While we can talk on and on about the benefits of roof coatings over roof replacement, Armour recognizes that roof coatings may not be ideal or even possible in some situations. Here are a few reasons why we think it would not make sense to use roof coatings.
Excessive Wear and Tear of a Commercial Roof
In our nine seasons of roofing, there have been a handful of roofs we’ve inspected that are just beyond repair or restoration. The obvious reasons are gaping holes and missing pieces that even the strong coating we have would not cover.
Additionally, the extent of the damage may be so severe that the roof coatings would not adhere properly and seal the damage. In these vary rare instances we do offer full roof replacement, but truly as a last resort effort.
Commercial Shingle Roofs
While roof coatings work great on flat, metal, rubber, and single-ply membranes, they aren’t meant to be applied to shingle roofs. Shingles are not commonly used on commercial buildings, and are more commonly used for residential structures.
Since shingles are made of asphalt, coatings cannot adhere to the rough, porous surface of shingles. (It’s also worth noting that applying a coating over a shingle roof may void any warranties and it may also have a negative effect on the overall performance and lifespan of the shingles.)
Severe Structural Issues
If your commercial roof has significant structural problems, such as sagging or excessive deterioration, a coating may not be able to fix these issues. There have been instances where we’ve seen building so old and unstable that it requires an assessment from a structural engineer before further work can be done.
We once walked on a roof that was so poorly deteriorating that, unfortunately, other roof contractors fell through and sustained serious injury. If we can do an assessment from the ground that is conservatively where we start.
Roof Dips and Ponding Water
While this piggybacks off the last point, ponding water indicators that there’s an area in the roof that may be dipping and/or not draining properly. In our experience, the low spot may be because of compressed insulation because of the weight of the water pushing it down or clogged gutters/drainage issues.
Because roof coatings have evolved, we do have one liquid rubber membrane product that can stand up to ponding water indefinitely. Tritoflex 2k is the product we recommend to clients when it’s not feasible to create positive drainage or eliminate ponding. Most of the other roof coatings we carry aren’t suitable for this situation, however.
Summary
In any case, our commercial roofing experts can do an assessment of your roof and recommend the best course of action. It may be to fix the structure, fix drainage issues, or replace the entire roof altogether. Our goal is to present options with your best interest in mind for the short term and long term of your roof.
