In part one of this blog, we looked at application methods for flashing grade silicone as well as silicone caulk. This week we are looking at surface-leveling and top-coat silicone as we discuss applying silicone roof coatings.
Applying Silicone Roof Coatings – Surface-Leveling Silicone
We now carry two different surface-leveling silicones to help with rough or low roof areas: SL 800 Surface-Leveling Silicone and SL 850 Ponding Water Eliminator.
SL 800
There are a multitude of ways we’ve seen SL 800 applied. Some contractors spray apply the silicone and then roll it into all of the cracks and grooves they are coating. Others simply pour the silicone into the trouble areas and roll it in. Another effective way we’ve seen is to take the spray tip off the spray wand. This pumps the silicone out but avoids any mist. It also pumps it out thicker, which for SL 800 is often necessary. No matter how you apply it, the key to success with SL 800 is making sure you apply enough to cover all indentations in preparation for the top coat.
For more information on SL 800, please see this blog.
SL 850
SL 850 is more cut and dry than SL 850. This product’s consistency is more similar to a concrete than a typical silicone and therefore is treated as such. SL 850 is applied using a trowel. Simply dump the silicone into the ponding area and trowel it out until level. This simple application method makes SL 850 a great silicone to have on hand for ponding areas on any roof.
You can see SL 850 in action in the YouTube video!
Applying Silicone Roof Coatings – Top Coat
Rolling on Silicone
A common method for roll-applying silicone roof coatings is gridding the roof. Essentially you are mapping out exactly how much silicone you need for each section of the roof. Then, you break those sections into a grid that ensure proper silicone thickness. We dedicated an entire blog to gridding a roof. You can find that blog here. Whether it’s a nap roller, gravity fed roller, or squeegee, roll-applying silicone is always a great option to consider when applying silicone roof coatings.
Spraying Silicone
The other most common application method for silicone roof coatings is spray applying. Using a high-pressured spray rig can be a great way to cover a lot of ground fast. It can also keep you from having to drag multiple buckets of silicone up a ladder to the roof. Spray application techniques vary for each job so for best practices, please contact your Regional Manager. They will help you with different spray techniques for different roof types.
