A roof coating is a monolithic, fully adhered, fluid applied roofing membrane. It has elastic properties that allows it to stretch and return to their original shape without damage.

Typical roof coating dry film thickness vary from paint

Paint

Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...

 film thickness (plus or minus 3 dry mil

Thou (unit of length)

A thou also known as a mil or point, is the verbalized abbreviation for "thousandth of an inch." It is a unit of length equal to 0.001 inch....

s) to more than 40 dry mils. This means a roof coating actually becomes the top layer of a composite roof membrane and underlying system. As such, the roof coating is the topmost layer of protection for the membrane, receiving the impact of sunlight (both infrared and ultraviolet (UV), rain, hail and physical damage.

Benefits

Roof coatings are seamless and when installed correctly, can solve roof leaks on almost any type of roof substrate. Field-applied reflective roof coatings can extend the useful life of nearly every roof

Roof

A roof is the covering on the uppermost part of a building. A roof protects the building and its contents from the effects of weather. Structures that require roofs range from a letter box to a cathedral or stadium, dwellings being the most numerous....

 substrate keeping a roof surface cool and providing a level of protection from the sun and weather. Roof coatings can add 25 years to the service life of a roof and reduce the amount of discarded roofing materials that end up in landfills. The infrared image on the right shows "175°F" on the uncoated (black) section of the modified bitumen roof. The coated (white) section is "79°F". Field studies have shown that cool roof

Cool roof

Cool roofs are the roofs that can deliver high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance...

coatings can lower rooftop temperatures and reduce air conditioning bills.

Application

Roof coatings are easy to install. Smaller roofs in good, serviceable condition can be a weekend DIY project. Larger roofs with leaks and ponding water issues should be restored by a qualified professional.

Tools and equipment

High Pressure Airless Spray Equipment, Pressure Washers with rotary (turbo) nozzle, roof repair equipment and basic painting tools such as brushes, rollers, putty knives.

External links

• Cool Roofs
• Cool Colors Project
• EPA.gov: Cool Roofs
• ENERGYSTAR.gov: Energy Star
• Heat Island
• UK Liquid Roofing & Waterproofing Association