Common Roofing Issues: Poor Surface Preparation on Roof Coatings

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Common Roofing Issues: Poor Surface Preparation on Roof Coatings

Quality is at the heart of our Austin roofing company in every project we take on. Contact our experienced Central Texas roofers for a same-day, pressure-free inspection. Call 512-375-3654 to book your free inspection.

If you need a new roof installed, LOA is the roofing company to call! Our roofing experts are known for providing quality workmanship at a fair price. If you own a house or business in Central Texas you can't afford to work with another roofer.

Find out how much roof replacement will cost in Austin, Texas and the surrounding areas.

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Poor Preparation is One of the Most Common Roof Coating Problems - And We Have the Solution

It doesn't matter if it's a reflective roof coating, acrylic coating system or one of the elastomeric coatings. If the roof coating isn't applied correctly it won't perform correctly.

One of the most important parts of the roof coating process is proper surface preparation. Neglecting the surface preparation before the roof coating goes on is a gamble with serious consequences - not just for the coating itself but for the long-term safety and integrity of your roofing system. When surface prep is skipped or doesn't follow the coating manufacturers suggestions, poor adhesion can cause a number of problems.

Sometimes the only way to correct it is full removal and re-application of the coating, turning what should be a smart investment into an expensive fix. And at commercial properties, interruptions caused by the subsequent damage or roof coating repairs can mean lost productivity and higher operational costs.

It’s estimated that a majority of premature roof coating failures arise from inadequate prep, especially when metal roof coatings fail. Here's a closer look at why a well-prepped surface is always the unsung hero of any successful roof coating job.

Was your roof compromised by poor surface preparation?

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What Happens to Roof Coating If There Isn't Proper Surface Preparation

If you skip proper surface preparation before applying roof coating, the coating will likely fail prematurely, leading to a variety of problems like the ones listed below.

Peeling and Bubbling: Getting the roof surface clean and dry before coating is critical for good adhesion. Any dust, dirt, moisture, oil, or loose particles can prevent the coating from sticking to the roof, leading to weak spots that peel off quickly. Dirt or moisture trapped beneath the coating can also cause bubbling, especially when there are temperature fluctuations or extreme temperatures.
Water Intrusion: Inadequate surface prep means your new coating may sit on top of debris and won’t form a solid bond with the roof. This leaves the roof vulnerable to leaks and water damage that goes down past the roof membrane to the roof deck. Worse still is that often it creates hidden roof leaks and the roof damage goes unnoticed until it's serious.
Premature Failure: Skipping prep can mean coatings fail rapidly instead of delivering the years of weather protection and energy efficiency they promise. Studies show that over 80% of premature coating failures are due to skipping or rushing surface prep.

How to Repair Your Roof Coating System After Inadequate Surface Preparation

A professional roofing contractor can repair a roof coating system after improper surface preparation, but it requires a careful, methodical approach. Here’s how LOA roofing professionals tackle the job to ensure proper adhesion so that you get the full benefit of the roof coating.

Inspection and Assessment

The process starts with a thorough roof inspection to identify areas where the coating material has failed. What we're looking for is peeling, bubbling, cracks and soft or damp spots. We'll then test the adhesion and look for trapped moisture using duct tape, moisture meters or infrared scans.

Remove the Damaged Existing Coating

After the inspection it's time to scrape or cut away any coating that’s loose, blistered or otherwise not fully adhered to the roof substrate. This requires feathering out the edges so the repair patch will bond properly.

Surface Prep the Right Way

Now it's time to do what should have been done the first time around. You have to clean the exposed substrate meticulously, removing all dust, dirt and debris with pressure washing or membrane-safe cleaners. This is also the part of the process where you want to address any underlying issues like leaks and cracks. Allow the entire area to dry before moving on to the next step.

Sealing and Priming

It's a good idea to take the extra precautionary step of sealing seams, penetrations and flashing with mastic or reinforced fabric to prevent leaks. Once that's done, apply a primer that's suitable for your roof type to maximize adhesion, especially for difficult surfaces like metal or previously coated areas.

Re-coat and Restore

At this point you can apply the repair coating in even layers, ensuring proper thickness and full coverage. Many systems require a base coat followed by a top coat for UV protection and reflectivity. If the majority of the roof was improperly prepped, a full re-coat may be the best solution to prevent future issues.

Habitual Roof Coating Maintenance

Even when the roof coating is repaired correctly, regular roof maintenance is recommended to catch early signs of trouble. Maintaining the gutters and drains also reduces the risk of standing water that can cause roof coating damage.

LOA's roofers follow all of the proper procedures for applying the coating to any roof's surface. We also offer free inspections to assess the roofing system for improper coating, leaks and more. If your property is in the Austin metro give us a call at 512-375-3654 or request a roof inspection online.

We're One of the Highest Rated
Roofers in Austin for a Reason

At LOA, we believe success is defined by customer satisfaction. We're proud to say we have some of the happiest clients in the roofing industry! You can find hundreds of 5-star reviews like the ones below online.

"I got three inspections and decided to use LOA Construction for a new roof. LOA’s Dan Harvey worked with my insurance inspector to make sure all the hail/wind damage was accounted for, gave us a good choice of shingle colors, and was great at communicating. The workers did quality work, found and repaired rotted wood and cleaned up. Highly recommend!"

— Brian McFarlin, 5-Star Google Review

"Brandon at LOA construction made replacement of our roof very easy. He was the only roofing contractor that I could find that would work directly with our insurance company. They showed up on time and made the whole process very easy. And we have a great looking high quality roof! I Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a new roof. Give them a call if you need a roof or think you might have wind or hail damage. I had several other bids that were higher cost and didn't think our insurance would cover it. Our insurance did cover it, I think they were just unwilling to work with the insurance company. Not Brandon, not only was he will to work with our insurance he met with the adjuster and made the whole thing a breeze. Thanks again LOA and Brandon!!!!"

— Mike A., 5-Star Google Review

LOA Construction has exceeded my expectations again. This is the second roof installation with them and I couldn't be happier. Specifically, Tyler Griffiths is professional, attentive, and made the entire process of working with my insurance company effortless. My tenant sent a glowing account of their experience as well. Knowing it was a rental, they still diligently protected all property and plants. They were on time every time and went out of their way to not inconvenience the residents. LOA Construction has integrity and takes pride in their work. I couldn't recommend them more.

— Sheri Moran

"Worked with Zac and his team. Zac did an outstanding job working with the insurance company to ensure all damage was covered. Roof and gutters installed each were on time and all work was top of the line. This is a company that really does put the customer first. With out question I would recommend loa construction and roofing."

— Tony Smith, 5-Star Google Review

From the very start, I knew I was in good hands. The professionalism was top-notch, but most important, was the caring attitude of the project manager, Dan Harvey, the roofing supervisor, Ambrocio, and the roofing crew. They made sure every detail was covered. They are definitely an asset to LOA Construction. I highly recommend them. Dennis and Suzy S

— Dennis Sanger

Andrew was very great at getting myself and my wife all the information and getting us started from start to completion. His workers were friendly and professional. If ever I had to contact him, he was quick to respond back. We are very happy with the finished product. Yes, I would and have recommended him and his company to get their work by LOA Construction and Austin. Andrew made sure my wife would be satisfied with whatever roof she liked. Can't thank you enough Andrew and LOA Construction.

— Paul Coleman

As a first time home owner with no experience in how to make claims and start the process of getting a new roof I was scared to the point of avoiding what needed to get done after the bad hail storm. August Walker did an amazing job walking me through each step along the way. He answered all my questions and calmed my concerns. They inspected my roof and drove from Austin to Belton just to be there with the ins inspector, and followed up with me in person after the roof was installed. He also made a special trip back to drop off samples! I’m grateful to August and LOA construction for being highly professional and friendly!

— Angela Baker

From start to finish Lee and his team took great care of us. He made us feel comfortable during the process and answered any and all questions we had. I would definitely them recommend to anyone.

— Taneisha Jones

Arthur Harris and his team with LOA Construction did an excellent job on our roof. They finished it in one day. Arthur was very good in explaining all the information to us.

— Crystal Hill

Will, has been so awesome and easy to work with he gets everything we want done the way we want it and also keeps us updated as we are over the road truck drivers !!! Hands down to LOA Construction for their great service and great customer service !!!

— Tanya Dudkiewicz

Dan Harvey is Very Knowledgeable and directed me straight to the products that will save us money in the next 3 years the savings on energy costs alone will pay for the installation itself. I highly recommend LOA Construction and Dan Harvey! Actual Customer Jefferson Fara

— Jefferson Fara

Mark from LOA roofing was very professional from the git, the initial estimate process, he quickly identified all the issues that needed to be addressed. The company was very prompt, to coordinate the crew, and for a very reasonable price, got my roof repaired without any hassle. They also took care of all the cleaning, so that it all looked like nothing happened. I would recommend Mark from LOA to anyone needing a roof repair, with no kind of hesitation.

— Ale León

Loa Construction provides quality services in installing roof and related repairs. I’ll recommend it to my friends and family.

— Peijie Li

Thanks to Landon Wells of LOA Construction for the beautiful new roof! It was all completed in one day including a meticulous clean up job afterwards. The workers were all polite and professional. Landon made sure everything went smoothly and that all of our questions were answered. I am thrilled with our new roof. I would definitely recommend Landon and LOA Construction to all of my friends and family. Thank you Landon!

— Renee Johnson

Choose quality roofing for a lasting investment in your home.

Request an Inspection

Dedicated to excellence, our Austin roofing company ensures quality in every project. Contact our skilled Central Texas roofers for a same-day, hassle-free inspection. Call +1 (512) 375-3654 to book your free inspection.