extra strength capabilities for increased physical abuse, ultra high reflectivity, fast setting and more.
National Coatings can help evaluate your roof to determine if you are able to avoid a costly roof replacement and either restore or maintain your existing roof. Depending on your buildings needs and the benefits you are looking for, we will provide you with a base and topcoat to meet those requirements. Contact us for a roof coating professional in your area!
