Can You Use Silicone Roof Coating over a Gravel Roof?
A common question we hear from building owners across the country is, “Does silicone work over a gravel roof?” The short answer… yes. But there’s more to the story. At Progressive Materials, we have developed a product that makes coating over gravel built-up roofs easier and more cost effective than the alternatives.
Coating a Gravel Roof
There are a number of reasons a roofing contractor may decide to install gravel on a roof. This blog takes a look at those reasons thoroughly and offers good insight on the topic. No matter what the reason, gravel on a roof provides challenges to any contractor working on the roof. This is the case for general maintenance, repairs, and silicone roof restorations. The gravel creates mini crevices all over the roof. This can make it challenging to get silicone down to the main substrate for good adhesion. Since a strong silicone restoration relies on great initial adhesion, there are a couple things you’ll want to keep in mind when applying silicone to a built up roof:
- Remove as much loose gravel as possible. Using less silicone allows you to complete the job faster and at a lower cost for your customers.
- Powerwash the roof. This is necessary for any coating job, but it’s a crucial step on built-up roofs. A thorough powerwashing will take off any final bits of gravel inhibiting proper adhesion.
- Apply SL-800.
SL 800
PM’s Surface-Leveling Silicone is designed specifically for gravel roofs. SL-800 is a strong silicone that adheres great, but is less expensive than our top coat silicones. It is the perfect option for gravel roofs as you can apply it thick without breaking the bank. Check out this blog on SL-800 for more details on this product.
After applying a good amount of SL 800 (usually between 3-6 gallons per square), your roof will be ready for the UV stable top coat. This system provides great waterproofing for gravel roofs without overwhelming costs. Like any silicone roof restoration, it also saves the building owner a significant amount of money by alleviating costs associated with roof tear offs. If you have any more questions about coating gravel roofs, you can contact a PM Regional Manager here.
