National Coatings Blog

There is no easier way to waterproof your commercial roof than spray applying a monolithic membrane on top of your existing, failing roof.

AcryShield roof coating systems are installed in a few simple steps: a layer of AcryShield base coat with polyester reinforcing fabric embedded into the base coat if necessary, and lastly a layer of AcryShield top coat. These systems are applied over a wide range of roofing membranes to give your existing roof superior waterproofing, industry leading UV protection, dirt pick-up resistance, tenacious adhesion and resistance to ponded water.

A few reasons the AcryShield coatings provide ease of application:

• Applying an AcryShield roof coating systems over your existing roof eliminates a costly and timely roof tear-off.
• These systems are spray applied, removing any need for patching and sealing areas around HVAC equipment, pipes, skylights, etc… These systems are sprayed around those hard to reach and hard to seal areas to create a seamless system for excellent waterproofing.
• No business closure during installation. Throughout installation, there are minimal noise disruptions because there is no drilling, nailing or seam welding during application. The roof coatings used in these systems contain low or even ZERO VOC’s, with no harmful or strong odors, allowing you to keep your business open.
• The AcryShield A502 basecoat eliminates the need for traditional primers or etching rinses to be applied and captured before the base coat can be applied on top of EPDM, Hypalon or TPO. This allows contractors to eliminate installation stages and building owners to save money.
• Installation time is fast with minimal steps and can even be quicker when using the AcryShield Quick-Set base and top coats. These Quick-Set products are formulated to set rapidly in order to resist early wash-off associated with heavy dew and light rain.

Learn more about roof coatings - download Considering Coatings? A Free Guide to Roof Coatings.

In this blog we will touch on some of the most important questions you should ask yourself when considering restoring your aged commercial roof.

1. Quality 
   How long has a particular roof coating manufacturer been in business for? How successful have their products been? Can you get references from previous clients? National Coatings has proven performance for over 34-years with our roof coating systems performing on asphalt, single-ply, metal, concrete and spray foam roofing membranes. Our products have more UV blocking pigments, are richer in performance polymers, and provide superior strength, elasticity, adhesion and durability. Our coatings contain zero or ultra low VOC’s, and contain fewer water sensitive ingredients that incorporate advanced microbial protection. We have successfully applied our systems onto hundreds of millions of square feet of commercial and industrial roofs and walls; servicing Fortune 500 clients in Manufacturing, Warehousing and Distribution, Commercial Property Management, Major Retailing, Entertainment and Hospitality. Click here to read what our customers say about our products and service.

2. Cost
   What is the initial installation cost? Is there a cost associated with roof maintenance or are there any ongoing costs to be aware of? What about long-term investment? National Coatings offers a roof maintenance system that provides an economical approach that minimizes material and labor costs. National Coatings’ ARM system only replaces necessary areas/panels – not the entire roof.  This system allows you to operate your business as usual, with no loss of time to the tenants or occupants inside the building during installation. This permits you to stay open during application with minimal noise disruption and no harmful or strong odors. These systems are renewable indefinitely; delivering an environmentally friendly system that preserves your existing roof membrane while eliminating any landfill waste and fees. The ARM System can be recoated approximately every 10 years, allowing you to keep your existing roof watertight without ever having to worry about a costly traditional roof replacement.

3. Warranty
   Does the roof coating system provide a warranty that will actually protect you if your roof experiences damage? Often times, warranties can be confusing and require you to do your due diligence in reading the full terms of the warranty. Warranties often state FULL COVERAGE WARRANTY or some other headline in large letters but it’s the fine print that you need to really read and understand. What paperwork is necessary to keep your warranty valid? Do specific roofing experts need to evaluate and work on your roof, or can you choose to fix the roof yourself? Are there certain yearly requirements to keeping your warranty active? These are all questions you want to ask your roof coating manufacturer upfront. Click here for information on National Coatings’ warranty.

4. Approved Applicators
   Do you have a recommended roofing contractor with a successful record of installing roof coating systems? Selecting an approved applicator or contractor is more important than selecting a roof coating system with an excellent warranty. If you have done your research and found that the product you are purchasing is of excellent quality, then the next most important thing to make sure of is that you get an approved applicator to install your roof coating system. This helps ensure proper installation, excellent adhesion, superior waterproofing and overall protection to your building. When these things are done properly, your roofing system should last longer than the lifespan of the warranty.
   
   National Coatings requires the use of one of our approved applicators for our full system warranties because we understand the advantage this provides our clients and ourselves. This is beneficial for the building owner and facility maintenance manager because it ensures the contractor’s overall business operations, quality of workmanship and performance of roof installations meet our high standards. We strive to provide our customers with the highest quality roof products and the best roofing contractors to ensure you have a watertight, high performance roofing system that will last you for many years to come. For additional information regarding our Approved Applicator criteria click here and mention your request in the notes section. If you are a contractor interested in become an Approved Applicator, fill out our application.

5. Building Codes
   Is the roof coating, building code compliant? Different states have different building codes and requirements, make sure your roof coating meets those appropriate codes. For instance, in California, Title 24 building code compliance is necessary to increase energy efficiency. Our AcryShield products meet rigorous standards set by ASTM, AIA, FM, ICC-ES, UL, ENERGY STAR, CRRC, Miami-Dade County, and LEED. Click here for a full list of NCC’s credentials and ratings.

For more information on roof coatings, download our Free Guide to Roof Coatings or for more information on National Coatings’ Roofing Systems, download our Product and Application Brochure!

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.

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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!