Coating System Selection Guide

By IB Roof Systems. 

How to know which coating system is right for you. 

Lots of questions come to mind when deciding which coating system is right for you and your customer. It can be hard to know where to start and what questions to ask. For instance, what exactly does a coating system provide and what do you need from a coating? Does it matter how thick the coating is? What are the chemical and physical properties in that specific coating? What existing roof surface can it be installed over and what condition does the existing roof need to be in to have a successful coating project? 

These are all important questions to resolve. Other factors that help determine coating choice are the pitch of the roof, rooftop activity, geographic location, purpose of project (roofing, cold storage, etc.), external environment/chemical resistance, time of year of application, longevity of system required, aesthetics, costs and codes and approval requirements. 

Various types of coatings 

Acrylic coatings are the most commonly used high reflective roof coatings. They are normally water-based, easy to handle and can exhibit good performance in a wide variety of applications. Acrylic coatings (which meet industry standards) exhibit moderate elongation and tensile strength and will provide good adhesion to most roof surfaces. However, because they’re water-based, performance and application limitations do come into play.  

Polyurethane roof coatings are solvent-based and typically exhibit much stronger physical properties and have greater water resistance upon curing and can typically be applied in a wider temperature range than their water-based acrylic counterparts. They also tend to have better adhesion to most roof substrates because of a stronger solvent carrier. Polyurethane coatings for roofing applications can be single-component or dual-component products. 

Single-components use the moisture in the air to cure, while dual-components are a chemical cure. They tend to have three to ten times the elongation and tensile strength of acrylic coatings. However, because polyurethane roof coatings are solvent based, they tend to have strong odors that some may find objectionable. Some polyurethanes have good UV stability while some do not. Single component urethanes have a shorter shelf life and begin curing even before application. Polyurethane coatings should be formulated to meet federal and state VOC regulations. 

Silicone roof coatings are solvent-free and have minimal VOC’s. They typically exhibit much stronger physical properties. Since they are moisture-cured and high solids-based, silicone can be applied at virtually any temperature and often without the need of a primer. They also are usually applied in one coat, so there is a large labor savings. Silicone coatings will maintain their adhesion and remain leak-free even when under the pressure of ponding water. Also, because silicone coatings are specially formulated to be non-sacrificial, they do not chalk away over time. Another benefit of performance-related silicone roof coating is that they are resistant to UV exposure. 

From these choices, select a coating and a manufacturer that has proven testing and history. Having great research and development teams help provide the best products and having the best upfront quality control will ensure consistent top-quality products. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for application as these guidelines are usually based upon the testing of products in all environments and climates with multiple mil thicknesses to ensure the guidelines provided will give you the best performing restoration system. 

If all coatings were created equal, then any coating or mfg. would do. However, all coatings vary drastically from mfg. to mfg. and from brand to brand. So to make sure the coating and mfg. you choose will be best for you and your customer,  we need to look at the companies that are manufacturing and distributing them…And, ask the right questions! 

• What type of quality control measures go into making their products?  

• What product mix do they have that will allow you to complete more projects using the same product lines?  

• How readily available are the products?  

• What products do they offer that will help you complete your projects at a lower labor cost? 

• Are their products manufactured to meet the regulations and environment you want to put them in? 

There are many options out there. Ultimately, you should choose the manufacturer that will support and stand behind its materials.  

While searching, make sure to investigate the various coating options at IBroof.com  

IB Roof Systems provides roof coating solutions for almost every roofing surface. There are solutions for water leaks, to obtain high reflectivity and for complete roof restorations. Their acrylic and silicone systems are ideal for complete roof restoration on just about any building. 

Discover the difference IB Roof Systems can make in your next coating project. 

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

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