What Is an Acrylic Flat Roof?

Flat Roof Layouts

• When compared to other roof designs, flat roofs offer an easy access surface for maintenance and cleaning needs. Both homes and businesses may also opt for the aesthetic effects found in a flat roof structure. And while the surface may appear flat, these roofs include a slight sloping effect that allows for water runoff. The flat surface also helps to protect building interiors from the effects of heat build-up from high temperatures and sunlight. Interestingly enough, the same qualities that make a flat roof appealing leaves the entire roof surface vulnerable to the elements. As a result, these roof types require special treatments designed to protect and reinforce exposed roof surfaces.

Acrylic Coatings

• Acrylic coatings come as water- or solvent-based applications that apply on most any conventional roof material, such as metal, concrete or asphalt. These coatings come in a range of colors, although white serves as standard because of its reflective properties. For repair purposes, an acrylic coating acts as a sealant barrier that maintains its physical structure under varying temperature conditions. As a roofing treatment, adding acrylic coatings to a flat roof can extend its lifetime usage by five to 10 years.

Durability

• Acrylic flat roof coatings consist of elastomeric materials that expand and contract with changes in a roof’s surface. Much like other types of materials, heat and cold cause roof surfaces to expand and contract, which can contribute to a roof’s overall wear and tear. Their ability to expand and contract adds a layer of protection that prevents roof surfaces from splitting and cracking. As flat roofs become exposed platforms under heavy snow conditions, acrylic’s elastomeric qualities provide ample protection from the added weight and moisture changes that occur.

Insulating & Cooling Properties

• Flat roof designs naturally provide a heat-resistant barrier because of their layout. Acrylic coatings can further enhance these heat-resistant properties, especially in the case of white-colored coatings. The white coloring creates a reflective surface that helps to reduce a home or building’s cooling costs during the summer months. As an insulating material, acrylic flat roofs have an opposite effect in terms of preventing a building’s heat from escaping through the roof surface. With asphalt or dark colored roofing materials, heat absorbs through roof surfaces and also escapes through roof surfaces. In effect, the barrier created by acrylic coatings works both ways in terms of reflecting heat away from or back into a building’s interior.