Like Your Skin, Roofs Need Sunscreen Too.

Your skin is a membrane that protects the underlying tissues and organs from the outside. However, prolonged exposure to the sun can damage your skin, which is why you wear sunscreen. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect your skin, the membrane, from damage. It’s permeable, so you can still sweat, and it’s applied relatively thin and needs to be reapplied as needed.

Liquid roofing products are similar to this skin and sunscreen analogy. Not all liquid-applied roofing products offer the same coverage. Just like sunscreens, what works for one building may not work for another. Some may require a higher SPF and more frequent reapplication.

There are various sunscreen options such as spray, rub-on, mineral-style, deodorant stick, skin-tinted, and moisturizing varieties. Additionally, there are multiple roof sunscreen or coating options available.

Some liquid-applied roof products work great as coatings and are applied in thin layers (20-30 mils) to protect from UV degradation. They are permeable and reflective, helping lower the roof temperature. However, they require frequent re-coatings and touch-ups as they are not durable, tough, flexible, or long-lasting. Nonetheless, they are effective for protecting membranes (skin).

Then there are liquid-applied roof products that work great as membranes. They are thick (50-80 mils), durable, flexible, strong, and impermeable and serve as a primary barrier separating the structure from the elements. Some are reinforced, some are multi-layered, but the intended purpose is the same. There are no seams; they are fully adhered and self-terminating. These liquid-applied, seamless membranes should act more like skin than sunscreen.

Reminder: always wear sunscreen as it provides critical protection and adds years to your (roof) life.

Click here for the original article, written by Triton’s Vice President, Dustin Books.