Overview

Sunbelt Insulation and Roofing, LLC. offers this quick guide explaining how your business can use roof coatings to fix and protect your roof before it succumbs to sun and storm damage. Learn what coatings are, how they work, and why they’re an ideal alternative to partial and full roof replacements.

Highlights

Introduction

Businesses in West Texas face unique climate challenges. Strong winds can pick up and remove roofing materials, leaving buildings vulnerable to secondary damage. Dust storms deposit residue that can clog gutters and cause roof leaks. UV radiation and heat exposure are also known for pushing commercial roofing materials to their limit and causing premature wear.

What’s the answer? Commercial roof coatings fix minor storm damage, but that’s not all they do. You can also use them to add a monolithic barrier of waterproofing and UV protection. This gives you a longer-lasting, waterproof roof that meets compliance requirements and helps reduce your energy expenses.

What Kind of Weather Is Your Commercial Roof up Against in Western Texas?

Businesses that operate in Odessa, Midland, and surrounding areas have roofs that frequently face:

  • High UV exposure (from over 250 sunny days per year)
  • Heat extremes often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Strong winds that lift membranes or scatter debris
  • Dust storms that clog drainage systems

The occasional freeze-thaw cycles we see here don’t add longevity to an unprotected rooftop either. With all these environmental elements threatening local roofing systems, it’s easy to see why more and more of our region’s long-time property owners are starting to view coatings as a vital way to repair and defend against storm-related damage.

What Are Roof Coatings and How Do They Work?

Roof coatings are fluid-applied systems that restore, protect, and extend roofing safety and performance. Once applied, they cure into a single, flexible membrane that creates a monolithic barrier across your rooftop.

This continuous coating layer fills hairline cracks, seals minor gaps, and covers surface wear that would otherwise allow moisture intrusion and lead to structural deterioration. The result is a fully waterproofed and UV-resistant surface that stops leaks and reinforces your existing roof.

Are There Different Types of Commercial Coatings?

Yes. Two of the most common commercial coatings are acrylic and silicone-based.

Both types are:

  • Flexible in extreme temperatures
  • Resistant to cracking and peeling
  • Capable of expanding and contracting during freeze-thaw cycles

When you’re deciding between the two, your installer will help you weigh your options and choose a product that meets your expectations and aligns with your budget.

How Do Commercial Roof Coatings Fix Storm Damage Like Leaks and Cracks?

While they won’t resolve structural issues or large punctures, coatings will successfully bridge and protect vulnerable areas that lead to issues like leaks.

Roof coatings are useful for addressing:

  • Leaks caused by ponding areas or deteriorated flashing
  • Hairline cracks caused by hail, wind uplift, or flying debris
  • Seam separation caused by membrane shrinkage or thermal expansion
  • Minor blisters or surface bubbling caused by water infiltration or aging materials

Unlike a full reroofing project, which is usually costly, applying a commercial roof coating is far more economical. It also offers a much faster roof repair turnaround and, most of the time, allows your business to stay operational during installation.

Is a Sealed Commercial Roof a More Energy-Efficient One?

Yes. Intense solar exposure can cook unprotected roofing materials, causing them to crack, blister, or delaminate.

Reflective silicone and acrylic coatings combat this by bouncing sunlight away from coated roofing materials. This can reduce surface temperatures by up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Benefits include:

  • Less strain on HVAC equipment
  • Lower cooling costs
  • Slower material aging and degradation
  • Improved indoor comfort and air quality

In Western Texas, this solar defense is a game-changer for roof longevity and operational efficiency.

Which Roof Types Are Suitable for Sealants?

Not all commercial roofs are created equal, but most can benefit from the right coating system.

Rooftops made from the following materials provide excellent bonding with a variety of leading waterproofing and UV protection products:

  • Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)
  • Rubber (EDPM)
  • Metal
  • Modified bitumen (mod-bit)
  • Spray polyurethane foam (SPF)

Is your roof made from mixed materials or something you don’t see in the list above? You can always ask a licensed seal coat installer if your roof type is a good match for coating installation. Usually, initial consultations are free and come with no strings attached.

Are Roof Coatings Effective for Flat Commercial Roofs?

Yes. Flat and low-slope roofs are ideal candidates for commercial coatings.

These rooftops are more prone to:

  • Ponding water
  • Surface degradation
  • Membrane movement and cracks
  • Debris accumulation

Do you want to give your flat roofing system a high-performance coating that stands strong against all these threats? With no seams, a commercial roof coating system is one of the best and most affordable ways to keep your flat roof in great shape.

Should You Sealcoat a Foam Roofing System?

Yes. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems are commonly used on commercial buildings in West Texas thanks to their superior insulation properties, affordability, and easy application. However, because SPF is naturally vulnerable to UV exposure and water infiltration, it requires a protective seal coat (following installation) to maintain its peak performance.

What’s Involved in Commercial Roof Coating Installation?

Applying a commercial roof coating is straightforward. In most cases, you won’t have to halt operations to repair or fortify your roof with a seal coat. Often, the team you hire can work on your roof without disrupting the workflow you’re responsible for inside.

Here’s how roof coating application works:

  1. Roof inspection: Your contractor will make sure your roof is structurally sound.
  2. Roof surface cleaning: Your contracting team will clean your rooftop.
  3. Seal coat application: Your installers will spray-apply a uniform layer of seal coat.
  4. Product curing: Your contractor will advise you on specific product curing times.

How Long Do Commercial Roof Coating Systems Last?

With proper installation and routine maintenance, a commercial roof coating system can last 10 to 20 years, sometimes even longer. Some high-quality silicone coatings even offer renewable warranties. In some cases, this means you can recoat rather than replace a roof seal and extend your original roof’s life indefinitely.

What Affects Coating Longevity?

Some conditions affect coating longevity, including:

  • Sealant type
  • Coating thickness
  • Climate conditions
  • Maintenance practices
  • Roof traffic

An experienced coating company will help you consider these elements and choose a UV protection and waterproofing system that matches your goals.

What Do Roof Coating Warranties Typically Cover?

Roof coating warranties vary by product type and manufacturer, but most offer coverage that protects against premature failure due to material defects or performance breakdown under normal use. These warranties typically guarantee that your coating will maintain its waterproofing and protective qualities for a specific number of years, depending on the product and thickness applied.

Warranties may apply to materials, covering just the product, or labor as well, covering both the product and the installation if done by an approved contractor.

A renewable warranty covers reapplication instead of a full replacement at the end of your initial coverage term.

Building owners are usually required to follow specific maintenance guidelines, including periodic inspections and proper cleaning, to maintain eligibility.

Can Sealing Your Rooftop Prevent Future Damage?

In addition to being a budget-friendly way to repair roof leaks, applying sealant is also a great way to make sure you never have to deal with them in the first place. Instead of waiting for damage to worsen, applying a coating after installing your roof (or while it’s still in great shape) helps prevent problems before they start.

What Maintenance Do Coated Roofs Need?

A few light maintenance steps go a long way toward maximizing your return on investment.

Even though it’s coated, you should still perform:

  • Periodic cleanings
  • Bi-annual inspections
  • Timely touch-ups (at high-traffic or problem areas)

Use Commercial Roof Coatings To Repair Damage and Waterproof Your Roof

Whether you’ve just weathered a recent storm and need emergency roof repair options, or you want to waterproof and protect your roofing materials ahead of whatever next season’s forecast brings, you need a solution your business can afford. You also need something that lasts to achieve a structurally sound, watertight, and UV-resistant barrier.

Even when you could stretch your budget to cover an urgent reroofing project, you may not be prepared for the downtime and potential loss of productivity, revenue, or patronage that could come with it. It may be best to skip the heavy construction and focus on expedited repairs that bring your existing rooftop back into compliance.

Commercial roof coatings are the future-forward way to maximize your commercial building’s energy efficiency, move toward HVAC cost reductions, and say goodbye to minor leaks and rooftop surface damage.

Want to explore your coating options? Call Sunbelt Insulation and Roofing, LLC. at (432) 337-8247 today to schedule a roof inspection and learn more about choosing the best roof repair solution for your West Texas property.