Navigating the growth of liquid-applied roof coatings

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Expert shares insights on roof coating trends. 

In this episode of CoatingsCast, host Karen Edwards sat down with industry veteran Brady Kolden to discuss the challenges and trends of liquid-applied roof coatings. With 30 years in the coatings industry, Brady, Polyglass' national coatings business development manager, has seen the sector evolve and offers valuable perspectives for contractors and building owners alike. 

Brady notes that not every roof is suitable for coating and it’s important to provide honest assessments when advising clients.  “In the last 10 days, I’ve walked away from around 300,000 feet of roofs because they aren’t good candidates,” he shares. “And I think it's important to be honest with your contractor, with your building owner, that not every roof should be coated. Understand that every roof is different, whether it's a modified roof or metal roof or TPO. There's always going to be slight things that you have to change in the spec.  

A key takeaway from the conversation is the re-emergence of polyurethane spray foam as a viable option, particularly in areas like California where energy efficiency is increasingly prioritized. "Polyurethane spray foam is probably one of my favorite systems out there because if it's handled correctly, if it's really maintained, it will last the life of the building," Brady says. As building owners look for ways to insulate effectively from the outside, this trend is especially relevant for existing buildings where internal insulation upgrades are impractical. 

Brady also touches on the changing market share between acrylics and silicones, noting that while acrylics once dominated, silicones now cover a significant portion of the market due to their superior performance in standing water scenarios. Brady describes how silicones' moisture-resistant properties make them a more reliable choice for roofs prone to water pooling, saying, “I automatically lean towards a silicone product just because I know from past experience that if they just go up and coat that roof without any fabric reinforcement, you're probably going to have some delamination in those birdbaths.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about following best practices in roof coatings installation!