Typical scope
- Silicone systems for roofs with imperfect drainage
- Acrylic systems for well-drained roofs in dry climates
- Polyurethane where there is rooftop foot traffic
- Asphalt-based emulsions over built-up and modified bitumen
- Reinforced fabric at every seam, penetration and flashing before the field coat
- CRRC-rated reflective products for Title 24 compliance
What restoration involves
The roof is cleaned, usually power-washed and sometimes primed. Seams, penetrations and flashings are reinforced with polyester fabric embedded in coating. Then the field is coated to a specified dry film thickness, generally in two passes. The result is a monolithic membrane over the existing roof, with no tear-off, no landfill charge and no exposing the building to weather mid-project.
Choosing the chemistry
Silicone tolerates standing water better than any other coating and holds reflectivity well under UV, which makes it common on Southern California roofs with imperfect slope. It stays slippery when wet and is awkward to recoat later. Acrylic is cheaper and breathes well but re-emulsifies in ponded water, so it belongs on roofs that actually drain. Polyurethane is tough and abrasion-resistant for traffic areas. Asphalt emulsions suit older bitumen roofs.
When coating is the wrong answer
A coating waterproofs; it does not create slope, dry out saturated insulation or rescue a soft deck. If a moisture scan shows significant wet insulation, that section has to be cut out and replaced first. Coating over wet insulation seals the water against the deck and turns a roofing problem into a structural one. An applicator who skips the moisture survey on a roof with a leak history is selling a two-year fix.
Thickness is the warranty
Coating warranties are written against a specified dry film thickness in mils. A system applied thinner than specified will not reach its rated life regardless of the brand on the pail. Get the mil thickness and the number of coats stated on the contract, and ask how it will be verified.