Blog

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Roof Sealant vs. Roof Coating

Most commercial structures have a flat roof, and if drainage isn’t working correctly, that flat roof can become a swimming pool quickly. A silicone roof coating and a silicone roof sealant will do an excellent job of making the roof watertight. 

The key difference between the two is how and where they are applied to the roof. A silicone roof sealant is excellent for creating a watertight seal around the air vents and vent pipes, over the screw heads, and along the roof edges, whereas the coating goes over the whole roof.

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Roof Coating Installation Process

While silicone roof sealant comes in a tube and is applied directly where needed, like around the vents and vent pipes, along the roof edge, etc., a silicone roof coating is applied with a paintbrush or paint roller over the entire roof.

This method provides even coverage across the whole roof. Coatings can also be sprayed on.

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The Value of Roof Coatings

A silicone roof coating is not the answer to every commercial roofing problem. There is a place and time when it is the best solution. If you want to provide added protection to a new roof, a roof coating is ideal.

Some facility managers also choose roof coatings as an alternative to replacement. This is possible if there is minor damage on the roof.

Some benefits of a silicone roof coating are:

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• Investment protection: On a commercial roof with a steep slope metal roof, a silicone roof coating will extend the lifespan of the metal. 
• Budget-friendly repair: Roof leaks are not always in sync with the budget, and a silicone roof coating can provide a temporary patch until the budget is ready for the expense of a new roof. 
• Energy efficiency increases: An application of cool silicone roof coating can ease the energy used by minimizing HVAC usage.
• Low installation costs: Compared to roof replacement, which costs on average about $11-$15 per square foot, a roof coating costs between $5-$8 per square foot.

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FAQs Regarding Silicone Roof Coatings

How Long For a Silicone Roof Coating to Dry?

Generally, a silicone roof coating is thoroughly dry within eight to 24 hours of application. The weather conditions can affect this drying time. For example, in humid weather conditions, it will take a silicone roof coating longer to dry, but on a sunny and dry day, it will probably be dry within eight hours. 

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How Long Does a Silicone Roof Coating Last?

A properly applied silicone roof coating with the recommended maintenance can give a commercial roof 15 years of service. If choosing to go with a silicone roof coating, always use a contractor with experience.

The application process and the thickness are vital to getting the most mileage from a silicone roof coating. The quality of the coating will affect its longevity.

What’s more, the silicone coating can be reapplied after 10 to 15 years. The coating can be reapplied indefinitely, extending the roof’s lifespan.

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How are Silicone Roof Coatings Cleaned?

You can clean the roof coating with a gentle power wash after removing all the loose dirt, leaves, and debris. There are specialized cleaners made for these coatings. 

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Can Silicone Roof Coatings Be Painted?

A silicone roof coating can be painted only after thoroughly cleaning and drying, but it isn’t easy.

However, the coverage may not be what you expect, so it would be best to leave this project to a contractor who has worked with a silicone roof coating because the coating requires a special type of paint that won’t damage the coating or the roof. 

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Can you Walk on a Silicone Roof Coating?

You must exercise caution if you’re expecting foot traffic on your roof, such as for HVAC maintenance. Silicone coatings are slippery. Walkpads are necessary to walk over a silicone-coated roof safely.

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How Thick Should Silicone Coatings Be?

Silicone is usually thicker than other coatings like acrylic. When applying silicone, you’ll have to consider the warranty length.

For a 10-year warranty, you want to apply 20 mils of coating, while for a 15-year warranty, you’ll want 25 mils of coating. For a 20-year warranty, you need to install 30 mils of coating.

A gallon of silicone covers about 50 square feet of roof.

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Do Silicone Roof Coatings Crack?

One of the many reasons facility managers like silicone roof coatings is that the coatings are very durable. They won’t crack, chalk, or degrade because of prolonged exposure to the sun.

In addition, they take longer to degrade than other types of elastomeric coatings without becoming stiff or brittle. They can also be installed on almost any type of roof, from modified bitumen to TPO.

Finally, they are sprayed over SPF spray foam to protect the foam from cracking and damage from the sun and weathering.

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Understanding Silicone Roof Coatings

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Can you fix a leaking roof in the rain?

Your home’s drywall is probably already saturated by the time a leaking roof is noticed. So, if a roofing contractor can’t get there for an emergency roof repair, something needs to be done to stop any further damage. Here are two ways to temporarily fix a leaking roof: 

Emergency Roof Covering

1. Go to the attic and unroll polyethylene plastic so that it covers 4 feet on each side of the damage.
2. Roll one end of that plastic around 2 by 4 by 8 boards and nail the plastic to the boards so it is sandwiched between 2 boards. 
3. Position the wood along the eaves and stretch the plastic over the roof ridge, so that it covers the leak. Staple the other end of the plastic to another 2 by 4 by 8 board and allow that plastic-wrapped 2 by 4 by 8 to hang over the roof ridge.

If it is going to be more than a day before a roofing contractor can get to you, the following will provide a patch job that will last longer than the above.

Emergency Roof Patching

1. Go into the attic and remove any wet drywall and insulation, then mop or soak up any standing water. Position a piece of plywood across the roof joists and place a bucket under dripping water.
2. Trace the leak to its entry point, which isn’t necessarily where the water is dripping. Often rain will run down the roof rafters, so follow it upwards and you’ll probably find the leak from the roof decking. 
3. Use plywood or a roofing shingle and roofing tar and create a patch by spreading the tar around the leak with a trowel. Then place the plywood or shingle over the hole and press. Follow up by spreading tar around the edge of the shingle or wood with a putty knife. 
4. In the attic, measure the distance between the leak, the gable, and the roof ridge. Once the rain has stopped, get on the roof wearing rubber-soled shoes, and measure the same dimensions on the roof. Fortify the shingle undersides with more roofing tar over the leaking area. 

What qualifies as a roof repair emergency?

A roof that is damaged and leaving a part of the home exposed to the weather and other elements qualifies for an emergency roof repair. The longer the attic and interior of a home are exposed and have a severe leak because of roof damage, the more damage is being done, creating a structural hazard.      

An emergency roof repair is intended to protect your home from the elements while waiting for a permanent roof repair to be completed. An emergency is deemed as such by how the damage affects living conditions and if the home is safe to be occupied. 

Other reasons you might have a roofing emergency on your hands: 

• A large area of missing shingles: One or two missing shingles won’t make the emergency list. But, when you have several shingles missing on the roof you often have an emergency on your hands. Don’t, however, dismiss repairs for one or two missing shingles for long. The damage can develop into an emergency roof repair with a hard wind that will let rain under the remaining shingles. 
• Roof deck rot: A rotted roof deck may require emergency roof repair, especially if the rot is caused by moisture in the attic or improper ventilation. A rotted roof deck is a potential hazard to the structure of your home and should be addressed immediately. 
• The interior is exposed to the elements: If the 2 or 3 missing shingles have left any part of the interior exposed to the elements, this is considered an emergency. 

When is a roof leak considered an emergency?

The roof on your home is meant to provide protection for you, your family, and your belongings. When there is damage to the roof that has left a hole and rain is pouring in most people would consider that a roofing emergency.

Most roofing contractors offer emergency roofing services, but how is the need for an emergency roof repair determined?  A roof leak is deemed an emergency if the roof repair can’t wait, such as when water is profusely pouring into your home.

Another emergency situation occurs when a large area on the roof has been damaged, such as when a tree has hit the roof. This type of damage weakens the entire roof and puts your home in structural danger. If your home is exposed to the elements in any way, you have an emergency situation.

What are the best-rated shingles?

When choosing replacement shingles, you want to make sure you’re choosing the best materials available on the market today. LePierre Roofing always uses materials from leading manufacturers. Here are the top 6 manufacturers that we source shingles and other roofing materials from:

• GAF
• Certainteed
• Owens Corning
• Malarkey
• Atlas
• IKO

We use these materials to ensure our customers get the highest level of quality and service from their roofs.

We choose these shingles because they are composed of the highest quality materials, are highly UV and weather-resistant, are priced right, and have the best warranties around.

What is asphalt roofing made from?

When you choose asphalt shingles for your roofing material, what, exactly, are you getting? Here’s what these shingles are composed of:

• Mat Base: Asphalt shingle roofing material starts with an organic base consisting of wastepaper and cellulose or an inorganic base of fiberglass.  
• Asphalt: On top of the base mat, an asphalt blend is applied for the asphalt and a filler-type mineral is mixed together and applied to the base for waterproofing purposes. Another component is added to make the asphalt shingle roofing material fire-resistant and then the finished product is aerated so that the shingle material is flexible. Flexibility makes the shingles easier to install. 
• Granules: The part seen from the ground is a layer of crushed rock or granules. They are applied in an uncolored state or in any of the many colors that can match any home. Other substances added at this time include an algae-resistant material and a reflective material that helps with energy efficiency.

How long does asphalt roofing last?

Typically, asphalt shingle roofing will last anywhere from 10-25, although some can last 30-40 years. Many factors will affect longevity, including regular maintenance and weather. The type of shingle you choose may also affect its lifespan.

• 3-tab: The cheapest and thinnest type of asphalt shingle typically lasts between 15-30 years
• Architectural: These are thicker asphalt shingle materials consisting of stacked layers of basic shingles that are then coated in asphalt. They are a little more expensive than the basic asphalt shingle roof material, but the architectural shingle has a longer lifespan of between 20-30 years.
• Premium: These shingles are highly impact-resistant and designed to withstand hail and high winds in particular. They last between 25-40 years. 

When should asphalt shingles be replaced?

When considering asphalt shingle replacement, you’ll need to look into several issues including age and maintenance. If you’ve had annual professional inspections, those professionals have likely caught and repaired small issues like minor leaks that will preserve the roof’s lifespan. Maintenance and repairs of any type of roofing are important so as not to jeopardize the home’s structure with more damage. 

The type of roofing materials used, the climate and environment, as well as the maintenance of the roof will all affect the frequency at which a new roof is needed.

High humidity, long-term exposure to UV rays, and severe winter weather can take a toll on any type of roofing, but asphalt shingle roofing especially. After any significant type of weather, it is recommended to have your roof professionally inspected for possible damage.  From hail to high winds, asphalt shingle roofing can be damaged in ways that aren’t visible from the ground or by the untrained eye. 

Age, however, plays the biggest role in determining when to replace the roof. No matter the quality of the shingle, once your roof hits about 25 years of age, it’s a good time to consider replacing it.

Are black or grey shingles better?

What color shingle you place on your roof will matter, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. In warmer climates, lighter shingles like grey shingles will help keep your home cooler. Darker shingles like black shingles are best for cooler climates, in particular places where you get a lot of snow, as snow tends to melt quicker off black roofs.

But, energy efficiency often is not the primary appeal for shingle color choice–most homeowners look for aesthetic appeal and will choose shingles that will fit their home’s architectural style.

Interestingly enough, when considering aesthetic appeal, some people like darker colored roofs because they’ll make your home look smaller, while lighter colored shingles will often make the home look larger.

Is one missing shingle bad?

When you’re roof is damaged, it doesn’t always mean you’ll have to replace it. Usually, simple repairs are in order.

One typical problem homeowners face is missing shingles. While a missing shingle might affect curb appeal, it’s not necessarily something you have to rush to repair.

All this depends on location. A missing shingle that’s not located on a seam might not lead to a leak and leaks are the big worry when it comes to repairing your roof.

That said, anywhere that a missing shingle exists still has the potential for leaks, so getting the repair as soon as possible is essential for the health of your roof.