28 ROOF COATINGS 2016 COATINGSPROMAG.COM
Photos Courtesy of 5 Prime Coatings
By Fred Wolfe, Pr incipal Consultant and Owner of 5 Pr ime
Coatings
Roof Coating System vs.
Re-Roof or Re-Cover
I
remember when thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)
began to enter the market as an affordable alter-
native to traditional bituminous roofing products.
Many roofers pushed back, citing their history of
success with built-up roofs (BURs) and modified asphaltic
sheet goods. Many were incredulous that a 45-mil (1,143.0
microns) sheet of plastic was a responsible product to utilize
when protecting a building from the elements. However, a few
contractors who believed in the product began to introduce it
to building owners, and they saw much success.
TPO, like every other roofing product, has had its issues.
But when the market showed an undeniable shift toward the
use of single-ply sheet goods, contractors had to learn how to
install them or become irrelevant.
Today, we see a very similar shift in the market in terms of
the proclivity of roof coatings, and roofing contractors are again
faced with the issue of relevancy. Building owners are curious
but apprehensive. So, in the growing market for roof coatings,
how can a contractor approach the idea of a roof coating with a
customer? Here are a few discussion points to consider.
1. Coatings are much less expensive.
A great way to start a conversation with your customer is
to discuss saving them money. Anyone who is charged with
maintaining a budget for building maintenance will be inter-
ested in this, as long as the solutions being provided will not
end up costing them more in the long run. To consider the
cost of the project, prep work will be one of the most import-
ant aspects of the estimate.
It is good roof coating practice to make sure that the
substrate being coated is sound, dry, and clean. A ll seams of
the roof should be tight, and no matter what material is being
restored, a thorough examination of the seams, fasteners (on
Ultimately, it's probably up to the facility owner or manager to determine whether or not a roof coating is chosen. There are a few ways to
approach a potential customer that might help your case.
Roof Coatings