If you want to extend the life of your commercial roof, think about getting a roof coating. A fluoropolymer coating is a good choice to consider. However, you may want to talk to your commercial roofer to make sure a coating is a suitable match for your roof and that a fluoropolymer coating is appropriate.

This type of coating can go over all kinds of commercial roofing. The coating has a glossy finish, so it's attractive on your building as well as making the roof watertight. Here's an overview of having this coating applied to your flat or sloped commercial roof.

Make Repairs First

Your roofer needs to make repairs if they're needed before the coating is put on. You might need a moisture test done to see if the insulation boards under the roofing material have water damage. If so, the boards should be replaced so the coating has a long life. Holes and gaps in seams should be repaired too. If the roof is metal, the fasteners need to be checked and rust removed where necessary.

When repairs are finished, the roof has to be cleaned. The roofer might do this with a pressure washer, leaf blower, or stiff broom. Getting the roof ready for the fluoropolymer coating is the biggest part of the job, but proper roof preparation is essential for the coating to adhere and have a long life.

Put On Primer

The roofer may not need to put primer on the entire roof, but they'll probably put it over seams, fasteners, and flashing. These are the vulnerable areas of the roof that often leak, so they need extra prep work. Fluoropolymer coatings can be applied over primed or unprimed surfaces. Your roofer might put down a base coat before applying the coating. The base coat may be acrylic or elastomeric, depending on the type of roofing that will be coated.

Apply The Fluoropolymer Coating

The coating can be applied with a roller or sprayed on. Spraying makes the work go quicker and is easier to do. Multiple coats are often needed. A flat roof might take two and a sloped roof might take more. The roofer has to consider the weather conditions when applying the coating.

If the outdoor temperature is hot, the roofer might need to make thinner applications and more of them to get to the desired thickness. Each layer of coating should be dry before the next one is applied. After the coating is on, the roofer checks that no areas of the roof were missed, especially vulnerable areas such as flashing and seams. With a continuous layer of fluoropolymer coating on top of your roof, it will be watertight and protected from damage.

Contact a professional to learn more about fluoropolymer coating.