A roof is an expensive investment, and as a savvy homeowner, you should be looking for ways to protect that investment. The longer your roof lasts, the longer it will be before you have to pay for a new one. There are several things that you can do to ensure that your roof lasts as long as possible, including having your roof regularly inspected and maintained. However, you can also take proactive measures by having a roof coating applied. Roof coatings help prevent leaks and wear and tear from the elements, and can have other benefits as well. But there are several types of roof coatings on the market. Which one is right for you? Take a look at two of the best choices.
Acrylic
Acrylic coatings are typically white reflective coatings, but you can find them in a number of other colors as well, so you have the option of choosing the coating that best complements your home. However, the white reflective color serves an important purpose—it keeps the temperature on your roof down by reflecting the sun's rays away, instead of absorbing heat like darker colors do. Because the roof absorbs less heat, your attic stays cooler as well. That means that in addition to extending the life of your roof, reflective acrylic coatings help to keep your home cooling bills down.
Additionally, acrylic coatings usually contain fire retardant materials, most commonly aluminum trihydrate. These materials resist flames and also suppress smoke generation, so they're an especially good choice if you live in a dry area where the risk of a fire is high. These coatings are applied with a roller or sprayer over a primer, and they need recoating every few years.
Silicone
Silicone coatings are similar to acrylic coatings in many ways: they are also applied by spray or roller, and they're also available in a range of colors, including the reflective white that can help reduce the heat on your roof and in your house. But silicone also has a few advantages over acrylic. Silicone is a natural material that is biodegradable—environmentally-minded homeowners should consider silicone coatings one of their most eco-friendly options.
Silicone coatings can also be applied without a primer, which saves a step and can save you some money, whether you're applying the coating yourself or hiring someone else to do it. And silicone has one other big advantage—it can resist standing water more effectively than other types of roof coatings. If you live in a particularly rainy area or your gutters tend to get backed up, silicone roof coatings can protect your roof from water damage.
Talk to a roof coating professional like Stetson Painting in your area about what type of coating is right for your roof. Taking the extra step of adding the coating will save you money and help you get the most out of your current roof.
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