Ask a room full of roofers and you’ll get a mix of answers. Some roofers swear by it and others steer completely clear of it. So why the discrepancy? 

Are Roof Coatings  just a Quick and Cheap Fix?

The answer is…it depends. Sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t.

Let’s break down the reasons for both logics.

Why Roof Coatings Are a Cheap Fix?

We’ve been on many roofs to evaluate their condition and we can confidently say that there are absolutely coatings that would count as a “cheap fix”.

Cheap in the sense that it may be a product you could pick up the hardware store. And also when it’s not applied under the right conditions, it will wear out sooner.

For instance, in our normal application we always fill in holes, power wash, and clean the roof surface. Someone who doesn’t know to do this might skip many of these crucial steps or simply are too lazy to do the job right.

If you don’t do this step properly there’s a good chance the roof coating won’t adhere properly. In which case, the shelf life is greatly reduced by simply applying it incorrectly.

Secondly, not all roof coatings are created equally. There are some pretty low end roofing products that some commercial roofing companies will use to 1. Win the bid as the lowest priced or 2. Cut corners to make a higher profit.

So between inexperience in application and low quality products that exist, you absolutely will find some roof coatings to be a cheap and quick fix.

 

Why Roof Coatings Can Be A Great Option to Restore Your Roof?

Many traditional roofers who have been doing roofing for a long time may not realize that roof coatings have been innovating rapidly in the last several decades. They have regarded roof coatings as a bandaid to temporarily solve any roofing issues, and that eventually you would still have to replace the entire roof.

So what started as a cheap, quick fix now can compete against a re-roof in terms of durability, warranty, and more.

In some ways, roof coatings are better than a new roof for reasons other than cost. 

• Some Roof Coatings can be re-applied and their warranty be renewable indefinitely.
• Some Roof Coatings have self extinguishing properties against a fire.
• Some Roof Coatings offer reflexivity, thus reducing cooling costs in the Summer.
• Some Roof Coatings are impermeable and thus can withstand ponding indefinitely.

We even know of roof coatings that could be renewed indefinitely. Oftentimes, roof coatings can be a great option to restore your roof. It’s not simply a bandaid, but is THE ACTUAL FIX.

Summary

Roof coatings can sometimes get a bad wrap, but we truly believe that if you combine the right knowledge of materials on the roof surface with experience in application then you can truly solve your leaks once and for all.

Need an opinion on roof coatings or roofing materials? We can help- give us a call at (402) 289-7869.