Roof Coatings & Restoration in Wausau, WI
A roof coating is a fluid-applied membrane rolled or sprayed over an existing roof after it has been cleaned and repaired. On the right roof it can add 10 to 20 years of service with no tear-off and the building staying open. On the wrong roof it traps wet insulation under a new surface, and in a cold climate that trapped water freezes, expands and fails the coating within a couple of winters. That is why we start with a moisture survey. If the insulation is dry and the membrane is sound, we clean it, repair seams and flashings, reinforce the weak details, and apply the coating at the thickness the manufacturer specifies. Coatings need warm, dry weather to cure, so in central Wisconsin they are a late-spring-to-early-fall job. Silicone handles standing water better and is our usual pick for flat roofs. Acrylic is good value on metal roofs that shed water fast.
What's included
- Moisture survey to confirm the roof is a candidate
- Power washing and surface preparation
- Seam, flashing and penetration repairs before coating
- Reinforcing fabric at seams, fasteners and transitions
- Silicone coatings for flat roofs that hold water
- Acrylic coatings for metal and well-drained roofs
- Metal roof rust treatment and fastener sealing
- Coating thickness measured and documented
- Warranty options from the coating manufacturer
Sound like your roof?
Not sure what is wrong or what it should cost? If any of these sound familiar, tell us about the roof. We'll tell you what it probably is, then confirm it on the roof and give you a written price before any work starts.
- The roof is aging, but most of it is still dry
- Metal roof panels with surface rust and leaking fasteners
- The membrane is chalky, weathered or starting to shrink
- You need more life from the roof without a tear-off this year
- You want to plan the work for the summer season
Leaking right now? Protect the inside first
Move inventory, files and electronics away from the drip, shut off power to any light fixture or panel that is getting wet, and put down buckets or plastic. Keep people out from under a ceiling that is sagging with water above it. Don't send staff onto the roof during a storm, in the dark, or when it is icy or snow-covered. Low-slope roofs have skylights, open edges and slick membranes. Then request service: an active leak can usually be dried in temporarily until a permanent repair is possible.
From the first call to a dry roof
Tell Us About the Roof
The building, the roof type if you know it, and what is happening: an active leak, a stain, ponding water, storm damage, or a roof that is just getting old. Active leaks go to the front of the line.
Roof Assessment
We walk the roof, trace the problem, check the drains and flashings, and take core samples or moisture readings where the insulation might be wet.
Written Options and Price
You get a written scope and price. When more than one approach makes sense, repair, coating and replacement are laid out side by side with what each one buys you.
Work Done and Documented
The work is done to the manufacturer's specification, and you get a photo report and any warranty paperwork for your files.
You may also need
Commercial Roof Repair
Leak tracing and repair on every common low-slope system, including EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen, built-up and metal, with photos of what failed and a written price before work starts.
Learn moreEmergency & Storm Repair
Active leaks, wind-peeled edges, hail damage, fallen limbs and ice-dam leaks on flat and commercial roofs: dried in or tarped first to stop the water, then repaired properly, with photos for your insurer.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Repairs for the flat and low-slope roofs on Wausau-area homes and small buildings: porch roofs, additions, attached garages, dormer decks, cabins and storefronts in rubber (EPDM), TPO, modified bitumen and roll roofing.
Learn moreRoof Coatings & Restoration — FAQs
Most commercial coating systems run about $2–$5 per square foot, depending on the coating type, the thickness specified, how much repair and reinforcement the roof needs first, and the warranty term. That is usually well under half the cost of replacement.
Coatings need dry surfaces and mild temperatures to cure, and silicone and acrylic both have minimum application temperatures. In central Wisconsin that makes coating a late-spring to early-fall job. A roof found in October can be repaired now and coated next season.
Yes, if the leaks are at details that get repaired first and the insulation is dry. A coating over wet insulation traps the moisture, which then freezes and thaws under it all winter. That is why a moisture survey comes before any coating quote.
Silicone tolerates standing water and is the usual choice for flat roofs that pond. Acrylic is less expensive and works well on metal and other roofs that drain quickly, but it doesn’t hold up under ponding water. More in are roof coatings worth it?