Elastomeric Roof Coatings—Prevention Matters When Severe Weather Strikes
Severe storms carrying heavy rain, high winds, and hail are appearing frequently and with little warning as the 2019 North Texas summer gains momentum.
Prevention is the key to protecting your business when unpredictable severe weather strikes.
Unfortunately, many businesses find themselves unprepared.
An elastomeric roof coating may be the solution your aging commercial roof needs.
Severe Weather Strikes Again
On the afternoon of June 9, 2019, a severe storm cell enveloped much of Dallas and Denton Counties, packing straight winds of up to 80 miles per hour and heavy rainfall.
According to local news reports, the storm uprooted trees, downed power lines, and left roughly 250,000 people without power.
Property damage across the area was significant, with the storm causing many businesses and school districts throughout Dallas, Richardson, Mesquite, and Highland Park to close their doors and cancel activities—for days in some areas.
Airlines were also left struggling to recover from more than 200 flight cancellations.
One person was killed when the high winds toppled a large crane, severely damaging an adjacent apartment building.
These recent storms are not to be taken lightly.
A Solution for Weak and Aging Roofs
Severe weather is a fact of life for business owners in North Texas, and your commercial roof may be in worse shape than you think.
Year after year, aging, brittle roof materials are tugged on by high winds, and panels and seams are slightly damaged by small hail and flying debris.
Storm damage, both sudden and accumulated, isn’t the only factor in the premature aging of your commercial roof.
A building expands and contracts with the changes in temperature, which leads to the repeated flexing of your conventional roofing material.
Cracks and faults form at the seams, joints, fixtures, and flashings.
The Good News
These gaps between materials that develop over time leave commercial buildings vulnerable to:
- Major leaks
- Costly water damage
- Lost time and revenue during repairs
You can take action now to improve almost any roofing situation by installing an elastomeric coating—a strong, flexible, weather-resistant roofing solution that adds protection, yet gives and flexes to compensate for the constant change in temperatures.
These coatings provide an affordable solution by repairing weaknesses and minor damage accrued over years of weather-related stress that are lying in wait to become major problems.
Preparedness and prevention are where elastomeric roof coatings show their true strength, saving your business both time and money down the line.
Increased Reflectivity Reduces Utility Costs
Although slightly off the topic of severe weather damage, no discussion of the North Texas summer weather is over until we’ve mentioned the sun and heat.
On a 90-degree summer afternoon, which is mild for the area, surface temperatures may reach 200 degrees on a traditional, dark-colored commercial roof.
When covered with a reflective elastomeric coating, temperatures may be reduced by as much as 70 degrees, which means lower utility bills.
The money you save on cooling costs, combined with preventing costly leaks and water damage, can give a business owner a good deal of peace of mind.
Elastomeric Coatings: The Benefits Add Up
When you install an elastomeric roof coating over your existing commercial roof, you can expect:
- Increased storm resistance
- Preventing current faults and minor leaks from becoming major repairs
- Additional reflectivity
- Reduced utility costs
There’s a lot of upside to installing an elastomeric coating before the next major storm strikes.