Which Type Of Roof Coating To Use?

Roof coatings have been used for centuries to both protect roof materials and make them last as long as possible. Things have come a long way since the first coatings made from tar, especially with the advent of polymers.

Coatings, such as roof sealant, are used on both new builds and also on roofs already in use and can be used on metal, wood, tiles and nearly any material used in the construction of a roof. They protect against sunlight damage, give a waterproof barrier and also make roofs more fire resistant.

They can even help regulate a roof’s temperature, and in doing so, minimise the amount a roof might expand or contract in hot and cold weather.

As such, roof coatings are generally quite thick and are applied in large volumes to form an elastic and hard wearing film layer. As good coating such as these will last for many years.

They can be applied by an expert, or depending on the coating needed, there are resources available to show you how to apply them yourself.

Common roof coatings

The four most popular roof coatings include acrylic, asphalt, silicone and polyurethane. Acrylic coatings are best for areas where the roof will get a lot of sunlight and needs to reflect it.

Asphalt coatings on the other hand, do well in cold and other harsh weathers (although less so in heat). Polyurethane coatings are very durable and so are great if a roof is likely to have a lot of people walking on it, as they don’t tend to mark or scratch so much.

Silicone coatings are good for roofs in areas of heat and a lot of sunlight and they have the added advantage of being able to deal with wet weather well too.

Expert advice

While these are some of the most common coatings, they are not the only ones available. Before selecting a roof coating, it is always best to seek expert advice, which can take into account the type of roof to be coated, the likely weather it will have to withstand, as well as what the building as a whole is used for. If chosen and applied correctly, the right roof coating will protect your roof for many years.