There are plenty of options for repairing or replacing your roof, and one of the latest trends in the roofing industry is silicone roof coating restoration. Silicone coatings are a versatile roofing option that can be used for anything from small repairs, to large-scale commercial roof restorations.
But coating your roof is not as simple as spraying on the coating material, and calling it “done”. There are multiple steps in the process, and it is recommended to have it done by an experienced Denver roof coating professional.
Silicone Roof Coating – Step By Step Process
Step 1 – Assessment
To know whether your roof is a good candidate for a silicone roof coating restoration, you should start with a professional inspection. Your roof coating inspection and assessment will determine if your roof can be coated, and whether it would be eligible for a manufacturer’s warranty. Silicone roof coating warranty’s can last between 5 and 20 years.
Some of the roofs that usually do very well with silicone coatings are: metal roofs, EPDM roofs, TPO roofs, tar-and-gravel/built-up roofs, and modified bitumen (mod bit) roofs. Many commercial roofs are good candidates for silicone coating, while steep-pitched asphalt and tile residential roofs are not able to be coated.
If your roof is a good fit for a roof coating, your Denver roof coating contractor will provide you with a quote and project timeline. After you authorize the work, the only remaining factor is to monitor the weather to find 2-3 consecutive dry days with 45+ degrees (Fahrenheit) temps.
Step 2 – Prep Work
Before any coating can be applied, the entire roof surface must be power washed. Your roofing contractor will use commercial power wash sprayers and scrubbers to clean the roof, which ensures strong silicone adhesion to the roof surface.
Step 3 – Patch and Repair
Vulnerable areas, or areas with existing leaks, are then patched and repaired.
Some of the patches or repairs may include:
- If existing membrane seams are failing, either a polyester mesh with coating or a self-adhesive roof tape will be applied to the seams, then a coat of silicone applied to the seam tape.
- Roof penetrations will be flashed with flashing-grade (thick, butter-like) silicone.
- Perimeter metal flashings, like drip edge, may need to be repaired or replaced before a coating is applied.
Also at this stage, a primer may be applied to certain roof types before the roof is coated. EPDM roofs, for example, often require primer. And asphalt based roofs, such as modified bitumen, SBS, torch-down, or built-up roofs often require a bleed-blocker to prevent the black asphalt from bleeding into the new silicone coating.
Step 4 – Coat the Roof
With the roof surface cleaned and prepped, and all necessary patches and repairs made, the entire roof is then ready to be coated. Coatings can be applied with sprayers, however we recommend the use of rollers to roll-on the silicone in evenly applied coats.
For a silicone roof coating to be eligible for a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, the silicone thickness upon completion should be between 20 and 30 mils (depending on the underlying roof material and silicone manufacturer requirements).
Step 5 – Let it Dry
Silicone roof coatings don’t take long to dry, but should be allowed at least an hour to dry before there’s any chance of moisture. And give the fresh coating a day before it is walked on. Even after it’s dry, use caution when walking on silicone coated roofs as they can be more slippery than other roof surface types.
Silicone roof coating restorations are a great option for many buildings and homes. A coating takes less time, is less intrusive and noisy, and usually costs about half as much as a full roof replacement. Sometimes a roof replacement is the best option, but when a coating will work for your roof, the team at Sol Vista Roofing can help.
