Owners or managers of industrial and commercial buildings will know all too well the importance of a healthy flat roof. If the roof suffers damage, it’s not just the roofing materials that suffer – the entire structure and everything it houses are also at risk. Fortunately, a high-quality liquid roof coating system can make all the difference to the integrity and lifespan of your roof.
However, roof coating products are not invincible, and they will eventually need to be reapplied.
In this article, we’re going to talk about how often commercial roofs should be coated, but first, let’s identify what causes flat liquid roof coatings to eventually fail here in the UK, resulting in a recoating service.
What causes flat roof coatings to fail?
All roof coatings will eventually deteriorate, although industry-leading products applied by experienced teams will last far longer than others in the same circumstances. Deterioration typically occurs when several of the following factors align:
- Lack of inspection and maintenance – Many of the following issues can be stopped before they properly take hold if they’re caught early enough. While you cannot control the weather or UV radiation, you can inspect the roof for the first signs of damage caused by environmental factors such as these and take the appropriate action. Regular checks and maintenance services will greatly prolong not just the roof coating, but the roof itself.
- UV rays – UV radiation will eventually break down the chemical bonds found in the polymer structure of most commercial and industrial roof coating products. This causes the coating to slowly become a fine powder, called chalking. With the chemicals breaking down, coating products can also lose their elasticity, resulting in more brittle surfaces that become weak to movement, debris, and moisture. Fortunately, it takes time for this type of damage to occur.
- Extreme temperature swings – The thermal shock caused by the UK’s fluctuating temperatures, sometimes even within a 24-hour period, can eventually have an adverse effect on roof coatings. Temperature fluctuations cause roof materials to contract and expand, and if the applied coating wasn’t correctly chosen to flex with this movement, then it will crack or split, especially at the joining seams.
- Standing water – While a sloped roof creates a natural path for water to take off the roof, a flat roof has no such easy escape if proper drainage systems aren’t installed or the roof is damaged and sagging. This water can become trapped between the roof itself and the coating through cracks or split seams. If this happens, it can turn to steam in hot temperatures and blister the coating as it attempts to escape. Standing water can also freeze – if water sitting inside tiny cracks freezes, it can expand and further push the coating apart.
- Biological growth – Lichen and moss can be a roof’s worst enemy when combined with the perfect environment. Instead of roots, they have rhizoids – these are like arms which anchor the plants to a surface but do not absorb moisture or nutrients. Instead, the leaves themselves collect and absorb water. The rhizoids have the power, especially in large amounts, to penetrate roof coatings, opening up cracks to the moisture moss and lichen store like sponges. What’s worse is that these organisms, as well as algae, create acidic conditions, resulting in eventual acidic degradation.
- Foot traffic – If the roof sees frequent use, then it’s going to suffer general wear and tear underfoot. Constant scuffs from boots or knocks from equipment will eventually begin to wear down the coating, especially in the most high-traffic areas, such as the path directly in and out of the roof access point.
While these causes may seem intimidating, it’s important to remember that, for the most part, you can intervene before any real damage is caused by scheduling regular inspections.
How often should a commercial roof be recoated?
How long a product lasts, and therefore how often it should be reapplied, is down to the product chosen, the surrounding environment, and the efforts put in by both the coating installation team and the building owner or manager.
High-quality coating products from any industry-leading brands, such as HD Sharman, Giromax, or Tor-Coatings, offer significant benefits to ensure a longer coating and roof lifespan. These products have been designed over many years to be the strongest and most durable on the market, standing the test of time.
Professionals with the right know-how and experience will choose the right product for the roof material, the environment, and the time of year the product is being applied. They will also use the correct equipment and application process, giving the product an even stronger chance at longevity before reapplication is needed.
If we take these two factors and assume the commercial building sits in an average UK environment with varied weather conditions and temperatures, some liquid roof coatings can last up to 30 years. This will also depend on the product’s warranty, but here at Cladspray, we only use the industry’s best coating products, all with warranties spanning multiple decades.
This means that after a fresh application, you may not need to recoat your roof for another 20 to 30 years, as long as you keep an inspection schedule and navigate any small maintenance tasks as they arise.
Cladspray roof coating, maintenance, and repair services
If you’re looking for contractors who can handle the recoating of your flat roof to extend its lifespan, we can help. Our fantastic team has many decades of combined experience in the roof, cladding, and floor coating industries, and they always deliver a thorough and efficient job.
Whether it’s a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility or a vehicle showroom that requires a roof coating service, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’ll conduct a free site survey to identify exactly what is needed, then provide a quote to help you make your decision. We follow a strict and detailed process from the site inspection to final sign-off, ensuring the job is completed well and with the utmost professionalism.
Call us on 01603 405318, or fill in our simple enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
