Hot Roofing Vs. Cold Roofing

Hot Roofing Advantages

• Hot tar roofing, multi-ply tar roofing, hot mopped asphalt roofing and tar roofs are all types of hot roofing. Most commercial buildings have hot roofing, which consists of placing a molten asphalt tar over a roof and rolling a fabric and surfacing component on top. Hot roofing can last up to 30 years before you have to replace it. The cost of hot roofing is cheaper than many other roofing options, which can save money. Hot roofing can easily conform to irregular decks and roofs.

Hot Roofing Disadvantages

• While you can apply some cold roofing applications yourself, hot roofing is an intricate job and is best as a job left for professionals. Other disadvantages of hot roofing include the tar melting during hot summer heat and cracking in winter months. You cannot coat a hot roof with aluminum coating to protect the roof in the summertime, as you can with cold roofing.

Cold Roofing Advantages

• Cold roofing, typically involving a coating the consistency of thick paint rather than a roll of roofing material, is designed for installation at ambient temperatures, requiring little to no heat. Most cold roofing coatings consist of reinforcing fillers, carrier solvents, resins and optional reflective pigments. Cold roofing is easy to use, and you can apply it to the roof directly from a container. Cold roof coatings in light colors reflect solar energy year round. Most cold roofing applications are less expensive than hot roof application, and you can apply the applications yourself.

Cold Roofing Disadvantages

• Hot roofing systems contain a waterproofing agent, unlike cold roofing systems. You have to apply a base or topcoat of waterproofing when using cold roofing. Cold roofing takes longer to cure than hot roofing. Though you can apply some cold roofing coatings yourself, most of these applications wear faster and have to be redone sooner than hot roofing systems. Cold roofing applications are available at home improvement and hardware stores.