If Your Roof
Holds shallow puddles for a day after rain
Silicone tolerates water that lingers, as long as the low spot comes from slope and not a clogged outlet.
Start WithSilicone coating
Low-Slope Roofs
Philadelphia Silicone Roof Coating Contractor
Silicone Film for Low Roofs That Hold Water After Storms
As a Philadelphia silicone roof coating contractor, we coat low-slope and flat commercial roofs after drains, wet insulation, and open seams are fixed.
- Drains Cleared Before Coating
- Wet Insulation Cut Out
- Adhesion Patch Tested
- Thickness Set By Product
Does Your Roof Suit Philadelphia Silicone Roof Coating?
Philadelphia silicone roof coating fits low roofs with slow runoff, once the roof underneath is dry and drains are working.
If Your Roof
Has an old acrylic coating that still grips
Test patches tell us whether silicone grips the old film or whether a primer is needed.
Start WithAdhesion test, then silicone
If Your Roof
Has a modified bitumen cap sheet with granules
Asphalt sheets can stain light coatings, so a bleed-blocking primer goes on first.
Start WithBleed-block primer and silicone
If Your Roof
Soft and spongy underfoot over large areas
Wet insulation across the field means sections of roof need to come off before coating.
Start WithTear-off of wet areas
Where Silicone Roof Coating Work Starts on Philadelphia Flat Roofs
Silicone covers the field, but leaks start at the edges and openings. We check these zones before ordering material.
Parapet Walls
Coping caps and base flashing on brick parapets let water behind the membrane. Loose coping gets refastened and the base flashing sealed before coating. Loose coping joints get resealed too.
Membrane Seams
Open seams on older single-ply or cap sheets are repaired first, because silicone bridges small gaps but needs a firmly attached edge on each side. Seam edges are cleaned to the original sheet.
Drains And Scuppers
Debris, crushed strainers, and drains set higher than the roof around them cause most ponding. We clear and reset them before deciding on silicone. Strainers are replaced when crushed.
Rooftop Units
Units and their curbs collect foot traffic from service techs. Walk pads around them keep silicone from wearing through where people stand. Pads go where technicians kneel.
Insulation Under The Field
Wet board under the membrane stays wet under silicone. Core cuts or a moisture survey find it so those sections get replaced. Moisture surveys map the wet board.
Commercial Roof Coating Options for Philadelphia
Silicone is one of several low-slope options. These four cover the choices we lay out for flat roofs in the city.
Ponding OK
High-Solids Silicone
A single thick silicone layer handles lingering water and suits roofs with a few low areas near drains.
Two Passes
How Many Coats of Silicone Roof Coating
Most jobs use one or two passes to reach the thickness the product sheet requires, which matters more than the pass count.
Cost
Silicone Roof Coating Cost
About $2.50 to $4.00 per square foot of roof covers the coating range; seam repair, primers, and wet sections change the total.
Alternative
Acrylic on Draining Sections
Sections that shed water within hours can take acrylic, which recoats easily and costs less per gallon.
Benefits of Coating Your Roof
For a flat roof near the end of its first life, silicone and replacement are the two usual choices. Here is how they differ.
| What Changes | Coating The Roof | Replacing The Roof |
|---|---|---|
| Planning cost | About $2.50 to $4.00 per square foot | About $5 to $8 per square foot |
| Existing membrane | Repaired and left in place | Removed down to the deck |
| Water near drains | Silicone handles it after drain repair | Tapered insulation can correct slope |
| Later upkeep | Recoated with silicone only | New membrane maintenance plan |
| Building below | Offices stay closed in | Deck exposed during tear-off |
| Walk paths | Pads added at service routes | Pads added at service routes |
Water Pooling on Your Philadelphia Silicone Roof Coating Candidate?
Tell us where water sits after rain and how long it stays. We will check drains first and price the coating from there.
How Silicone Roof Coating Goes On in Philadelphia
Silicone is forgiving with water but unforgiving with dirt. Most of these steps get the surface clean and dry.
- Step 1
Inspect Your Roof
We walk the field, seams, parapets, and drains, mark soft spots, and take core samples where the insulation might be wet.
- Step 2
Replace Wet Areas
Saturated insulation and membrane are cut out and rebuilt flush with the surrounding roof so the coating has a dry, even base.
- Step 3
Wash The Surface
Pressure washing removes dirt, loose granules, and chalk. Silicone bonds poorly to dust, so the roof dries fully before the next step.
- Step 4
Prime Where Needed
Asphalt surfaces get a bleed-blocking primer, and old coatings get whatever primer the adhesion test called for.
- Step 5
Spray Or Roll Silicone
Seams and details get a first layer, then the field is coated to full thickness and checked with a gauge across the roof.
Other Coating Systems Around the City
If silicone is a poor match for part of your roof, one of these covers it.
Commercial Metal Roof Coating
Ribbed and standing seam panels with rust and loose screws need this system.
Commercial Metal Roof Coating in Philadelphia
Acrylic Roof Coating
Quick-draining sloped sections recoat easily with acrylic.
Acrylic Roof Coating in Philadelphia
Spray Foam Roofing
Uneven flat roofs gain insulation and better drainage from foam.
Spray Foam Roofing in Philadelphia
Shingle Roof Coating
Shingled mansards above the flat roof get their own approval check.
Shingle Roof Coating in PhiladelphiaSilicone Roof Coating Questions From Philadelphia Owners
What are the downsides of silicone roof coating?
Silicone collects dirt, gets slippery when wet, and only silicone sticks to it later, so future repairs and recoats stay silicone. Around frequently serviced units, we add walk pads so technicians are not wearing through the film or slipping on it.
How long does silicone roof coating last?
That rests on the roof under it, the thickness installed, and the traffic it sees. Aging silicone shows thin spots, lifted edges at repairs, or worn paths near units. We separate surface dirt from real film damage during yearly checks.
Can silicone go straight onto a dirty roof?
Never on a dirty roof. Silicone holds onto dust instead of the roof, so we wash, let the surface dry fully, and test adhesion before coating.
Does silicone fix ponding?
Tolerating ponding differs from fixing it. Blocked drains, crushed strainers, and sagging deck still need repair, and some low spots need tapered crickets to move water off the roof.
Is silicone a good fit around kitchen or process exhaust?
Grease and oily exhaust residue keep any coating from bonding. We clean those areas with a degreaser, test them, and sometimes add a sacrificial pad or shield where exhaust keeps landing.
Can silicone go on a metal roof as well as a flat one?
Low-slope metal roofs take silicone well after rust prep, fastener work, and seam reinforcement. Steeper metal that drains quickly often suits acrylic, which costs less and recoats easily.
What happens at the parapet walls during a silicone job?
Base flashing and coping are repaired first, then the silicone runs up the wall to a clean termination. Loose mortar or a cracked coping joint gets fixed before coating starts.
Book a Philadelphia Silicone Roof Coating Contractor
Tell us about the ponding and the roof surface. We will check the drains and write the silicone scope.