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If you’re installing a new roof on a commercial building or thinking about replacing an old one, you’ve seen the high-tech options that have been introduced over the past few years, but traditional metal roofing still has a lot to offer.  Many people still opt for metal because of the durability and longevity it offers.  These traditional strengths can be enhanced by roof coating systems that lengthen the working life of your roof and let you postpone the expense of replacing it.

How do roof coatings work?

Like other modern roofing materials, an elastomeric roof coating is a synthetic compound, but it complements and strengthens your existing metal roof rather than replacing it.

– First, the roof is thoroughly cleaned, and rust is removed.

– The next step is a pressure wash with a specially designed cleaner or a rust remover.

– The metal is treated with an anti-corrosive, which helps it resist rust, and a primer that will strengthen the chemical bond between the coating and the roof.

– Fasteners are tightened and, along with seams and cracks, caulked and sealed.

– The coating itself is an acrylic polymer that’s applied to a roof in layers, usually through spraying, but sometimes with rollers and brushes. As it dries, it forms a seamless membrane.

Other benefits

You’ll notice one major benefit almost immediately: lower utility bills.  Elastomeric roof coatings are normally white, which means they’re not only aesthetically appealing, but also reflective. Most of the sun’s rays bounce off before they can be absorbed. As a result, the temperature inside your building will not rise as much as it otherwise would, and your air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard. A roof coating starts paying for itself right away, and the energy savings can be substantial.

Some coatings have received the ENERGY STAR rating from the federal government, and some are considered a “green” building material that earns points toward certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Depending on your location, the benefits of a LEED rating include tax rebates and credits, eligibility for zoning allowances, and discounted insurance premiums.

Finally, the roof coating process will cause very little disruption in your business’s daily operations compared with a complete roof replacement. The difference in noise level and traffic of a small crew with a sprayer or rollers versus a full team of roofers removing and replacing metal panels is dramatic.

Eventually, your metal roof will have to be replaced. You’ll have to shoulder the expense and tolerate the commotion. But why do it before you have to? An elastomeric roof coating can save you money every minute of the extended life it will give your metal roof.