Cool and improved

Killer heat waves make headlines every year in major cities around the world. Thousands of black roof tops contribute radiant heat that prolongs high temperatures during the day and sustains them well into evening. White elastomeric roof coatings are an economical solution to reduce radiant heat both outside and inside. White roofs reduce the urban heat island effect, unlike dark roofs and pavement that absorb heat, raising temperatures in their vicinity. Beneficial summer cooling more than offsets any contributed heat gain by a black roof in winter -- by more than tenfold.

New life for old roofs

Elastomeric coatings also help preserve housing stock by increasing the useful life of home roofing. Environmentally advanced elastomeric roof coatings help promote energy savings, provide substantial savings in roof maintenance and replacement costs, and reduce landfill waste. Over time, heat, sunlight and cracking due to expansion and contraction will degrade roofs. The traditional model is to tear off the aging roof and replace it after 15 or 20 years. Elastomeric coatings can change all that. With regular maintenance, a white elastomeric-coated roof could last the lifetime of the building. Maintenance is limited to occasional cleaning with a hose or power washer and reapplying the coating every 10 or 15 years.

A mere 5-year increase in roof service life should reduce the cost of roofing by 21 percent while cutting landfill waste from roofing by up to 25 percent. Roofing waste currently represents almost 4 percent of the total volume of solid wastes in the United States.

Seek Certified Roofing Contractors

Well trained, certified contractors are the key in assuring lasting roof performance. Trained applicators know which coating to use on a given substrate and have the knowledge and skill to apply it correctly. Look for reputable roofing contractors in your area who have experience with white elastomeric roof coatings and references to back up their experience.