Benefits of Liquid Applied Roof Coatings

Nothing lasts forever. At some point a building owner or property manager will have to confront the issue of fixing a failing roof.

When a roof starts to fail, most people immediately think their only option is to fix the problem by tearing off the roof completely and replacing it with a conventional roofing system.  A roof tear off and replacement can be extremely costly and is one of the biggest capital expenditures that building owners and property manager’s face.

Multiple studies have been conducted on complete roof replacements, with the costs ranging from $3.50 to in excess of $6.50 per square foot. If we take the average dimensions of a 10,000 square foot roof that replacement could range from $35,000 to $65,000.

Unless you own a machine that prints money, those figures are pretty scary. Up until recently many people were not familiar with liquid applied roof coatings. These coatings can provide building owners and property managers another solution to deal with failing/leaking roofs.

The main types of liquid applied roof coatings are silicone’s and acrylics. Each of these coatings provides its own unique benefits, but for the purpose of this article we will be focusing on liquid applied coatings in a general sense.

Cost Savings

A major benefit of liquid applied coatings is their cost savings. Compared to other roofing methods liquid applied coatings on average can reduce the cost of a roof retrofit  up to one half when compared to traditional methods. Referring back to the example above, a 10,000 square foot roof coating installation would range from $1.75 and up per square foot with acrylic coatings to $2.50 per square foot with silicone coatings based on the system.  The total retrofit cost savings based on these figures would range between $17,500 to $25,000, a significant savings.

Provides a Seamless Membrane

The more penetrations or seams in your roof system, the greater the potential for water to infiltrate your structure. Liquid applied roof coatings are sprayed or rolled onto a roof’s surface, are self-flashing and provide a seamless monolithic membrane. Unlike other roofing methods, liquid applied coating systems do not require additional materials to flash around penetrations in the roof. Liquid coatings can be applied around any hard to reach area.

Time & Labor

Unlike traditional roof systems, liquid applied coatings do not require the roof to be torn off. Instead the coatings are applied directly over the existing roof substrate. This eliminates the removal of old materials from the job-site, excess waste deposited in landfills and fee’s associated with the old roof’s disposal.

Exposure & Convenience

Traditional methods of roof replacement require the roof to be taken off before the new one can be installed. Because liquid applied coatings can be installed over the existing roof system, building owners to do not have to worry about exposing the inside of their building to the elements. Tenants of the building can also remain in the structure while the coating process takes place. There is no need to close down during the re-roofing process or move expensive equipment into storage facilities.

Energy Savings

Many liquid applied roof coatings are CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) rated. A cool roof is designed to absorb less heat and reflect more sunlight than traditional roofs. A CRRC rated roof provides many benefits to a building such as reduced energy bills, improved indoor comfort and decreased roof temperatures that can lead to early aging and failure.

Cool roofs also benefit the environment and the surrounding areas that they are built in. Local air temperatures can be reduced limiting the effect of urban heat islands.

Sustainable & Renewable

Liquid applied coating systems are sustainable and can be re-coated multiple times offering your building another 5 to 10 years of protection. Less materials are used in liquid applied coatings meaning when the project is done, materials headed for the landfill are reduced.

Conclusion

Liquid applied coatings provide multiple benefits to building owners. If you would like to learn how VFI’s products can benefit you give our technical experts a call at 1-800-307-9218.

Stop Metal Roof Leaks Once And For All

SEALGUARD VFI-990 Silicone be applied to a metal roof.

Metal Roofing is one of the fastest growing segments in the roofing industry. Most metal roof manufacturers offer warranties of 40-50 years. Structurally these roofs will last for that time period, however most will fail and begin to leak before then.

These failures usually occur due to poor craftsmanship and improper maintenance of the roof. Common issues that building owners experience with metal roofs are:

• Failure at the seams: This can be caused by the metal panels being formed incorrectly, improper installation and failure of the sealant or butyl tape. Thermal shock as well as overloading can lead to separation or deflection of the seams.  All of these can lead to water and debris penetrating your structure.
• Fastener back-out: As the temperature swings, metal roof panels expand and contract causing shear force on the fastener. Shear is accomplished when two adjacent parts of the fastener are pushed in opposite directions to their contact surface. Eventually, this force will cause the fastener to back-out prematurely leaving a hole in the roof and the metal panel unsecure. Washers used to create a seal beneath the fastener can age, harden, become brittle and crack leading to roof leaks at the fastener point.
• Rust leading to roof failure: Metal panels can rust prematurely if they are damaged during installation. If a screw is used with the incorrect drill point, little metal shavings called, pigtails are created. These pigtails are hot and can melt their way into the paint system and protective coating, exposing the metal panel to the elements. Hail can damage the factory finish of the metal panel causing rust or premature degradation of the surface.
• Deterioration of flashings: Flashing is a material that guides precipitation off of a roof. It plays a critical role in maintaining a roofs integrity. Flashing is installed anywhere a roof joins another structure such as skylights, roof vents, pipe penetrations and chimneys. If a roof system’s flashing fails, multiple problems can occur including water damage, causing it to begin to rot and further structural damage down the line. If water comes in contact with a ceiling wall building owners run the risk of mold developing.

After continuous repairs that never seem to work, most building owners grow tired of throwing money at the problem and replace the roof entirely, which is no small expense and disruptive to every day activity.

Liquid applied roof coatings provide building owners a cost saving solution compared to a full roof replacement.  By applying a Silicone or Acrylic roof coating system, a roof can perform properly, prolonging its life for another 10-15 years with continued sustainability available with a future reapplication of the coating system. A majority of leaks on metal roofs are the result of failures at the seams, fasteners or flashing. VFI’s liquid applied roof coatings will seal your roof and eliminate leaks.

Our coating solutions are:

• 100% Seamless
• Encapsulate fasteners, a main area of concern for water penetration.
• Liquid applied coatings are elastomeric meaning no gaps in the roof surface.
• Stops and prevents rust.
• Self-Flashing

If you have a building with a metal roof and are tired of costly roof repairs contact us. Our knowledgeable experts will assist you in seeing if your roof is a good candidate for liquid applied coatings.

Acrylic vs. Silicone: A Better Understanding

Understanding the differences between different roof coatings can be confusing. Today numerous liquid coating options exists, each having their own strengths and weaknesses. Two of the most popular coating options are acrylics and silicones.

The right information can make selecting the correct coating easier. By knowing the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of each you will be able to make an informed decision on which will protect and extend your roofs life for years to come.

Acrylic Roof Coatings

Benefits

Acrylic roof coatings are an excellent restoration solution to many types of substrates including metal, modified bitumen, built-up, single-ply and spray polyurethane foam. These coatings offer many benefits such as cost effectiveness, high reflectivity, UV resistant properties and ease of installation.

Cost Effectiveness

Acrylic roof coatings are extremely cost-effective, hence their popularity. These coatings installed usually run between $0.20 -0.75 per square foot. Property Managers and building owners can save thousands of dollars when installing this type of coating system.

 Reflective & UV Resistant

Building owners can save money during the summer months by reducing their cooling costs, thanks to acrylic coatings highly reflective and UV resistant properties. Not only do building owners get to reap the benefits of an acrylic coating, the environment and surround area that they are built in do too! Surrounding air temperatures can be reduced, limiting the affect of urban heat islands.

Ease of Installation

One of the biggest attributes of acrylic roof coatings are their ease of use. These coatings can be sprayed or rolled onto a roof’s existing substrate. No tear off is necessary, allowing day-to-day operations to take place and limiting disturbances to building owners.

Limitations

There is no such thing as perfect, the same can be said about acrylic roof coatings. While acrylic coatings give multiple benefits it is important to discuss their limitations to insure your roof is a good candidate.

Ponding Water

Acrylic coatings can provide your roof with many long lasting benefits, but ponding water remains an issue. These coatings are water-based and lack performance when exposed to ponding water for prolonged periods.

If exposed for a long period the coating can become brittle and delaminate from the roof. Before applying an acrylic coating make sure to consult a specialist who can determine if the roofs structure will encounter problems with ponding water.

Cold Temperature Applications

Acrylic coatings should not be applied in extreme cold. Because these coatings are water based they can lose performance when the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Cold temperatures will slow down the dry time and make it harder for the coating to properly adhere to the roof.

Silicone Roof Coatings

Benefits

Silicone roof coatings are highly regarded and for good reason. They are extremely UV stable, provided a high level of flexibility and durability and are made from high solids. Silicone can coat many substrates including metal, modified bitumen, built-up, single-ply and spray polyurethane foam.

Excellent UV Stability

Silicone coatings are highly reflective and can reflect up to 90% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Most silicone coatings are CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) approved. In many climates cool roofs can reduce the cooling load of a building, providing owners and occupants many benefits. These benefits include increased occupant comfort, reduced air conditioning use and decreased maintenance costs.

Extreme Durability & Flexibility  

Silicone coatings provide seamless membranes that can withstand wind-driven rain and sand, oxidation and extreme temperatures. Unlike acrylics, silicone is a moisture cure substance and his highly effective on protecting structures from ponding water.

High Solids

As a high solid component silicone requires less material to reach a desired film thickness when coating a roof. This allows applicators to apply more coating in a single pass saving time and labor.

Limitations

It is just as important to understand the limitations of silicone in order to insure you are getting the most out of your liquid applied roof coating.

Dirt

Dust and dirt are easily attracted to silicone roof coatings. If building owners or property managers fail to routinely maintain the roof and keep them clean, the coating system can lose its reflective properties. This in turn can negatively impact cooling costs and increase internal building temperatures.

 Slippery When Wet

Silicone can become slippery when wet do to its water resistant properties. VFI would recommend using VFI- Walk Pad in safety yellow to insure maximum slip protection in highly foot trafficked areas on silicone coated roofs.

Conclusion Acrylic and silicone coatings are great options for roof restoration. In order to determine which product is right for your roof contact us. A VFI representative will help you make the proper selection.

Roof Waste Prevention: Liquid Applied Coatings Are The Answer

Every year thousands of buildings undergo roof tear-offs and replacement. The tear-off waste created on these projects usually ends up being dumped into a landfill.  It is estimated that more than 8 million tons of tear-off waste are put into landfills each year. This is a shame as that is a substantial amount of waste.

Not only is throwing tear-off waste into landfills unsustainable, but it also drives up landfill fees. Equipped with this knowledge, informed contractors, architects, property managers, and building owners are starting to ask themselves, does it have to be this way? What can we do to help the environment?

The easiest way to reduce tear-off waste would be to never tear off your roof. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, “nothing lasts forever.”

Another option that building owners have is to install a second roof over the existing one. This option is not ideal as it can only be done once. Issues that can arise with this method are multiple tons of weight being added to your roof, putting more stress on your structure. When overlaying a new roof over an existing one, it is challenging to properly inspect the decking to make sure there are no previous or existing leaks.

Liquid applied roof coatings provide the ideal solution for eliminating tear-off waste. These coatings can be installed over the existing roof, multiple times over!

How Long Do Liquid Applied Coatings Last?

The life expectancy of liquid applied roof coatings is directly related to how thick they are applied onto a surface.

VFI’s coating solutions will last between 10-20 years and come with warranties to match! When the first layer of coating needs to be replaced no tear-off is required, simply pour another layer on top of the first coat. Your roof will last another 10-20 years.

Putting Money Back In Your Pocket

The only thing better than saving the environment is saving money! Eliminating tear-off saves you money by reducing labor costs, eliminating dumpster rental fees and landfill fees. If you’re thinking about replacing your roof give us a call and learn about the environmental and cost-saving benefits of liquid applied roof coatings.

Silicone Roof Coatings & The Rain

Spring has finally arrived in the Midwest and that means spring showers. The potential for severe weather also increases this time of year as atmospheric instability can create strong storms unexpectedly. One of the biggest concerns on the minds of roofing contractors is having to roof around rain or an unexpected pop-up storm.

The rain has the potential to seriously damage a building owner’s property, and in turn, can ruin a contractor’s day. Did you know, that SEALGUARD VFI-991 SILICONE can help to not completely shut down your job site?

Most traditional roofing systems require you to tear off the existing roof. This poses a problem, in order to manage an approaching shower or storm, work on the roof must stop long before the rain hits. Tarps must be laid out and fastened down. Even after all this work, there is still a risk that water could penetrate the structure. Strong winds could blow away the tarp or heavy runoff could seep through a hole. All of this extra work is a huge setback and reduces productivity.

A major benefit of using SEALGUARD VFI-991 SILICONE is that very little tear-off is required, if at all. With a tack-free time between 30 minutes and two hours (dependent on atmospheric conditions) contractors have the convenience of working closer to the time before rain hits.

Silicone adhesives by nature rely on moisture to cure. If a contractor is caught off guard, and an unexpected shower pops-up during the coating application, the worst that can happen is dimpling. This is a simple fix and the silicone can be easily recoated after the rain stops.

Conclusion

There is no proper way to install a roof in the rain but SEALGUARD VFI-991 SILICONE can help on rain-sensitive projects. If you’re a contractor and are tired of having to rush to put up tarps when rain threatens, give us a call. Our knowledgeable sales professionals are available to answer your questions about liquid applied roof coatings.

8 Tips To Help Building Owners Select A Commercial Roofing Company

Recoating a roof is one of the biggest investments a building owner can make. Fluid applied roofs can last for 20 years or more, therefore selecting the right company is of utmost importance. Ideally, the company selected will have years of experience, in-depth knowledge, and an outstanding reputation.

Here are some tips to help guide you through the process.

Research

The internet is a great place to start. A simple Google search will bring up multiple local companies for you to choose from. From here you can narrow down your search by looking at case studies on their websites, viewing previously completed jobs and reading reviews.

Another option is to reach out to distributors and material manufacturers and ask them to provide a list of preferred companies.

Ask for referrals from friends, family, and businesses in your area. Make sure the referrals you receive have had work done recently and their projects are similar to yours. Don’t just scan over the list of referrals, make an effort to contact each of them. They will give you their unbiased opinion on their experience working with that company and how they communicated before and after the job.

Are They Properly Licensed, Certified & Insured

Before signing on the dotted line, make sure the company you select has provided proof of the following:

-State Licenses

-Insurance

-Workers Comp

-Liability Coverage

If the company you select does not hold the proper certifications, licenses, and insurance you could be held responsible for alleged wrongdoing or accidents caused by their work. Once documents are provided make copies of them to protect your company.

Experience In The Field

There are many types of roofs and not every company has experience working on each. You wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix a plumbing issue. In this case, you do not want to hire a company that installs residential shingle roofs to apply a silicone coating to your commercial building.

Hiring a company that is not an expert installing your specific roofing type increases the risk of mistakes being made and problems occurring in the future.

The Lowest Price Isn’t Always The Greatest Value

Everyone likes saving money and getting a deal. It can be appealing to select a company strictly based on the lowest bid.

Beware, not all companies use the same products or materials. If a bid comes in substantially cheaper those products could be made from subpar or inferior materials used to cut corners in order to win the job.

In order to better compare materials ask each company to provide a material list with the manufacturer and product names. From here you will be able to request a product data sheet from each manufacturer and compare the specifications.

Size Matters

There is a big difference between a 10,000 sq. ft. roof and a 100,000 sq. ft. roof. You will want to partner with a company that has enough licensed staff to manage your project effectively. Some companies may be too small to handle larger projects.

Ask A lot Of Questions

Selecting a fluid applied roof system is a big investment. If you have questions ask their company, they should be able to answer them in great detail, providing you peace of mind before, during and after the project. Peace of mind is important when making a highly considered purchase; you should feel confident that all of your concerns were addressed when selecting who to work with.

Get A Quote With Multiple Options Provided

Everyone has a budget they have to adhere to. When searching for companies seek out ones that offer different options that are convenient and appropriate for the scope of your project.

Sort Out The Specifics

After selecting a company you are comfortable working with set up a meeting to sort out the specifics. These details should include:

-Start & Completion Dates

-Payment Schedule

-Material List

-Warranties & Specifications For Products & Workmanship

Following these tips will give you the knowledge and confidence knowing you selected a commercial roofing company that has an outstanding reputation, is knowledgeable and can install your roof with the quality your project demands.