If your commercial roof is cracked or leaking, you might be weighing your options for a roof replacement. Consider a spray-on roof coating. This coating gives your roof a protective new surface while sealing leaks and other damage. Here are some benefits of silicone roof coating and how it's applied as part of a commercial roofing system.

Benefits Of A Silicone Spray-On Roof Coating

Your commercial roofing contractor can apply the spray-on coating over your existing roof as long as the roof doesn't have severe damage. This eliminates the need to tear off the old roof and pay to haul away the debris. Silicone can be used as the topcoat for a spray foam roof to protect the roof from UV damage, or the silicone coating can be applied to the membrane or metal commercial roofing to prolong the life of the roof.

Unlike some types of roof coatings that sacrifice themselves to protect the roofing underneath, silicone is a thick substance that forms a new roof surface. It ages like other roofs and may need repairs and an eventual replacement, but a silicone coating could last a few decades.

Since the silicone sprays on thick and cures fast, the contractor can make slope adjustments with the spray to eliminate sunken areas that hold water. However, ponding water isn't much of an issue with silicone since silicone is watertight.

Installation Of Silicone Commercial Roofing

Silicone can also be rolled on like paint, but spraying is more convenient and quicker, and it gives the contractor the most control. First, the roof should be washed and cleared of debris. Then the silicone can be sprayed over the surface to create a continuous layer of waterproof protection. There are no seams since the silicone is sprayed on. The silicone fills in cracks, bubbles, and holes to seal off leaks in the old roofing as it forms a smooth, new surface layer for your roof.

It may not even be necessary to apply a primer before the coating is sprayed on, but your roofer will make that determination before work begins. When the work is finished, your roof will have an attractive appearance and a durable surface that stands up to foot traffic and weather conditions. Silicone is also reflective, so it helps control energy costs for your building.

If your current roof is old and deteriorating, talk to a commercial roofing contractor about your options. Adding a coating could be more cost-effective than making repairs or getting an entirely new roof. Silicone is a durable material with a long life that could protect your building from water leaks for years to come, so it's an option you might want to consider as you examine your choices in commercial roofing.

Share