EPDM Roof Restored with Roof Coatings in Monte Vista CO

EPDM Roof Coating Restoration

Can EPDM roofs be restored with coatings? Yes, EPDM roofs can be restored with Conklin acrylic roof coatings. This process fixes leaks, reinforces weak areas, and extends the life of the roof, often for many years.

Leaking and Deteriorating EPDM Roofs

You might notice water stains on your ceiling, especially around seams, roof equipment, or skylights. EPDM roofs, sometimes called "rubber roofs," show their age through cracks, shrinking, or seams that pull apart. The black surface can also feel very hot to the touch, and your building's air conditioning might struggle to keep up, leading to high energy bills. These are all signs your EPDM roof is failing.

Ignored EPDM Deterioration Leads to Bigger Issues

If you ignore these signs, the leaks will get worse. Water can damage the insulation below your EPDM membrane, making it heavy and useless. It can also rot the roof deck, leading to costly structural repairs. Patching these leaks often only works for a short time because the underlying problems of a deteriorating membrane and failed seams remain. An old, black EPDM roof also absorbs a lot of heat from the sun. This heat transfers into your building, making it harder and more expensive to cool. Over time, the sun's UV rays break down the EPDM membrane itself, making it brittle and more prone to cracking.

Restoring EPDM Roofs with Conklin Coatings

Restoring an EPDM roof with a Conklin acrylic coating system is a way to stop leaks and add many years of life to your roof without tearing off the old one. This system creates a new, seamless, white top layer directly over the existing EPDM. Here's how we typically do it: 1. **Clean the Roof:** We start by cleaning the entire EPDM surface. We use special cleaners and power washers to remove dirt, debris, and any old patch materials. A clean surface helps the new coatings stick better. 2. **Prime the Surface:** Once the roof is clean and dry, we apply a primer coat. This primer is designed to bond strongly with the EPDM, creating a good foundation for the acrylic coatings. 3. **Reinforce Seams and Problem Areas:** EPDM roofs often fail at the seams or around penetrations like pipes, HVAC units, and skylights. We embed a strong fabric reinforcement into a base coat over all seams, cracks, and around anything that penetrates the roof. This creates a waterproof, flexible seal in these vulnerable areas. 4. **Apply Full Fabric Reinforcement (if needed):** For roofs that need extra strength or have more widespread deterioration, we may apply a full Conklin Fabric Reinforced System. This involves laying a durable fabric across the entire roof surface, embedding it between two layers of base coat. This creates a fully seamless, highly durable membrane over the entire roof. 5. **Apply Top Coats:** Finally, we apply multiple layers of a highly reflective, white acrylic top coat. This white finish deflects most of the sun's UV rays, keeping the roof surface much cooler. This helps lower the temperature inside your building and reduces your cooling costs. **Important Considerations:** Before any coating work, we inspect the roof thoroughly. If the EPDM membrane is completely saturated with water, the roof deck is severely rotted, or the insulation is wet over a large area, then a coating system might not be the right fit. We'll always give you an honest assessment of whether restoration is a viable and effective solution for your specific roof. Our goal is to provide a lasting solution, not a temporary fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an EPDM roof coating system last?

A properly applied Conklin-trained EPDM roof coating system can come with a warranty of up to 18 years. The actual lifespan depends on the system chosen and maintenance, but it’s designed to add significant life to your existing roof.

Will a white coating really lower my energy bills?

Yes. Black EPDM roofs absorb a lot of solar heat. A white coating reflects a high percentage of the sun's UV rays. This keeps the roof surface and the building interior much cooler, which can lead to noticeable savings on air conditioning costs, especially in warmer climates.

What if my EPDM roof has a lot of leaks?

The restoration process specifically targets leaks by reinforcing seams and problem areas with fabric and coatings. The goal is to create a seamless, waterproof membrane over the entire existing EPDM, stopping all existing leaks and preventing new ones from forming. However, if the underlying structure or insulation is severely damaged from long-term leaks, these issues must be addressed before coating.

Ready to get a quote for your EPDM roof?

Don't let a failing EPDM roof lead to more expensive problems. Our network of Conklin-trained contractors specializes in restoring EPDM roofs with durable, energy-efficient coating systems. Call us today at (309) 303-3128 or visit our contact page to schedule a free, no-obligation roof inspection and see if an EPDM coating system is right for your building.