Texas weather is tough on roofs. From the scorching summer heat and intense UV rays to sudden thunderstorms and damaging hail, the climate here puts serious strain on your home or building. If you own property in Texas, you know that protecting your roof isn’t just about fixing leaks, it’s about making smart choices to prevent damage before it starts.
One of the best ways to protect your investment is with a high-quality roof coating. Think of it like a heavy-duty sunscreen for your building. It adds a seamless layer that reflects heat, seals small cracks, and stops water from getting in. This guide breaks down the best solutions to help you save money on energy bills and avoid expensive roof replacements.
Why Roof Coatings Important in Texas?
Before choosing a product, it is important to understand why this helps you. A standard roof without extra protection creates problems fast in the Texas heat. A roof coating helps by acting as a reflective barrier. By bouncing the sun’s UV rays away from your building, it keeps your attic or top floor much cooler, which directly lowers your air conditioning costs. Additionally, because the coating is applied as a liquid that dries into a solid sheet, it covers seams and cracks where water usually sneaks in, extending the life of your roof by decades.
The 5 Best Coatings for Your Roof
1. Silicone Roof Coatings
Silicone is the top choice for flat roofs in Texas because it is the best at handling standing water. Unlike other materials that break down if puddles sit on them after a heavy storm, silicone creates a slick, waterproof surface that moisture cannot penetrate. It is also highly flexible, meaning it stretches without cracking when the Texas temperature swings from hot days to cool nights. This makes it the perfect long-term solution for commercial buildings with flat roofs or poor drainage.
2. Acrylic Roof Coatings
If your main goal is to lower your energy bills without spending a fortune, acrylic is the best option. These water-based coatings act like a thick white paint that reflects the intense Texas sun, keeping your building significantly cooler during the summer. While they are not designed to hold standing water, they are an excellent, budget-friendly choice for sloped roofs, such as metal or shingle roofs, where rainwater runs off naturally.
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3. Polyurethane Roof Coatings
For areas in North Texas known as “Hail Alley,” polyurethane offers the strongest protection. This coating is much thicker and harder than acrylic or silicone, acting like a protective helmet for your roof. It has high impact resistance, which means it defends well against hail damage and can handle the weight of people walking on the roof for maintenance. It is the ideal choice for industrial buildings or roofs that experience heavy wear and tear.
4. Asphalt-Based Roof Coatings
Asphalt-based coatings are the “old reliable” option for refreshing older commercial roofs. While they are not as reflective as silicone, they are excellent at sealing and rejuvenating existing built-up roofing systems or tar-and-gravel roofs. The coating soaks into the old layers to stop leaks and extend the roof’s life. This is a practical, cost-effective solution for property owners who need to waterproof an aging roof without paying for a full replacement.
5. Hybrid Roof Coatings
Hybrid coatings give you a customized balance by mixing the best features of different materials, usually combining the cost-effectiveness of acrylic with the toughness of polyurethane. This provides a versatile solution that offers decent waterproofing and good durability at a mid-range price. These are often the best answer for complex roofs that have many different angles or mixed materials, as they provide reliable all-around protection.
Choosing the Right Coating for Your Roof Type
Not every roof is the same. Choosing the right coating depends on your roof material, slope, and regional weather patterns. Here’s a quick reference:
| Roof Type | Best Coating Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Flat roofs with water pooling | Silicone | UV & water resistance |
| Sloped asphalt shingles | Acrylic | Affordable, reflective |
| Metal roofs | Polyurethane or Silicone | Expands/contracts, resists rust |
| Older built-up roofs | Asphalt-based | Budget-friendly fix |
| Mixed-material roofs | Hybrid | Tailored performance |
Final Thoughts
I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that there is no “magic wand” for roofing, but a coating system is the closest thing to it. It saves you money on energy, stops leaks immediately, and prevents thousands of pounds of old roofing material from ending up in a landfill. Whether you need the waterproofing power of silicone or the impact resistance of polyurethane, the key is matching the product to your specific building.
This is where experience matters. At Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings, we don’t just sell one product; we inspect your roof to see exactly what the Texas weather is doing to it. We represent the authority in this region because we understand that a roof in Houston needs something different than a roof in Amarillo. If you want an honest assessment and a solution that lasts, we are the team to call.
FAQs
What is the best roof coating for Texas climate?
For pure heat reflection, acrylic roof coatings are often the top choice because their bright white finish reflects up to 85% of UV rays, drastically lowering roof surface temperatures. However, for total weather protection that handles both heat and ponding water, silicone is often superior in the Texas climate. It remains flexible without cracking during extreme temperature swings, which is why Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings frequently recommends it for long-term energy savings in our region.
How do I stop ponding water on a flat roof?
Standing water destroys most roofs, but silicone coatings are the only chemistry designed to withstand permanent ponding water without breaking down. Because silicone is inorganic, it does not absorb moisture or dissolve, making it the ideal solution for flat commercial roofs with poor drainage. As a GAF CoatingsPro Certified Contractor, Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings can install high-solids silicone systems that turn these problem areas into watertight assets.
Which roof coating is best for hail resistance?
If your building is located in “Hail Alley” (North Texas/Lubbock areas), polyurethane foam or coatings provide the best impact resistance. This material creates a dense, protective shell that has much higher tensile strength than acrylic or silicone, acting as a shock absorber against hail stones and foot traffic. It is the strongest defense available against impact damage and is a specialty of our team.
What is the difference between acrylic and silicone?
The main difference is water resistance and cost. Acrylic is water-based, cost-effective, and excellent for sloped roofs that drain well, but it will eventually emulsify (wash away) if water sits on it for more than 48 hours. Silicone is more expensive but is completely waterproof and permanent, making it the required choice for flat roofs where water puddles are common.
How do roof coatings lower energy bills?
A reflective “cool roof” coating lowers energy bills by reducing the roof’s surface temperature by up to 50°F or more. By reflecting the sun’s energy rather than absorbing it into the building, your air conditioning system doesn’t have to run as hard. For many of our Texas clients, this leads to a reduction in peak cooling energy use by 10-15%, paying for the coating investment over time.
How can you coat an old tar and gravel roof?
You can restore older built-up roofs (BUR) using asphalt-based emulsions. These coatings are compatible with the existing bitumen and work to rejuvenate the dried-out oils in the old roofing felt. This process reseals the waterproofing layer and stops leaks without requiring the expensive and messy removal of the old gravel and tar system.
What is the best way to fix metal roof leaks?
Metal roofs usually leak at the seams and around screws due to rust and thermal expansion (the metal moving as it heats and cools). A fluid-applied membrane like silicone or a hybrid coating is the best fix because it encapsulates the screws and seams in a single, seamless layer. Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings uses these systems to stop rust in its tracks and prevent the metal panels from pulling apart.
How long do commercial roof coatings last?
A properly installed roof coating system generally lasts between 10 to 20 years, depending on the thickness of the application (measured in mils). As a GAF GoldElite Commercial Contractor, Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings can offer NDL (No Dollar Limit) warranties up to 25 years on qualifying systems – a level of protection that standard contractors simply cannot provide.
Why is coating cheaper than roof replacement?
A roof coating is significantly cheaper because it saves labor and disposal costs, often totaling 50% to 70% less than a full replacement. Additionally, because a coating is classified as “maintenance” rather than a capital improvement, it may be fully tax-deductible in the first year. It allows you to restore the roof’s performance without the noise, landfill waste, and business disruption of a total tear-off.
Who are the best roof coating contractors in Texas?
Choosing the best contractor requires finding someone who understands regional weather patterns, as a roof in Lubbock needs different care than one in Houston. You should look for a company that holds top-tier manufacturer certifications. Core Commercial Roofing & Coatings is a regional authority with GAF GoldElite status, meaning we have been vetted for quality, insurance, and installation excellence, ensuring you don’t pay for a product that won’t last.
