
The roof on your commercial property represents a substantial investment, so it makes good fiscal sense to take steps to prevent roof leaks and maximize its useful lifespan. Having a waterproof coating applied is an option that can add years to your commercial roof’s life, and it may even reduce your building’s heating and cooling costs.
Is Your Roof a Good Candidate for Waterproofing?
A restorative waterproof coating can be applied to most roof systems including EPDM, TPO, PVC, built-up roofing (BUR), modified bitumen and metal. Since every roof is unique, though, a knowledgeable roofing contractor who works with your specific type of roof system is the best judge of whether waterproofing is recommended for your property. In general, waterproofing is a viable option if your roof is structurally sound, the insulation and decking are in good condition, the existing membrane is well-adhered and moisture retention within the system isn’t an issue.
What’s the Value in Waterproofing a Commercial Roof?
With age and non-stop exposure to the weather extremes here in Florida, the low-slope roof on your building is bound to deteriorate, even if you keep up with routine maintenance and fix deficiencies and leaks as they occur. Waterproofing with a product like HydroStop from industry-leading manufacturer GAF can restore and preserve your existing roof system at considerable cost savings compared to a tear-off and replacement.
How to Choose a Waterproofing Product
There are a number of fluid-applied waterproofing products on the market, but they’re not all created equal. To see the greatest ROI from waterproofing your roof, you want to select a product with these characteristics:
- Fabric reinforcement for greater durability
- Resistance to UV and infrared light, chemical pollutants and acid rain
- Environmentally-safe, non-toxic formulation that meets VOC emission regulations
- Resistance to algae and fungus growth
- Forms a seamless, flexible membrane
- Self-flashing to seal common weak points including drains, seams, laps, fasteners, curbs and expansion joints
- Availability of white and light colors for optimal reflectivity
- Lengthy manufacturer’s warranty
HydroStop by GAF meets all of the above criteria, and it’s one of the highest-quality waterproofing systems available today. When applied according to the manufacturer’s specifications and maintained properly by a GAF-certified installer, HydroStop has a 25-year warranty for true peace of mind.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to prevent roof leaks on your commercial building, contact us today at Mark Kaufman Roofing, your North Port area certified HydroStop installer.
Read: 3 ways to cut to the chase on roof repair prioritization