Formulation Problems With Acrylic Elastomeric Roof Coatings

Acrylic Elastomeric Coatings

• Roofing systems made from acrylic elastomeric coatings consist of acrylic polymers made specifically to adhere with roofing materials. This includes commonly used roofing materials such as asphalt, bitumen and metal. Acrylic elastomeric coatings start out as a liquid-based material that turns into a membranelike texture once it cures or dries on roof surfaces. The membranelike effect results from a thick application coating that’s five to 10 times thicker than a house paint application. Once dried, an acrylic elastomeric coating forms a durable seamless surface that holds up under heat and cold.

Climate Problems

• Formulation problems with acrylic elastomeric coatings can cause the resulting surface coat to break down over time. Damaged coating surfaces develop blistered textures as coating materials start to deteriorate. Applying coating materials in high- or low-temperature conditions affects how a coating cures on top of the roof surface: Temperatures above 90 degrees or below 50 degrees affect a coating’s curing process, according to FacilitiesNet, a building materials reference site. For this reason, manufacturers list recommended temperatures for coating applications. As climate conditions can vary from region to region, moisture level in tropical climates may also affect curing processes.

Color Coating Problems

• Acrylic elastomeric polymers have natural heat-reflecting properties. As acrylic materials naturally adhere to paint, manufacturers offer elastomeric roof coatings in different colors, including dark ones. However, applying dark-colored elastomeric coatings can cause formulation problems to develop: The more intense heat buildup of dark-colored coatings can cause application coats to dry only on the surface; when this happens, moisture gets trapped underneath the surface coat. Over time, moisture buildup damages the roof coat’s adhesive properties and causes blistering to form along elastomeric surfaces.

Structural Problems

• Acrylic elastomeric roofing coatings provide a watertight seal against external moisture and cold, which makes it a handy repair solution for leaky roofs. Because of acrylic elastomeric roof coating's sealing properties, roof surface problems can still develop when cracks or breaks exist in underlying roofing materials: The sealing effect can trap existing moisture. When this happens structural damage may continue to spread beneath the coating materials. Over time, moisture results in increasing damage to underlying roof materials, which weakens adhesion to the coating surface.