HOW DO SILICONE COATINGS HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?
As we have said before, there are many different reasons a building owner might put silicone coatings on their roof. There are also many reasons contractors might choose to sell and spray silicone coatings. One reason that is common to both building owners and contractors is a concern for the environment. Silicone coatings are a great roofing material with regards to their environmental impact, and it is often one of the largest selling points. Let’s see how silicone coatings outperform other roofing systems in their effect on the environment around their buildings.
Reflectivity
Silicone roof coatings are reflective, which means they send the sun’s UV rays back into the atmosphere rather than absorbing them. This serves two purposes: first, it keeps the building cooler which reduces the electric use of the building as they don’t have to cool the air. Second, it helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect caused by large metropolitan areas absorbing UV rays. Each building with a reflective roof helps to reduce the urban heat island effect.
Sustainability
Silicone roof coatings can be installed directly over top of almost any existing roof surface. This reduces the amount of roof waste sent to landfills because the old system doesn’t have to be torn out. This is a very sustainable system improvement.
At the end of its life, silicone can be recoated with more silicone. This renewal once again requires no tear-off of the old roof system and extends the life of the roof for 10-15 more years.
If a building owner ever chooses to abandon the silicone roof coating system and wants to replace their roof, silicone is completely inert and natural, and can be placed in the ground when their life is complete. They shouldn’t be placed in the ground and should be disposed of properly, but they can be which demonstrates their natural makeup.
Conclusion
Silicone roof coatings are great for the environment at installation, during their life, and at the end of their life. If you are interested in environmentally conscious roofing decisions, don’t ignore silicone roof coatings as an option.
