Coatings are marketed hard in Texas heat — and sometimes they are the right spend. Sometimes they delay an inevitable tear-off and waste a budget year.
When a coating may make sense
- Membrane is largely intact, dry underneath, and leaks are localized
- Goal is reflectivity / UV protection and moderate life extension
- Manufacturer and contractor agree the substrate is coating-eligible
- You accept that coatings are maintenance systems, not magic resets
When replacement or recover is usually wiser
- Widespread wet insulation or soft deck
- Systemic seam failure or brittleness
- Repeated coating history with diminishing returns
- Code, insurance, or ownership requiring a new assembly
Questions to ask every bidder
Will you moisture-survey or core the roof first? Which coating chemistry and mil thickness? What surface prep is included? What warranty is offered? If coating is not appropriate, what recover or tear-off options do you propose?
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