Selecting the Right Coating to Optimize Flat Roofing Performance and Lifespan
When someone utters the expression ‘a roof over your head’, the immediate inference is that they are talking about having a place to live; moreover, the first image that usually comes to mind is the shape of a peak, perhaps with a vertical chimney stack protruding from one of the two sloping sides.
Yet all buildings are not private residences and all roofing does not have a pitch or slope in its design. For commercial properties such as shopping centres, condominiums, office complexes, and multi-level parking structures, flat roofing is a preferred choice due to its wide range of advantages, including:
Flat roof installation is less labour-intensive (lower cost)
Longer lifecycle – better long-term return on investment
Ease-of-access for inspections and maintenance purposes
Toughness – lower overall costs of maintenance and repair
Provides more usable floor area for parking, green roofs, etc.
Offers more functional space e.g. for heating/cooling equipment
Improves energy efficiency (less open area under roof to heat/cool)
However, to optimize these benefits and possibly extend the lifespan of their investment, commercial property owners/managers must take appropriate actions to safeguard their flat roof from unnecessary repair work; one such measure would be to apply a protective coating to the roofing surface.
In the same vein that there are different types of interior and exterior paints for specific purposes and appearances, flat roof coatings are available in various types of material. Several options are offered in order to ensure that property owners/managers can match the coating to the particular composition of their flat roofing; the most common flat roof coatings (listed in alphabetical order) and their corresponding uses include the following:
Acrylic
Can be applied over existing bituminous or non-bituminous roofing
Provide a highly-reflective surface – can improve energy efficiency
Foam
Used on built-up roofing (BUR) systems or single-ply roof systems
Noted for its energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and cost-efficiency
Silicone
Often used to cover/protect spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing
Suitable in high exposures to UV rays, extreme temperature swings
Urethane
Largely installed on concrete (i.e. parking decks) or wooden surfaces
Typically not applied on other types of flat roof materials/membranes
Thermoplastic
Explicitly designed as an economical coating for metal roof systems
Also used on concrete, foam, modified bitumen, and single-ply roofs
Provides durable adhesion/bonding on roofs prone to ponding water
Clearly, there are several variables that must be taken into consideration with respect to coating a commercial flat roof; in addition to aligning the coating to the different types of roofing, other mitigating factors would be:
Structural soundness
Condition of roof surface
Seasonal weather conditions
Predisposition to ponding water
Exposure to chemicals, heat, UV rays
Consequently, to make an informed decision on the best coating option for their specific situation, it would be worthwhile for a property owner/manager to seek the advice of a contractor with considerable experience in commercial flat roof installation, coating, and repair; one such contractor is Dardanoi Group, one of the leaders in Ottawa’s roofing industry for more than 15 years.
Comments