Commercial roof maintenance

Elmer's Roofing Service
Hortonville, WI
920-779-9690
Website

Elmer Dowling

Often times your roof gets neglected, as it is unseen. Unless you physically go up onto the roof, you won’t know if there is damage, cracks, splits or blocked drainage unless it begins leaking inside the building. If you wait until this happens, it’s often too late and you are left rushing to choose the fastest roofing option to solve the leaking water as quickly as possible. We want to encourage you to be proactive so you can save yourself the extra cost, time, and stress. Summer is a perfect time to find a roof coating system that fits your roofs particular needs. 

Elastomeric roof coating systems offer multiple advantages over traditional roofing options as they require less time for installation and application, reduced costs, lengthened roof life, and these roof coating systems are sustainable - allowing you to recoat your roof every 10-15 years to avoid a roof tear-off forever. Dry, warm weather is the most ideal weather condition for application of a roof coating system, making the summer an excellent time to restore your roof.

 Traditional roofing requires a roof tear-off after two roofs have been installed on a building. This is a building code law that is enforced and must be abided by; however, installing a roof coating system allows you to avoid a roof tear-off (indefinitely, might I add) as these systems do not bare the weight of a traditional roof, allowing roof coating systems to be exempt from this code. When you restore your roof with one of our roofing systems you save yourself time - no business closures, no tear-off stages, and an easy application process. You also save yourself money - there are no landfill fees and shorter construction time because the roof coating system is spray applied directly over your existing roof membrane. Business is conducted as usual so you don't lose production or sales efforts. Another advantage to roof coating systems is they are seamless. When applied, these systems are sprayed onto your rooftop allowing the coating to spread and bond together; filling gaps, seams, joints and cracks, covering necessary areas around pipes, drains and equipment creating a durable, monolithic, custom installed, watertight roofing system particularly created for your individual roof. Conklin has
been producing quality roof coatings for 40 years with a time tested track record of success!

Call us today to get your roof inspected! 

Elmer's Roofing Service

Roof Coatings in WI

Elmer's Roofing Service

Hortonville, WI

920-779-9690 

My name is Elmer Dowling from WI. I have been in the roofing business since 1976 and in the last 38 years I have installed most of the roofing systems available in the industry to date. I was introduced to the Conklin roof coating business in 2006 and have been building my roof coatings business ever since.

A job I recently did for a client

This is an old client of mine, we shingled her roof about 5 years ago.
At that time her flat roof needed help but she said her grandson was going to fix it for her, then she said he had some silver coating stuff he was using, I told her she was wasting her money but her grandson has done roofing in the past and she trusted him. Well we see where that got her!!
It started leaking two years ago and her grandson kept telling her he would fix it. Again we see where that went!
So finally she called me to see if I could do something to help her out.
Yup sure can and could of 5 years ago but you know how family can be! So now she has a roofing system that will ease her mind and keep her water tight!

Here is a short video of that roof job

Fabric Reinforced (Ply) System

Conklin revolotionized the commercial roofing industry when we introduced white acrylic Fabric Reinforced Coating Systems some thirty years ago. Even back then we knew that white roof surfaces reflect more of the sun's heat rays than darker ones do. So white roofs stay naturally cooler - saving building owners up to 30% in cooling costs annually! 

 There's Nothing GREENER Than Conklin's WHITE!

Contact us today for your next roofing project!
Elmer's Roofing Service
Hortonville, WI
920-779-9690
Visit my website for more info

Elmers Roofing Service

Elmer's Roofing Service

Hortonville, WI

My name is Elmer Dowling from WI. I have been in the roofing business since 1976 and in the last 38 years I have installed most of the roofing systems available in the industry to date. I was introduced to the Conklin roof coating business in 2006 and have been building my roof coatings business ever since.

I started out like most do, with shingles (3-tab, t-locks, Dutch lap, and architecturals) then learned how to install cedar shakes and metal roofing. From there I went on to learn commercial roofing which includes BUR (hot tar) single plys (EPDM, Mod-Bit,TPO's and PVC roofs) and most recently Elastomeric Roof Coatings.

 I am a Trained Conklin Contractor trained in how to correctly install the different coating systems Conklin has to offer.

I choose to install Conklin's Roofing Systems for a couple reasons:
First, they offered training so I would understand what I would be doing. Second they simply manufacture a quality product that has a proven track record for the last 40 years!

Conklin Roofing Systems have been applied to over 2 billion square feet of roofing throughout the United States since 1977.
The Conklin Company provides innovative roofing systems for a wide variety of roofing applications. 

Let me inspect your roof to see how I can
help you with your roofing needs! 

You can contact me here 

 

Or call...... 920-779-9690

Why white roof coatings for low-slope roofs?

Reflective roof coatings like the ones manufactured by Conklin Roofing Systems are the fastest-growing product segment in the fluid-applied roofing market. White roof coatings lower a building's energy use and meet the more stringentperformance requirements for cool roofing in the building codes of many states. As if that wasn't enought, they also restore, protect and beautify most existing waterproofing systems and prolong the life of almost any low-slope roof system (including metal, concrete, EPDM, built-up, and many more).

Architects, legislators and property owners & managers are embracing the idea that building design has a significant impact on energy consumption and sustainability. They are also recognizing that reflective coatings offer huge benefits with few (if any) draw-backs. Energy reduction initiatives promote the use of cool roof materials, and some building codes are now requiring the installation of reflective roof systems.

Lowering energy consumption isn't the sole benefit of white roof coatings. They extend the life expectancy of several commercial roof systems by eliminating extreme roof surface temperatures resulting in extended exposure to the sun. Heavily insulated roof systems (like many in northern states) block radiation from penetrating the building as heat, but in summer months convective heat transfer to the surrounding air and radiant heat transfer are inefficient. The heat has nowhere to go, and roof surface temperatures can soar. Coatings also prevent premature roof deterioration by providing a “sacrificial” layer to take the punishment of weather extremes and events.

Cold weather climates can benefit from roof coatings as well. The NYC Dept of Buildings launched the volunteer-based NYC Cool Roofs Program in the spring of 2010 to install white coatings on 1 million square feet of roofs in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 30% by 2030. NYC.gov states: “a cool roof absorbs 80% less heat than traditional dark colored roofs and can lower roof temperatures by up to 60 degrees and indoor temperatures by 10-20 degrees on hot days.”

Coatings also waterproof and extend the lives of older roofs, protecting the integrity of a roof by reducing thermal-shock roof damage. A cool roof coating moderates the excessive thermal expansion and contraction that otherwise could lead to fastener and seal failures.


Find a Contractor here


ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

White roof coatings help your roof last a long, long time

Reduced energy use isn't the only benefit of white roof coatings like those from Conklin - they also extend the life expectancy of several roof systems simply by avoiding the high roof temperatures associated with exposure to the sun.

Heavily insulated roofs block this heat from penetrating the building as heat, but in summer months convective heat transfer to the surrounding air and radiant heat transfer are inefficient. Consequently, the heat has nowhere to go and roofing membrane temperatures can skyrocket.

High roof surface temperatures can shorten the life of the roofing system
Rubber and other synthetic polymers - and especially asphalt - is susceptible to damage after prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures. Roof temperatures can rise above ambient air temperatures by as much as 90°F, accelerating the rate of degradation of the roofing materials - especially when the roof surface rises to 140°F and above. Significant damage can begin to occur at these elevated temperatures, causing both short-term and long-term performance issues.Service life is cut in half for every 18°F increase in temperature (weighted and averaged over time).

Most people appreciate that white roof coatings result in savings on cooling costs, but enhanced roof longevity - especially in northern states - can be another major benefit that results in at least as much savings. Without white coatings, roof temperatures can soar in the summer months because they typically have a lot of insulation to help keep in the heat during the winter months.

Additional Cost Savings
Since ripping out the insulation every summer is of course impractical, white coatings are one of the best means available to counteract the deleterious effects of high heat levels and enhance the prospects for a long-lasting roofing system.


Find a Contractor here


ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Roof coatings provide a faster Return on Investment (ROI)

Roof coatings like those from Conklin contribute to the bottom-line by producing a Return on Investment (ROI) in just a few years.

A cool roofing installer can apply roof coatings without delay and doesn't need to tear-off your existing roof system. Coatings extend the life of the roof for most buildings and roof systems - regardless of age or the amount of insulation already in place.

Even on a well-insulated roofing system, coatings can extend the roof performance life and provide additional energy savings. A roof coating is complementary to insulation, ultimately lowering roof temperatures and extending the life.

Now is the time look at roof coatings in a new light. They can create the immediate savings you are searching for, and they can contribute to a more energy-efficient, sustainable nation and future economic prosperity.


Find a Contractor here


ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

About Reflective Roof Coatings

Light-colored roof coatings like those offered by Conklin are commonly used in climates that use cooling because dark colors absorb heat, and light colors reflect heat. Roofs have intense solar heat gain (energy) because of their relatively flat exposure to the sun. The intense solar gain raises the temperature of the roof membrane (sometimes near 200F), which increases cooling load in the building and shortens life of the roof. You can lower cooling costs and extend roof life by hiring a certified professional roofing contractor to install a light colored coating (also called cool-coating system) over an existing roof.

Light-colored roofs do reflect some of the incident solar energy. A term used as a measure of reflectivity and absorptivity is albedo. The higher the albedo of a surface, the less energy it absorbs, and the cooler a temperature it maintains. Typical built-up flat roof surface materials such as modified bitumen and tar and gravel (with albedos from 0.10 to 0.20) can absorb over 70% of the solar energy that falls on them and can reach temperatures of 170–200F.

Ultraviolet (UV) light rays can penetrate roofing membranes and cause accelerated chemical degradation of the roofing materials. High-performance elastomeric white reflective coating systems contain substantial levels of UV-blocking pigments that keep heat away. A cool surface reflects the sun’s ultraviolet rays and slows down roof aging. Roofing materials also contract and expand daily as they heat up during the day and cool down at night. A roof with a cool coating doesn’t experience such large daily temperature fluctuations, so it undergoes less thermal fatigue. Reflective roof coatings are usually sold as maintenance products because they extend the life of the roof.

Application

This product is best for low slope or flat roofs which have low insulation levels and mineral cap sheet or single-ply roof membranes. Adding a cool coating is most beneficial for a building which:

♦ Is in a climate with hot, sunny weather during at least part of the year

♦ Uses significant cooling energy and/or has problems maintaining comfort

♦ Has a large roof area compared to the rest of the building’s surface area

♦ Has roofing which tends to crack and age prematurely from sun damage

Prior to 1998 there were few standards regarding effectiveness or quality of products. The industry formed the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) in 1998 to provide information and develop a comparative rating system. Look for reflective information or Energy Star labeling on roofing products.

Performance & Costs

When a dark single-ply roof is coated with a white reflective coating, the albedo can rise from 0.20 to 0.65-0.85 and surface temperatures will remain below 135F in sunny weather. With a lightly insulated roof on a low-rise building in a cooling climate, heat reflective coatings can save over 40% of cooling energy used by the building and have a lifetime of 10 to 15 years. Roof lifetimes will be extended because of the reduced temperatures.

Numerous studies confirm that coatings can reduce surface temperatures by 50-80F and save significant amounts of cooling energy during summer months. Regardless of the amount of roof insulation, buildings tend to show reductions of 25-67% in cooling energy usage.

Typical coating costs can vary from 50 cents to $1 per square foot depending on quality of coating and roof condition. Reflective coatings will extend the life of an existing roof by lowering temperatures, but it cannot repair a failed roof. A high quality coating may last for over 10 years on a roof in good condition and extend the life of that roof.

Availability

Roof coatings are readily available through a large number of manufacturers, including Conklin. The primary barrier to use of this product is the fact that it is viewed by many installers as a maintenance product and not recognized for its energy performance.

If you are interested in white roof coatings for your building, to find a professional Conklin roofing contractor in your area, please click here.

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Reflectance and the Future of Roof Coatings

Reflectance is measured according to strict standards. A perfect reflector would have a value of 100 percent for all wavelengths of light. When just one value of reflectance is given, it usually represents an average value weighted according to intensity across the solar spectrum.

With the growing recognition of reflectance as an important design parameter, reflectance values are being thoroughly measured across the entire solar spectrum (including infrared wavelengths) and accurate values for specific materials and coatings are becoming readily available.

The beauty of a white roof coating like those from Conklin is that the pigments, such as zinc oxide (ZnO) or titanium dioxide (TiO2), scatter a large fraction of the incident photons back into the sky, optimized for reflection in the visible and nearinfrared bands. Metal-oxide pigments used in white coatings scatter light by the same mechanism that light is scattered with by the water droplets in a cloud, or fog; the scattering is due to the tiny particle size. Except for the small particle size, these materials would be transparent to light, because the metal atoms are oxidized, i.e., the valence electrons of the metals are held by the oxygen and do not interact with the incoming photons.

Most white coatings have a very high reflectance across all visible wavelengths and also have a high reflectance for near-infrared radiation (NIR). Typical reflectance values averaged over these wavelengths are in the neighborhood of 70 percent or 80 percent.

Interested in white roof coatings for your building?

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ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Conklin Roof Coatings - Beautiful, Energy Efficient Roof Systems

Video taken by Conklin Roofing Contractors Mike & Jodi Stout of Stout Roofing & Construction (Havana, IL)

Conklin Roofing Systems have been applied to over 2 billion square feet of roofing throughout the United States since 1977.

Conklin’s white roofs reflect the sun’s hot UV rays rather than absorbing them the way black roofs do. Conklin roofing systems & roof coatings have been proven to be energy efficient in some very intense situations and under some very intense scrutiny.

Conklin offers a variety of highly energy efficient roof coating products including Benchmark®, Rapid Roof III®, and Equinox™ Top Coat.

Look for a Conklin Roofing Systems contractor in your area:



ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Liquid-Applied Membranes are Excellent for Re-Covering Roofs

There are two installation options with liquid-applied membranes like those from Conklin: squeegee and spray application. Spray application is generally used with coated-polyurethane-foam systems. Liquid applied systems are highly useful as re-covers for weight-sensitive applications, such as pre-engineered steel buildings.

Coated-polyurethane-foam systems are excellent for adding insulating value to a re-cover roof and fixing slope-to-drain problems. They are sensitive to humidity during installation. If a silicone coating is used, the roof system is not sensitive to grease and oil emissions as silicone is fairly inert.

Squeegee-applied systems are mostly used to prolong the life of an existing smooth-surface roof. They are a good, low-cost alternate to reroofing but are not necessarily a permanent replacement. Newer, liquid-applied roofing systems can last as long as 10 years, however. The caveat is that the roof has to be in fairly stable and dry condition when the new liquid membrane is applied.

Clearly, there are many options available to anyone undertaking a re-roofing project. Sorting them out before going out to bid is the best way to assure the most appropriate roof system is chosen for the building. A properly trained and knowledgeable roofing contractor can help sort through the options.

For those who are not currently working with a particular contractor or who feel uncomfortable having the same entity designing and installing the roof, an architect or engineer who specializes in roof consulting can not only sort out the best options, but also provide construction documents that will allow you to bid out the same work to the best contractors and know that the roof has been optimized to fit the building.

Look for a Conklin Roofing Systems contractor in your area:

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Elastomeric roof coatings last a long time, if not a lifetime

Elastomeric roof coatings like those from Conklin last longer than most products (such as asphalt coatings) typically used on flat roofs. Elastomeric coating has rubber-like properties that return it to their original dimensions after they are stretched or deformed. The coating expands and contracts with the surface to which it is applied.

Over time, heat, sunlight, and cracking due to expansion and contraction will degrade a roof. The traditional model was to tear off the aging roof and replace it after 15 or 20 years. But elastomeric coatings could last the lifetime of the building with regular maintenance, including the occasional cleaning with a hose or power washer and reapplying the coating every 10 or 15 years.

A mere 5-year increase in roof service life should reduce the cost of roofing by 21%, cutting landfill waste from roofing (roofing waste currently represents almost 4% of the total volume of solid wastes in the United States).

Nothing lasts forever, but proper maintenance can extend the life of just about everything - especially elastomeric roof coatings.

Look for a Conklin Roofing Systems contractor in your area:

ROOFING CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Cool Roofing Not Specific to a Single System

Ask any expert to define "cool roof", and his or her explanation will likely include the words “reflectivity” and “emissivity.”

What is a Cool Roof?

Any roof that can boast strong performance in those two areas (the ability to reflect sunlight off a facility’s rooftop while minimizing roof temperature) is a good candidate for the designation of "cool roof".

A cool roof is any roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (the ability to radiate absorbed, or non-reflected solar energy), helping to improve the energy efficiency of the building and mitigating the urban heat island effect.  Most cool roofs are white or other light colors.

The term cool roof can also refer to a geo engineering technique to address global warming through solar radiation management, provided that the materials used not only reflect solar energy, but also emit infra-red radiation (thereby cooling the planet).

Cool Roof Options

The sky is the limit when it comes to choices of systems that qualify as a cool roof - the idea that opting for a "cool roof" limits you to a specific type of product is a common misunderstanding. You can get a cool roof in almost any material you might be considering. For example, Conklin offers cool roofing solutions for fabric reinforced, metal, foam, EPDM, and single-ply systems.

For more information on cool roofing options, please contact a professional roofing contractor in your area that specializes in cool roofing.

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CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Cool Roofs are Affordable and Long-Lasting

The initial cost of a cool roof varies with the type of product specified. For a membrane that is naturally light-colored such as TPO or PVC, there would be no additional cost. But if a membrane is added to make a dark-colored roof reflective, the cost would be higher because it would need to be coated with a reflective roof coating like the ones from Conklin. You may also be eligible to take advantage of one of the rebate or incentive programs that are in place in some areas to encourage the use of cool roofs.

There is a lot of support from utility companies for the increased use of cool roofs, because they are an effective way to decrease peak demand. Offering incentives is a lot cheaper for the utility companies than building a new plant to accommodate everyone’s peak usage.

Emerging evidence points to the possibility that cool roofs actually last longer than standard roofs. Because a cool roof doesn’t heat up as much, it doesn’t go through as much expansion and contraction, which means less wear and tear. RoofPal has data to support the existance of thermal shock, which is caused by rapid and ranging temperatures of the roof surface. Cool roofs do not experience nearly as much thermal shock, which could lead to a 20 percent longer roof life - another savings benefit.

If a roof is well insulated, the effect of a cool roof on energy consumption is reduced because heat from the roof does not penetrate the facility as easily. Insulation does not affect thermal shock or roof life though. There is a “winter penalty” that results when a cool roof reflects solar heat that could reduce heating costs by warming a home or building during winter months, but experts say this penalty is small — perhaps a difference of only about 5 percent.

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CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Cool Roofs are Good for the Bottom Line

From a bottom-line perspective, the major benefit of a cool roof is its potential to deliver energy savings. By reducing the absorption of solar heat through the roof, a cool roof lowers a facility’s cooling load and the energy required to power air conditioning.

Most people may not think of the roof as an energy-saving opportunity, but there has been an Energy Star rating for roof parts for over 10 years. The roof of your building and home provides an opportunity to lower your peak energy usage and to decrease your bills.

A thorough analysis of possible savings will take into account the amount of insulation in the facility and the price of energy in the area. In areas where there is less need for air conditioning and more demand for heating, the energy-saving benefits of a cool roof clearly are not as great. You definitely save more in a warmer climate not only because of weather, but also because buildings in the south and southwest tend to have less insulation.

How much savings can you expect a cool roof to deliver?
It depends on a lot of factors, including geography, materials and whether there are areas where heating and cooling are escaping from the building. But for example, in Phoenix, Arizona it can be 20% or even greater (RoofPal has data on this upon request).

In a hot climate, a cool roof probably saves 10 cents per square foot per year. In the northern part of the country, it is less (more like 3-5 cents per square foot). But still, there is a savings.

Find a Contractor
 

CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN MULTIPLE STATES!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Pitfalls to Avoid with Roof Coatings

Roofs are expensive, and even coatings (which cost much less than a re-roofing job) are an investment that is expected to pay off for the building owner. That is why it is imperative for facility and property managers to ensure the coating is installed by a licensed professional roofing contractor experienced with roof coatings.

Below are a few suggestions if you are planning to have your building coated.

Everyone is not an Expert

If you are planning on having a newly constructed roof coated, bid the roof coating work separately - not all contractors have expertise in coatings.

Time of the Year

Fall and winter are not the best times to apply a water-based acrylic roof coating. Even though the coating will look dry, the shorter days and cooler nights will slow the cure of these types of coatings. Rain, dew and small amounts of standing water can delaminate an uncured coating. You are better off waiting until early summer the next year to apply the water-based coating so it has better conditions to cure. The first 30 days are critical.

Preparation and Adhesion

There is nothing worse than not adequately preparing the roof. Coatings must bond with the roof, so preparing the roof properly for adhesion is vital to coating success. Also, don't get hung up on just one aspect of coatings. There are times when a water-based coating would be nice, but above all else you have to make sure that the coating is compatible with the substrate. Sometimes solvent-based coatings are necessary to obtain the proper adhesion.

Heed the Label

Manufacturers caution you to read and understand the directions on the product labels. Along with over- or under-application of roof coatings, also ensure the contractor intends to apply it to a surface is was intended for.

Coating Old, Worn-Out Roofs

Aged roofs that have not been maintained since they were originally installed may be in such bad shape that a coating alone is insufficient to save the roof.

For buildings with known roof leaks, check the roof and the insulation for wetness and moisture. Leaks need to be fixed first, and wet insulation may need to be replaced. Your roofing contractors should not install coatings over roof systems where insulation is saturated with moisture. Eventually, that moisture needs to escape by evaporation and will blister or delaminate any coating applied over it.

Over-Coating

Although coatings can help mitigate other roofing costs such as the environmental costs associated with disposal of the old roof, there is such a thing as coating too often. Most people look to coatings to extend the life of the roof, but re-coating your roof every 5 years to preserve waterproofing and avoid tearing off the old roof is expensive and can cause business disruption. Plus, keep in mind that coating costs generally are expensed the year they are applied, as they are not capital costs spread over a multiple-year timeline (which can be the case for re-roofing).

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Contractors needed in multiple states!

Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

3 Types of Roof Coatings

There are three broad categories of roof coatings: traditional coatings, reflective coatings and maintenance membranes.

Traditional coatings rely on basic materials that have been used for decades and are designed to be chemically compatible with the existing roof. By protecting the roof from direct exposure to UV light, water and other weather elements, coatings extend the life of the roof. They also serve a secondary purpose of sealing minor imperfections in the roof. Traditional coatings include coal-tar, asphalt emulsions and solvent-based asphalt applications.

Reflective coatings also protect the roof from exposure to sunlight and weather processes, but with the added benefit of reflecting infrared heat. Even modest reductions in roof temperature can significantly extend roof life. This is particularly true for well-insulated roof systems, which tend to be hotter because they cannot shed heat into the building. Well-insulated black roofs are generally seen to have a shorter life than the identical system placed over lower insulation.

Reflective coatings come in two predominant types: water-based white acrylic roof coatings and reflective aluminum asphalt coatings.

Acrylic coatings reduce infrared heat absorption in the roof membrane. These elastomeric coatings help reduce the internal temperature of uninsulated buildings, saving cooling costs. Because they generally contain low VOCs, water-based coatings are more environmentally acceptable than solvent-based coatings and last as long as other coatings.

Water-based white acrylics must be selected carefully. For example, to use a white coating on an asphalt roof, you must specify a coating formulated specifically for asphalt.

More so than other coatings, water-based white acrylics are not intended for use in standing water. If a roof has a tendency to pond, maintenance staff should first fill the depressions where ponded water accumulates before applying an acrylic coating. Their application also is limited to emulsion surfaces, and they should not be applied at temperatures below 45 degrees. For a gravel roof, the recommendations of the manufacturer should be followed. Finally, the curing time should not be underestimated: Water-based coatings can require from six to 48 hours of cure time before the roof can be exposed to rain or cold temperatures. It is crucial that the instructions on the label are followed.

Reflective aluminum-asphalt coatings use aluminum flakes in an asphalt matrix. While they retain slightly more infrared heat than white coatings, they can be applied on a variety of substrates, including metal, single-ply and built-up roofs. Either type of coating can be used on unpainted metal roofs, but only the aluminum-asphalt roof coatings will allow the roof to retain a metallic appearance.

Maintenance membranes use a combination of coating and reinforcing fabric. The membranes are used either as a short-term effort to stabilize a roof that might be compromised and eventually will need to be replaced, or as a longer-term solution that can extend the life of the roof five to 15 years. But simply applying coatings is not the same as applying a complete maintenance system.

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Tired of labor problems and low profit margins?
Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

Roof Coatings Protect and Reflect

There never seems to be enough money for needed roof improvements and maintenance despite the fact that a comprehensive maintenance program is perhaps the best way to protect a roof. When it comes to adequate maintenance, roofing tends to be one of the most overlooked areas because it is out of sight and out of mind. Unless there are water spots on the ceiling tiles or water dropping on somone's head, roofs just go unnoticed.

That should not be the case. More than any other part of a building, the roof protects an organization’s assets. And if the capital budget needs to be protected, roof coatings can help extend the life of a roof, allowing building owners and facility managers to defer the capital costs of re-roofing (and the expensive business disruption re-roofing can cause).

Even for roofs with years of service life remaining, coatings can help protect the original roof from further ultraviolet (UV) and infrared heat degradation. The heat shock that accompanies massiv swings in temperatures has a debilitating effect on watertight seals, flashings, rubber roofing and asphalt. Coatings that reflect the sun’s UV rays and infrared radiation reduce absorbed heat and prolong roof life.

Coatings that reflect heat can also help protect against the other kind of shock — opening the monthly energy bill. Particularly for flat- or low-sloped buildings with air-conditioning ducts that run through the plenum, roof coatings can substantially reduce summer cooling costs (even more true if the plenum space is uninsulated). Cool roofing studies conducted by RoofPal.com demonstrate that cool roofs (those that reflect the sun’s rays) can reduce energy costs for large buildings with moderate insulation by 10-20%.

To use roof coatings successfully, it is critical that building owners and facility managers understand the situations best suited for coating applications. Two situations are common reasons to apply a roof coating:

1. To maximize roof life and minimize energy bills with a roof that reflects harmful ultraviolet light and infrared rays.
2. To make a mid-life roof watertight and maintainable.

Other, less common situations might warrant the use of coatings as well:

• Reflective coatings applied when the roof was installed require periodic re-coating to restore the reflective properties and prolong the life of the roof.
• Coatings also can serve cosmetic purposes. For facilities with roofs exposed to common view beneath a highway overpass, or next to high-rise structures, for example — coatings can improve roof aesthetics.
• Certain coatings also can retard flame spread. These UL-listed coatings are typically specified with the roof installation, though they can be applied later.

Roof coatings aren't always the answer

For all they are capable of, coatings should not be viewed as a cure-all for roof issues. If the roof is not structurally sound, it has to be replaced. You can not just coat a roof and expect miracles.

Coatings are versatile, but they are not appropriate in every instance. In some cases, roofs are significantly deteriorated and the only viable and cost-effective option is a comprehensive tear-off and re-roof.

Do not think of a coating as something that will solve all your roofing problems. If you have a roof leak, you need to fix it before you apply a coating. A coating will probably stop the leak, but that fix won’t last as long as if you fix the leak and then apply the coating.

Overall, roof coatings are a great option in the right situation. The best advice is to contact a professional roofing contractor who specializes in roof coatings to find out if your roof is a candidate.

Tired of labor problems and low profit margins?
Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems!
Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com

New Life For an Old Roof

Conklin has been in the innovation business since 1977, when we formulated the first acrylic roof coatings. Now we’re taking our innovation to new heights by offering a complete waterproofing system for Aged Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE) roofs that can improve and extend the life of the existing single-ply roof.

As TPO and other approved single-ply membranes become weathered, rooftops can crack, leak, and pick up dirt, diminishing their effectiveness and energy-saving properties. Conklin’s elastomeric coatings provide a new, cost-effective solution for repairing and preserving approved single-Ply membrane, resulting in improved energy savings.

An approved single-ply membrane restored with a Conklin Roofing System will deliver all these benefits for years to come:

• Stops leaks with superior waterproofing
• Increases energy efficiency and lowers utility expense with its cool, white, reflective surface
• Extends the life of your existing roof

Professional application of a Conklin Single-Ply Coating System involves:

1. Power washing and cleaning with Wac II Roof Cleaner
2. Priming the surface with Tack Coat
3. Reinforcing the seams with Spunflex® imbedded in Rapid Roof® III or Equinox Base Coat
4. Sealing the entire roof with Rapid Roof® III or Equinox Top Coat

Find a Contractor


Tired of labor problems and low profit margins? Make more $$ spraying coatings with Conklin Roofing Systems! Patton Services | (309) 303-3128 | rpatton55@comcast.net | http://www.whiteroofingsystems.com