National Coatings Blog

Absolutely! 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 Substrate,  Single-Ply Roof Substrate, Metal Roof Substrate, and SPF Roof Substrate.

Often times your roof gets neglected, as it is unseen. Unless you physically go up onto the roof, you won’t know if there is damage, cracks, splits or blocked drainage unless it begins leaking inside the building. If you wait until this happens, it’s often too late and you are left rushing to choose the fastest roofing option to solve the leaking water as quickly as possible. We want to encourage you to be proactive so you can save yourself the extra cost, time, and stress. Summer is a perfect time to find a roof coating system that fits your roofs particular needs. 

Elastomeric roof coating systems offer multiple advantages over traditional roofing options as they require less time for installation and application, reduced costs, lengthened roof life, and these roof coating systems are sustainable - allowing you to recoat your roof every 10-15 years to avoid a roof tear-off forever. Dry, warm weather is the most ideal weather condition for application of a roof coating system, making the summer an excellent time to restore your roof.

Traditional roofing requires a roof tear-off after two roofs have been installed on a building. This is a building code law that is enforced and must be abided by; however, installing a roof coating system allows you to avoid a roof tear-off (indefinitely, might I add) as these systems do not bare the weight of a traditional roof, allowing roof coating systems to be exempt from this code. When you restore your roof with one of our roofing systems you save yourself time - no business closures, no tear-off stages, and an easy application process. You also save yourself money - there are no landfill fees and shorter construction time because the roof coating system is spray applied directly over your existing roof membrane. Business is conducted as usual so you don't lose production or sales efforts. Another advantage to roof coating systems is they are seamless. When applied, these systems are sprayed onto your rooftop allowing the coating to spread and bond together; filling gaps, seams, joints and cracks, covering necessary areas around pipes, drains and equipment creating a durable, monolithic, custom installed, watertight roofing system particularly created for your individual roof.

For more information on roof coating systems, download our FREE Guide to Roof Coatings and get our Benefits Brochure!

We want to begin this blog by stating National Coatings never suggests or promotes patching or repairing sections of your roof without consulting us first - Call us! We truly are here to help you 800-423-9557. We suggest this specifically because some roofing materials contain ingredients that are incondusive to coatings and when sections of your roof contain these materials, it becomes a much more strenuous process to preserve and restore your existing roof. It can also potentially eliminate your option to save money and restore your existing roof by adding a Roof Maintenance or Restoration System. Thus forcing you into a roof tear-off, which is an expensive and timely project.  

Okay, so let us begin. The three most common applications for roofing repairs when applying a roof coating are the following: airless spray machine, a roller and a brush/broom.

Airless Spray Machine

Using an airless spray machine is an ideal tool for applying roof coating over a roof because it allows you to cover large sections of the roof with less labor and time. These machines pump and disperse the roof coating through a spray tip, spraying a consistent and even amount of coating onto the roof surface. It is recommended that the coating be applied in several cross-directional layers to confirm full coverage. You must keep in mind that wind can create issues with uniformity so be sure to either check the weather conditions before application or make sure you have a wind shield to avoid overspray.

Roller

Rollers for roof coating are similar to rollers for painting. They come in short-nap, medium-nap and long-nap lengths depending on your needs. In some circumstances you will need a specialized roller to ensure full coverage over uneven surfaces and seams. Rollers offer consistency of coating thickness and placement. This application method for roofing repairs is more time consuming than using a spray machine, but may provide better consistency and outcome if you are not too familiar or comfortable with a fast spraying roof coating machine. 

Brush or Broom

Using a brush or soft-bristle broom for roofing repairs is ideal in small areas only. You do not want to coat the entire roof surface with just a brush or broom.  This application method can be beneficial for small areas and those that require a little extra attention to detail for either aesthetics or waterproofing. 

National Coatings provides application guidelines for all of our roofing systems. Make sure you follow the guidelines recommended to ensure proper application and coverage of the roof coating system you choose.  Often times, a spray machine and  roller or even a combination of the three methods discussed above are great tools to have accessible while completing a roofing repair project.

For more information, check out our Guide for Selecting Roof Coating Spray Equipment or contact us!