Recovering a Failed Elastomeric System On A Flat Roof

An Elastomeric Coating is just a fancy way to say liquid rubber coating. These coatings are extremely effective in solving roof leaks on virtually any type of roof. While a rubber coating is thought to last a long time, imporper installation by an inexperienced roofer can cause us to have to come out to repair it.

The first step in the recovery and re-administration of a failed elastomeric system is a good wash. As with most roofing projects of this sort, it makes sense to pressure wash the area you will be working on before you get started on it. This help things move efficiently and smoothly.

In the above photo of a project we did for a client, you can see the black portions are where the coating failed when we pressure washed it. These areas were supposidly reinforced.

Ponding water on flat roofs is a big issue, this is one of the main reasons to apply an elastomeric coating in the first place. Often times water will pool up and without the rubber coating, you would have devastating water damage to your roof. If your drains arent clear, even if you have a proper rubber roof coating installed, the undrainable pooled water will start to eat away the rubber coating as well as your roof. This is when you will need to recover your failed elastomeric system. In the photo below you can see the various areas of the roof where water pools.
Recovery isn’t just as simple as just apply more coats. There is a very specific set of tasks that need to be done in order to have your rubber roof installed correctly, anyone who tells you differently is not an experienced roofer. After the pressure wash, you need to use a liquid rubber sealer to essentially glue down the old coating, and also allow good adhesion for the next coat. After that be sure to pay extra attention to any vents/pipes/AC stands/Flashing and be sure any spaces are covered completely. Depending on each individual situation, it is often times a good idea to install “breather” vents to help eliminate any moisture that can build up underneath the roof substrate

The next step is to roll on  your liquid rubber, lay down a fabric mesh on top, smooth it, then apply a second coat. Be sure to reinforce the areas that were ponding. After everything has been given time to set, the final coat is added and you are left with a finished product. Be sure to always keep track of your roof and the areas that pool. With regular maintenance you can prevent the need for a full scale recovery on your elastomeric system