SILICONE IS MORE LABOR THAN IT’S WORTH
Is this true? Is silicone really more labor than it’s worth? Does silicone really require primers and fabric? Well, if you’ve been reading our series addressing silicone objections then you know that neither of those statements are true. As with all of these posts, let’s look at the truth and let’s look at why people incorrectly believe facts about silicone.
Silicone Doesn’t Require Fabric Reinforcement
In certain specifications, we do recommend fabric reinforcements on seams and around flashings, but this myth is more about fabric on the entire field of the roof. There are many other roof coating systems that require applicators to put down a layer of fabric embedded in the coating over the entire surface of the roof. This is required for other coatings because their tensile strength is not as high as silicone. Because silicone is a very tough material, this fabric isn’t required.
Will You Need Primers?
For most other coating systems, the answer to this is always yes. For silicone, the answer is almost always no. Silicone can adhere to nearly any surface, including other coatings and silicone itself. While other systems require you to buy expensive primers and install an extra layer on the roof, silicone doesn’t require any of that, saving you time and money. There are a few specific instances in which a primer is required, but they are few and far between.
Myths from Other Coatings
As with all of the incorrect objections to silicone that we’ve addressed, this myth is the result of assuming silicone is similar to other coatings. Acrylic coatings require primer and fabric reinforcement, so users think silicone does as well. It’s simply not true. Another cause of these myths is rival system manufacturers spreading misinformation. A manufacturer of acrylic coatings may not want someone to buy silicone, so they might tell the person that silicone requires the same primer and fabric that acrylic does. This may be done out of ignorance, not necessarily with bad intentions, but nonetheless, it propagates misinformation.
Conclusion
Silicone coatings do not require fabric reinforcement or primers. They just don’t. While each of these products may be used in conjunction with silicone from time to time, that is the exception, not the rule. Other coatings need a primer to get better adhesion. Other coatings need fabric to reinforce the strength of the coating. Silicone needs neither, making it easier and less expensive to apply.
