Silicone Roof Coating Pros and Cons

Silicone roof coatings are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for many commercial and industrial applications, and it’s easy to understand why. Silicone is highly durable when applied correctly and lasts much longer than traditional asphalt-based coatings. In addition, silicone can stand up to extreme temperatures and moisture, making it ideal for use on flat roofs in harsher climates.

However, it’s important to note that silicone roof coatings have pros and cons that you should consider before choosing this type of material. In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of using silicone roof coating in detail so you can decide what type of material is best suited for your project. In addition, we’ll examine how its reflective properties can help reduce energy costs; its resistance to impact damage; its longevity; the need for professional installation; and maintenance requirements. Understanding these specifications will help you make the most cost-efficient decision for your needs.

Advantages of Silicone Roof Coating

Due to its many advantages, a silicone roof coating is becoming increasingly popular among roofing professionals. One of the most significant advantages of silicone roof coating is its heat and UV resistance. Silicone roof coating is also known to be waterproof, offering your roof excellent protection from rain and snow.

In addition, a silicone roof coating is relatively inexpensive compared to other roof coating solutions, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious home and business owners. Let’s get into more detail about the advantages of silicone roof coating.

Durability

Silicone roof coating is a liquid-applied membrane that protects your roof from extreme temperatures, UV rays, and other environmental conditions. The silicone coating comprises silicone resins, pigment, and additives combined with a solvent to make the coating flexible. Unlike other coatings, silicone adheres to nearly any substrate, cures quickly, and does not change in performance over time. 

Low Maintenance

One of the most significant benefits of a silicone roof coating system is the low maintenance you will find with it. Compared to other roofing options, such as asphalt shingles or metal, you are not required to maintain them on quite the same level. The material used for a silicone roof coating is a rubber-like product that creates an impenetrable barrier covering your existing roof.

Not only does this keep out moisture, but it also shields your roof from impacts from hail and debris which can cause damage down the line. A silicone roof coating system requires no repairs or maintenance once applied – other than periodic cleaning and inspections. This type of system typically comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. Although the costs associated with applying the product in the first place may be higher than other types of roof installations, considering the years of warranty coverage, they tend to more than makeup for themselves over time in terms of savings on repair and future replacement costs.

UV Protection

Silicone roof coatings are popular for many homeowners and businesses because they offer extensive protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This type of roof coating has special additives that block up to 98% of the UV rays that cause fading, warping, cracking, and other damage to rooftops. Silicone also has superior elasticity, which means it can stretch and return to its original shape without tearing or cracking.

This is a significant advantage over other asphalt-based coatings that may be brittle in extreme temperatures and will crack or become brittle upon extended exposure to UV radiation. Another advantage of silicone roof coatings is their superior longevity, which allows them to keep roofs protected for years longer than their asphalt counterparts.

Reflective Properties

One of the key advantages of applying silicone roof coating is its highly reflective properties. It is much more reflective than other commonly used materials, helping to reflect sunlight away from buildings and keeping them more relaxed. This makes silicone an excellent choice for areas that experience high temperatures during peak hours or seasons.

Additionally, roofs coated with silicone surface material provide excellent protection against heat transfer, helping to reduce air-conditioning costs while keeping occupants cool and comfortable. This can result in a lower carbon footprint and potentially save businesses and residences money on their energy bills yearly.

Waterproof

Applying a silicone roof coating to your existing roof can provide several advantages, especially when it comes to waterproofing. Silicone is a resilient, flexible material that offers excellent waterproof performance and is designed to protect roofs from the elements. It can easily handle extreme temperature changes and requires no special preparation before installation, making it a cost-effective roofing choice for many homeowners.

In addition, silicone roof coatings are known to be longer-lasting than other coatings. They do not require frequent reapplication or retouching. Additionally, they will not crack or peel over time and create additional protection against hail, rain, snow, and other natural weather factors. Finally, silicone roof coatings are available in light-reflecting and dark-colored forms, making them suitable for most roofs on the market today.

Disadvantages of Silicone Roof Coating

Silicone roof coatings can extend the life of a roof and provide excellent weather protection. However, this type of roof coating also has some drawbacks that should be taken into consideration before installation. In this article, we will be discussing the disadvantages of silicone roof coating and why it might not be the ideal solution for some roofs.

Cost

Silicone roof coating is generally more expensive than other roof coatings and sealants. In terms of costs per square foot, silicone typically runs two to three times as much as acrylic and urethane-based coatings. The specific installation price depends on how many layers the roof requires – if yours needs multiple applications, you may rack up quite a large bill for labor and materials. Additionally, should the coating fail or wear out prematurely, it can be costly to repair or re-apply. Depending on the size of your roof’s surface area, silicone’s high cost could end up being a major factor when deciding which type of commercial roof coating is best for your business or commercial space.

Limited Color Options

Silicone roof coatings can offer a range of benefits, but one disadvantage for homeowners is the limited number of color options available. Most silicone roof coatings come in standard colors, such as white or gray. While this could be fine for some commercial properties, it is a major drawback for homeowners who want to choose the perfect color to match the exterior of their home. Some suppliers may be able to provide additional customization options.

However, this could come at a higher cost and it is not always possible depending on your supplier. Furthermore, when tinting silicone roof coatings into custom shades there could be potential problems with curing during the manufacturing process due to incompatible ingredients. It is therefore advisable to contact your supplier before ordering a tinted silicone coating as there may be issues with matching shades and ensuring compatibility with standard products.

Difficult to Repair

Silicone roof coatings can be difficult to repair. Coating repairs must match the existing silicone product and application technique. If the repair isn’t properly done, it can lead to extensive deterioration, or worse yet, create an environment for mold growth. Additionally, silicone roofs are not always supported by manufacturer warranty protection in the event that the initial work is not properly done or there’s a manufacturer defect in the product itself.

Further complicating repair is the fact that many types of silicone roofs require specialized cleaners and protective coatings which may be difficult to find and expensive to use in some areas. It is especially important if you have a one-ply roof system with a high slope so that you hire an experienced roofer who has knowledge about coating products for this type of roof system as well as is skilled in applying torch-down methods without compromising safety standards.

Poor Flexibility

Silicone roof coatings have several advantages for use on flat roof surfaces, such as high reflectivity, strength, and durability. However, there are some drawbacks to using a silicone roof coating as well. One of the biggest of these is that silicone has poorer flexibility than other types of coatings available. Poor flexibility can lead to cracking when the surface shifts or expands due to temperature changes.

Silicone does not expand and contract at the same rate as some other materials and can experience tension when thermal expansion occurs. This can cause surface cracking, which will then usually require costly repairs to fix. It is also more difficult to repair than most common membrane systems since it bonds very tightly with surfaces and takes significant effort to remove if damaged in any way. For this reason, choosing an appropriate type of coating for a particular application is crucial in order to ensure optimal results in different temperatures and with shifting surfaces over time.

Conclusion

When it comes to roof coatings, silicone is one of the most expensive options and is often reserved for low-slope roofs with frequent ponding water. That said, the long-term benefits are strong and can lead to a tranquil peace of mind for property owners. Silicone has been on the market for decades and provides a monolithic waterproof membrane that can be applied even in wet weather. It is truly breathable, and therefore allows any moisture that seeps past to travel upward out of the system.