The Pros and Cons of Silicone Roof Coatings
From industrial to commercial buildings, a roof coating can be detrimental to the roof’s longevity. While most roofs should be replaced every 20 years, roof coatings will ensure that yours last even longer than that. And when it comes to choosing the best one, the answer will often be a silicone roof coating.
Silicone-coated roofs come with many benefits, from increased UV protection to better durability, as well as an increased lifespan, compared to other coatings. On top of this, if you choose the best silicone roof coating, it’ll last for nearly as long as a roof, if not longer.
With this in mind, let’s look at the pros and cons of silicone roof coatings while also covering some of their essential aspects and comparing them to acrylic elastomeric coatings.
How Thick Is Silicone Roof Coating
Before we cover the longevity of silicone-coated roofs, let’s check out how thick silicone roof coating is. The coating’s thickness depends on the contractor applying it and its manufacturer. On average, silicone roofing measure 20-30 mils thick.
The actual thickness of the coating is calculated once it’s cured. If the coating is less than what you asked for, there’ll always be an extra layer added. On the contrary, if there’s more than what was agreed upon, you’ll be the owner of an extra durable roof coating at no additional cost.
The longevity will differ depending on how thick the silicone roofing is, and so will the coating’s warranty.
How Long Does Silicone Roof Coating Last
While the exact number of years a silicone roofing will last is determined by its thickness, an average lifespan is 15 years. But, silicone-coated roofs will usually last much longer than that, especially if the coating is applied correctly.
Going back to the coating’s thickness, for 20, 25, and 30 mils, most roofing companies will provide a 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year warranty, respectively. Of course, this doesn’t mean the coating will be destroyed once the warranty ends. In fact, some silicone roof coatings can last well over 20 years.
That being said, let’s find out why silicone-coated roofs last much longer than others and where they are caught lacking.
Silicone Roof Coating Pros and Cons
Silicone roof coatings come with several pros, which is why they’re used so much nowadays.
Longevity
Having already covered this above, it’s still worth noting that silicone roofing is more long-lasting than asphaltic coatings or other elastomeric ones, like acrylic coatings.
Extremely Durable
Due to its composition, silicone coating is very durable in even the harshest weather conditions. This comes down to its flexibility as a material, allowing it to contract and expand along with the roof in significant temperature changes. Also, since it becomes one big membrane once it’s cured, silicone coating can withstand problems like oxidation much better than other coatings.
Can Endure Ponding Water
The best thing about silicone roof coatings is that they aren’t affected by ponding water. Unlike their acrylic counterparts, silicone coatings aren’t water-based, meaning that ponding water won’t dissolve them. In turn, standing water won’t penetrate your roof, adding many more years to it.
Great UV Ray Protection
Like most white roof coatings, silicone coating reflects a substantial amount of UV rays. However, unlike other materials, a silicone roof coating isn’t damaged by this. So, you won’t have to splurge on paying for the HVAC systems to overwork, and the coating won’t lose its longevity.
That said, there are a couple of cons when it comes to roof coatings.
Silicone Roof Coating Cons
Silicone roofing attracts dirt. Alongside other particles, like sand, these quickly add up, and if you don’t wash your roof, they can prevent the reflective properties of the coating. To avoid this, make sure you call us for a power wash every year.
It gets very slippery when wet. While silicone-coated roofs are excellent at resisting ponding water, they’re not rough. This, in turn, makes them very slippery to walk after even a drizzle. So, make sure you have walkable pathways on your roof.
Silicone vs Acrylic Roof Coating
When comparing silicone to asphaltic roof coatings, it’s clearly superior in almost every aspect. Silicone coating itself is considered an elastomeric coating, alongside acrylic and urethane roof coatings.
While urethane is the most expensive of the three and the best in terms of durability, silicone roof coating is still the best among all elastomeric roof coatings.
Regarding silicone vs. acrylic coatings, it’s better to go for silicone if you have a flat roof and acrylic for sloped ones. That’s because acrylic roof coatings are water-based, meaning ponding water will destroy them.
Now that we’ve covered how great silicone-coated roofs are, let’s see how easy it is to apply the coating.
How to Apply Silicone Roof Coating
Applying silicone coating on your roof is very straightforward. All you need to do is wash the roof, add a primer (if needed), and apply the coating. It’s that simple! Also, silicone roofing can be rolled or sprayed on the roof.
However, you’ll need to select the best silicone roof coating to ensure it lasts a long time. Plus, you have to guarantee that your roof doesn’t need any repairs.
Let Us Choose the Best Silicone Roof Coating for You
Admittedly, while silicone roof coating is one of the best options, and it’s effortless to apply to your roof, there could be some issues with the roof itself. That’s where we join the frame!
We’ll take care of the entire elastomeric roofing process, from checking if your roof is eligible for it to applying it and taking care of the maintenance yearly. Call our experts at (833) 315-7663, and they’ll ensure that your roof will be the best it’s ever been.