ROOF MAINTENANCE & COATING SERVICES
Roof Maintenance in Los Angeles, CA
Roofs are often “out of sight, out of mind” until a leak occurs. Regular roof maintenance can extend the life of your roof and reduce the risk of leaks, much like routine car maintenance helps prevent breakdowns on the freeway.
Every roof requires maintenance at some point, with the frequency depending on factors like the roof type, age, environmental conditions, and its initial construction.
When we visit your California home for scheduled maintenance, we perform cleaning, inspections, and apply sealants. Here are some reasons why our clients trust our services:
- Save Money. Regular cleaning ensures proper drainage and prevents costly damage caused by trapped moisture under debris.
- Expert Roofers: Flat and shingle roofs are more prone to damage and need extra attention. At Rhino Building Solutions, we train our roofers to handle all roof types with expertise.
- Catch Problems Early: We thoroughly inspect shingles, rolls, flashing, nails, and sealants for any damage, addressing issues before they worsen.
- Prolong Your Roof’s Lifespan: Sealants are often the weakest point in a roofing system. After cleaning, we perform a full inspection and apply sealants to vulnerable areas, helping your roof last as long as possible.
Roof Certification
In recent years, roof coatings have become a popular choice for low-slope roofs. While they offer benefits, coatings aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, despite how some roofers may market them. There is no single “best” roofing option—every roof and its owner have unique needs. If someone claims that silicone coating is the ultimate solution, that should raise a red flag.
Below is an overview of the most commonly used roof coatings in Los Angeles.
Roof Certification
Description: Elastomeric, a.k.a. Acrylic Coatings, are water-based products that work great for high UV environments (i.e. Los Angeles). These coatings generally come in white; however, they can be tinted.
Pros:
- Inexpensive compared to other coatings
- Reflect UV Rays
- Help prevent shedding of granules
- Prolong the life of the roof
- Cool the building down
Cons:
- Not waterproof
- They will not stop leaks
- They don’t hold up well under ponding water
- Wear out and need to be recoated every 5-10 years
Ideal Candidate: A rolled granulated cap sheet roof with granule loss of no more than 30-40% with minimal ponding.
Silicone Coatings
Description: As implied by the name, silicone coatings are silicone-based and not water-based. They generally come in white and can be tinted slightly.
Important Note on Silicone Coatings
Silicone coatings have gained popularity in recent years, but we believe they are often misrepresented, not only by contractors but even by manufacturers. Some manufacturers advertise 20-year warranties with just one coat of silicone—sounds appealing, right? However, it’s important to read the fine print. You’ll find that most warranties exclude failures caused by the base roofing membrane. This means if a seam splits or a crack forms at a joint with flashing, leading to a leak, it won’t be covered under the warranty.
While there are ways to apply silicone coatings that could potentially last 20 years, it’s not as simple as just rolling it on. The best silicone systems require a thick primer base, fully embedded polyester mesh, silicone mastic applied at penetrations using a 3-coat method, and a final thick silicone layer. This approach can provide long-lasting results, but by the time you complete all these steps, you’ll have essentially spent the same amount as installing a brand new roof.
There are situations where a silicone coating might make sense, such as when you have multiple layers of roofing, equipment on the roof, difficult access, or tenants that cannot be disturbed. It’s a case-by-case decision and not a perfect solution for everyone. If you’d like one of our trained experts to come out for a consultation, give us a call.
Pros:
- Waterproof product
- Holds well under ponding water
- Does not wear out or deteriorate
- Extra protection
- Lasts longer than acrylic coatings
Cons:
- Long installation time
- Cracking excluded from warranty
- Substantially more expensive than acrylic
- Future adhesion is a concern (nothing really sticks to silicone)
- Dirt tends to stick
- Sometimes bubbles occur
- Must use stain blocking primer
Ideal Candidates: A rolled granulated cap sheet roof with granule loss of no more than 30%. Ponding water. Owner has long term plans for the building.
Emulsion Coatings
FYI: We do not do emulsion systems—not because they are not good, we just don’t have the training and expertise in that specific system.
Description: Emulsion is a coating that should be paired with a polyester mat and applied in multiple coats. It is a black asphalt-based coating that itself is relatively inexpensive; however, a large volume is used per square foot. It is an actual roof restoration, meaning the existing roof can be in poor condition, and with an emulsion system done correctly, the roof can be properly restored.
Pros:
- Waterproof product
- Holds well under ponding water
- Does not wear out or deteriorate
- Extra protection
- Lasts longer than acrylic coatings
Cons:
- Long installation time
- Cracking excluded from warranty
- Substantially more expensive than acrylic
- Future adhesion is a concern (nothing really sticks to silicone)
- Dirt tends to stick
- Sometimes bubbles occur
- Must use stain blocking primer
Ideal Candidate: Deteriorated roofs, uneven roofs (rock or gravel) spudded clean, roofs that tear-off is not a viable option
Aluminum Coatings
Aluminum coatings, while a decent solution, are not allowed in LA county due to environmental regulations.
Other Coatings
Other coating options include rubber, cold apply, resins, and epoxies. We recommend doing thorough research on any other product you consider using. There are a lot of products on the market which don’t stand the test of time.