Determining the initial cost of a coating installation can be tricky due to the wide range of coating technologies, brands, application methods, weather conditions, and status of the existing roof. For example, in the original roof from the example in this article, if the building owner were to consider a coating as an option, he or she might find it difficult to decide which technology is best suited. The roof coating manufacturer or a consultant can be a vital part of this selection process. Manufacturers and consultants draw on their knowledge and past experiences to offer viable solutions to suit an owner’s needs. On average, a building owner might expect to pay a quality contractor between $2.50 and $5.50 per square foot to coat an existing roof. Size and specification may decrease or increase this average.
During the warranted life of these two systems, an owner can expect certain maintenance costs to keep the system in optimal condition. These costs are normally in the range of 15 to 25 cents per square foot per year.
Most roof coatings can be re-coated at a cost lower than the original price. As long as the roof substrate is in sound condition, this process can be repeated many times. Recoating a roof can provide annualized savings over traditional roofing methods and over the life of a building, and these savings can be significant.
Conclusion
While TPO has been a low-cost alternative to built-up or modified asphaltic roof systems, roof coatings also provide a viable alternative. When considering the purpose of a roof replacement or traditional re-cover, coatings prove to be lower-cost technologies that, in many aspects, can outperform TPO.
When properly applied, roof coatings help shed water and protect existing roofs from the elements—meeting a building owner’s most foundational need in roofing and reroofing. In addition to performance and cost savings, roof-coating users benefit from less disruption, and the reduction of landfill waste from the lack of existing materials removal. Coatings are now an integral part of the roofing industry, and these types of products are becoming accepted as a financially responsible and indispensable component of a building owner’s investments.
The cost analysis of how much money and time is needed to prepare a surface for coating is something to take into account. In some circumstances, it may be more cost-effective to install a new membrane. For example, TPO can prove a better choice than a coating when the existing roof is deteriorated to the point a coating will not adhere or be able to perform over time.
Fred Wolfe has worked in roof coating manufacturing and installation for more than 12 years. He is the executive director at Roof Control Services. A NACE-certified coating inspector, Wolfe has installed millions of square feet of roof coatings including acrylics, urethanes, silicone, and various specialty systems. He can be reached at fwolfe@roofcontrol.com.
Finding the right coating may be more difficult than you think at first glance. There are lots of factors that play into how you should protect your roof so a bit of research may be required. Thanks for sharing!
What an informative and well explained post. Roof coating has definitely been underutilized in the past but the technological advances are turning the tables and we see them applied more and more on a variety of roofs these days. Great article!