DOES ROOF SLOPE MEAN YOU CAN’T USE SILICONE?
Silicone is designed to be installed on flat or low-sloped roofs. As silicone roof coatings are a liquid, they work better if they can sit on the roof and cure. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t be applied on roofs with higher slopes or even vertical surfaces. The optimal application is a flat or low-sloped roof, but that isn’t always possible and silicone can still be used.
How Can Silicone Be Applied to Sloped Surfaces?
Silicone roof coatings are a liquid and they do run down a slope, but they have a much higher viscosity than say water. A roof that sheds water won’t typically shed wet silicone coatings during installation. Thanks to it’s higher viscosity and adhesion properties, the silicone is already adhering to the roof surface when sprayed. So even on sloped surfaces, the silicone doesn’t just run off the building like water would. Of course, the steeper the roof gets, the less silicone is able to adhere to the surface. How can you overcome this issue?
Applying Silicone to Steep Slope Roofs
If the roof is too steep to apply one thick of coating, the solution is simple: apply more thin coats. This increases your labor costs, which is why it’s not preferable. But, if you’re working on a vertical surface, it’s the only way to apply silicone. For instance, even on a flat roof, there will probably still be curbs that need to be coated and they will probably be completely vertical. You can apply 2-3 coats of silicone at 5-7 mils each and shouldn’t experience much running. Applying those extra coats takes time and labor, and therefore money, but you’ll get a smooth, watertight, monolithic surface with no wasted material.
Applying silicone roof coatings in these thinner passes is a great way to coat a roof surface that is steep or vertical. Other coatings aren’t capable of covering steep-slope because they are runnier. Silicone is a thicker material and this is a great scenario in which that thickness is a benefit of the coating.
Conclusion
Silicone roof coatings, while designed for flat or low-sloped roofs, can be installed over steep-slope or vertical roofs with no compromise in performance. If you have a roof that isn’t flat or has lots of curbs, don’t fear! Silicone can still help. Contact us today if you have any questions.