Roof Coating Types for Flat, Foam and Metal Roofs
Silicone coatings
Silicone is the coating for roofs that hold water. Guides put it at $1.50 to $4.50 a square foot installed, lasting 10 to 15 years, and one maker states its product withstands ponding water permanently. On that maker's data sheet:
- one gallon per 100 square feet gives about 11 mils dry
- at least two coats and 22 mils dry film in total
- 3 to 12 hours of drying before the second coat
- no application if rain is expected within two hours
Ask how the crew handles a forecast that changes mid-job. Silicone also gets slippery when wet and holds dirt, which guides list as its drawbacks.
Acrylic (elastomeric) coatings
Acrylic is the lower-cost option at $0.50 to $3.00 a square foot, with 7 to 20 years of life by guide figures. It's also very reflective: one white acrylic's rated solar reflectance is 0.86 new and 0.80 after three years. The trade-offs show on the data sheet too: ponding resistance of up to 48 hours only, two coats, and no rain or temperatures below 50°F within 12 hours of application. The Florida Building Code's coating table names ASTM D6083 as the standard for acrylic and ASTM D6694 for silicone.
Spray foam with a coating
Spray polyurethane foam goes on as a sprayed layer and then needs a silicone or elastomeric topcoat to keep UV off it. Guides price it at $2 to $6 a square foot and say the topcoat needs renewing every 5 to 7 years. The HVHZ code allows foam over an existing roof only with a product approval, never over composition shingles, and requires two checks after the job:
- an inspection by an authorized representative of the coating manufacturer
- a certification sent to the building official within 30 days of completion
Coatings on metal roofs
On metal, the coating's job is the seams, screw heads and rust. Guides put metal roof coating at $0.50 to $4.00 a square foot, with the price tracking how much rust there is. One maker's prep steps are to tighten loose fasteners, seal fasteners and seams, and wire-brush any rust first. On roofs near the Intracoastal and the beach, ask for that prep to be written into the quote. Panel types and when metal needs replacing instead are on metal roofing.
Why Pompano Beach homeowners call Pompano Beach Roofers
- Calling or sending the form costs you nothing
- Your request goes to one roofer, not a list of bidders
- Ask for tear-off, deck work and the permit on one itemized quote
- Get the roofer's CC or RC license number and check it yourself
When a Roof Coating Makes Sense
The roof underneath is sound
Guides call a coating the final step after the repairs and patching are done. Fix seams, blisters and flashing first; flat roof repair covers those.The roof is dry
Coating over wet insulation seals the water in. A recover in the HVHZ has to pass a moisture survey, and the limits are on flat roof replacement.Heat is the problem
White coatings reflect 60% to 90% of sunlight by guide figures.You're ready to recoat
HomeGuide advises recoating a flat roof every 3 to 5 years in the rainy, high-UV South. Budget for that, not a one-time job.The product is approved
In Broward every roofing component needs a current product approval, coatings included; roof replacement explains the approval check.
See TPO roofing if the roof is past coating and needs a new membrane.