What You Need To Know About Flat Roof Coatings

There is a lot of hype in the industry about flat roof coatings. Unfortunately, building owners and managers throughout Florida are realizing their limitations and are experiencing many failures. The reason is, coatings are not the ‘solution’ for every problem. Sure, flat roof coatings can be a good investment for many facilities. A flat roof coating can extend the life of a roof because it lowers the roof temperature. It can also lead to additional energy savings as the temperature is reduced. But when a roof has very low slope or the substrate is unsuitable, a coating can be a recipe of disaster.

The truth is, there are so many different types of roofs in use today that specifying a flat roof coating isn’t easy. Different substrates require different coatings. A coating’s adhesion might depend as much on the substrate’s characteristics as on the coating type. In general, it is more difficult for coatings to adhere to hard, smooth, chemically inert surfaces and easier on rough, irregular, chemically active surfaces.

A coating’s adhesion to a substrate often improves when the installers put down a primer or base coat. Most coatings manufacturers recommend certain primers or base coats for managers trying to match a specific topcoat with a specific substrate. Managers should use only the base coat or primer specified by the coating’s manufacturer and only in the right application.

With the introduction of a variety of roof membranes, coating manufacturers have developed a variety of roof coatings to address multiple substrates with different adhesion and weathering characteristics. Due to variations in coating formulations, it’s more important than ever to consult with RAMCON on your needs, budgets and performance requirements to ensure the right coating for the roof substrate and conditions.

 

Coatings do have their place, but falling for a manufacturer or contractor’s ‘sales pitch’ isn’t an effective management technique. We are the one contractor who has specialized crews that can install every type of system or coating for just about every manufacturer. We’ll recommend what is right for your facility, not ‘what we offer’. Our entire goal is to select the right system for your needs and budget.