Not all commercial roof coatings are the same.

Some people may assume that every roof coating product is the same. One contractor years ago said to me, “if it makes the roof white, who cares?” I suppose the who, being the owner, would care about the quality of the materials used on their property. But then again, if no one has ever explained the difference. Many roofers they worked with don’t know the difference either. They wouldn’t know to ask. After reading this article, you will know to ask about the quality of the materials your commercial roofing contractor uses.

 

Let’s talk about Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

One of the more commonly used additives in commercial roofing coatings is Zinc Oxide. Some benefits of using Zinc in roofing coatings are; it resists mildew and algae growth. It can help with chemical bonding. But on the other hand, it can also cause instabilities in the roof coatings. And more concerning. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified Zinc Oxide as a hazardous material.

 

We use better-than-good materials.

At Factory Direct Roofing, LLC, we took out time shopping for materials that live up to the standards we have embraced. We look for a material that has better adhesion and will outlive its advertised service life. We want a material that will provide a superior level of protection for our clients. We decided that using commercial roof coating materials that do not contain Zinc Oxide is the right way to go. The adhesion benefits and the fact that it can cause instabilities in the roof coating are all that we need to know.

 

Premium acrylic resin

The essential ingredient in a commercial roof coating, of course. Does the manufacturer use acrylic resin? The acrylic resin gives your commercial roof coating its strength and flexibility. A higher grade of acrylic resin will adhere better to the substrate and protect your roof. The better the acrylic resin is, the better performance you will get from your commercial roofing coatings.

 

Plasticizers will leach out.

Another no so great additive that some manufacturers use is plasticizers. We discuss why we don’t use commercial roofing coatings with Zinc Oxide fillers. We also avoid coatings that use plasticizers. For one, there is already enough plastic in our environment. We don’t care to contribute to that problem. For the owner, however, you should know that plasticizers can leach out of the coating. It means they leave the coating material and absorb into other materials. Or end up in the air and the environment at large. In the long run, this action compromises the materials, leaving the building owner open to problems.

 

Service and follow-up.

These are a few criteria we use when choosing commercial roof coatings materials. We don’t stop there, however, in the same way that our clients expect and deserve better than good customer service. We look for a manufacturer who will stand behind their materials and show up when we call on them. At Factory Direct Roofing, LLC, we prefer to work with manufacturers with whom we can do business directly. And who will show up when called on without hassle and excuses? 

 

The warranty

It has been said that a warranty is only as good as the issuer of the warranty. Suppose the company shows up and does what is right. That warranty is good. Not all roofing contractors or manufacturers will show up. They often expect the owner to jump through hoops to file a warranty claim. When looking for a commercial roof coatings manufacturer, we look for one with very few hoops—making filing a warranty claim as straightforward as possible. And likewise, if you are one of the clients and suspect you have a warranty claim. We ask that you send us an email, and we will take it from there.

Ready to get started? Estimates are always free.