Conklin Roof Coatings

Conklin Roof Coatings: What Are They And How Do They Work?

You’re asking, “What are Conklin Roof Coatings and how do they work?”

Conklin Roof Coatings are a type of commercial roof coating system designed to restore and protect existing roofs. They work by creating a seamless, waterproof membrane over your current roof, extending its life and improving its energy efficiency.

Your Commercial Roof Is Showing Its Age

You might be seeing water stains inside your building, or finding small leaks during rainstorms. Maybe your energy bills are higher than they should be, or you’ve noticed cracks, blisters, or “alligatoring” on your roof’s surface. Sometimes, you just know it’s time to replace the roof, but you’re looking for other options.

Ignoring Roof Problems Costs Money

When your roof starts to fail, it’s not just an eyesore. Those small leaks can lead to big problems like water damage to your building’s interior, inventory, and equipment. Wet insulation loses its R-value, meaning your HVAC system has to work harder, driving up energy costs. If you ignore these issues, the damage will only get worse, possibly leading to a complete roof replacement, which is far more expensive and disruptive than a restoration.

Also, if your roof deck has failed or if the insulation is completely soaked through, a coating system might not be enough. In those cases, the underlying issues need to be fixed first, or a full replacement might be the only sensible option.

Restore Your Roof With Conklin Coatings

Conklin Roof Coatings offer a way to fix many commercial roof problems without tearing off the old roof. This saves you money, time, and keeps tons of waste out of landfills. We install acrylic coating systems from Conklin, a company that has been making these products since 1977.

Here’s how we typically restore a commercial roof using Conklin coatings:

1. Inspection and Repair: First, a Conklin-trained contractor will inspect your roof. We’ll identify any wet insulation — if we find more than 25% wet, a coating isn't viable, and we’ll tell you so directly. We’ll then repair any existing leaks, replace damaged insulation, and address other issues like loose fasteners or damaged seams.
2. Clean the Roof: The entire roof surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, debris, and any contaminants. This ensures the new coating will stick properly.
3. Prepare the Surface: Depending on the type of roof (metal, EPDM, TPO, built-up, modified bitumen, etc.), we’ll apply a primer to ensure strong adhesion for the topcoats. Seams and fasteners are often reinforced with fabric and base coats.
4. Apply Base Coats: One or more layers of a tough, flexible base coat are applied. These coats form the foundation of your new seamless membrane.
5. Apply Top Coats: Finally, we apply one or two layers of a highly reflective top coat, usually white. Conklin’s Benchmark® and Rapid Roof® III are common choices. These top coats reflect a lot of the sun’s UV rays, which significantly reduces the temperature of your roof and the inside of your building. This helps cut down on air conditioning costs.

The result is a monolithic (seamless) membrane that protects your building from leaks and heat. These systems are lightweight, durable, and designed to perform for many years. We install various systems for different roof types, including metal roofs, flat roofs, and EPDM roofs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Conklin coatings be applied to any type of commercial roof?

Conklin coatings can be applied to many common commercial roof types, including metal, EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen, and built-up roofs. However, the exact system used will vary depending on the existing roof material and its condition. We always perform a thorough inspection first to make sure it’s a good fit for your roof.

How long do Conklin roof coatings last?

When properly installed by a Conklin-trained contractor, these systems can extend the life of your roof by many years. Conklin offers warranties ranging from 10 to 18 years on materials and workmanship. The actual lifespan depends on the specific system applied, maintenance, and environmental factors.

Do Conklin coatings really save on energy costs?

Yes. Many Conklin topcoats are highly reflective, meaning they bounce a significant amount of the sun’s heat away from your building. This can lower the temperature inside your facility, reducing the demand on your air conditioning system and leading to noticeable savings on energy bills, especially during hot months. Many systems are also “cool roof” rated.

Ready to see if a Conklin roof coating system is right for your commercial property? White Roofing Systems connects building owners and facility managers with a network of expert, Conklin-trained contractors across the U.S. Call us today at (309) 303-3128 or visit our contact page to schedule a free, no-obligation roof inspection.