A silicone roof coating is a seamless, fluid-applied layer that restores an existing low-slope roof without a tear-off. It fits TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, metal and concrete roofs that are still dry and structurally sound, and it is the usual choice for roofs that hold water after rain. It adds no insulation and cannot save a roof with widespread wet insulation.
Silicone roof coatings restore and extend the life of an aging roof by sealing seams, penetrations, and worn membrane in a seamless, UV-stable topcoat — without the cost or disruption of a full tear-off.
Unlike acrylic coatings, silicone resists ponding water indefinitely, making it the right choice for low-slope roofs that don’t drain quickly.
The roof underneath shapes the job. Here is how silicone works on each surface we coat.
Silicone covers seams and fasteners on a metal roof in one seamless layer that guards against rust, UV damage and leaks.
Silicone seals a concrete deck in a flexible layer that moves with the slab as temperatures swing and stays watertight where the deck holds water.
Aging TPO and EPDM sheets can be restored in place instead of replaced when nothing beneath them is wet. Loose laps are closed up before any coating goes on.
Silicone gives a worn modified bitumen roof a new weathering surface. UCHealth Memorial Hospital's roof was restored this way.
Learn MoreA coating is only as good as the substrate prep underneath it — skip the cleaning, priming, and detail work, and the coating fails early no matter how good the material is. We pressure-wash, prime, and detail every seam and penetration before a drop of coating goes down.
That’s why our coated roofs extend service life by 10–15 years instead of buying a season or two.
Because silicone bonds to whatever is underneath it, most of the work happens before the first coat. Here is how a typical restoration runs.
Drone and roof-level footage covers a Strong coating job on a commercial warehouse from start to finish.
| Spec | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Coating type | Fluid-applied silicone |
| Compatible substrates | TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, metal, concrete |
| Ponding water | Resists standing water |
| Application | Spray, roller or brush; two coats or wet-on-wet |
| Adhesion check | Peel test, with primer where required |
| Surface option | Broadcast granules for traffic and slip resistance |
| Repairs and recoats | Silicone-based products only |
| Inspection interval | Every 6 to 12 months |
A silicone restoration is priced on the work under the coating as much as the coating itself. These factors carry the most weight.
Every section of saturated insulation or failed membrane is cut out and rebuilt before coating. The moisture assessment sets this quantity.
Longer manufacturer warranties typically call for more coating per square foot, which raises material cost.
Curbs, antennas, pipes and units each need hand detailing. A crowded roof costs more per square foot than an open one.
Pavers, ballast and walkway pads have to come off and often go back. Weight, access and building operations set how that is done.
Hospitals, secure facilities and schools may limit work hours, require fast roof clearing or rule out a crane, all of which add planning and labor.
| Silicone Roof Coatings | Acrylic Roof Coatings | Spray Foam (SPF) Roofing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standing water | Resists ponding | Needs positive drainage | Foam can add slope | |
| Insulation added | None | None | Yes, set by foam thickness | |
| Typical substrates | Single-ply, mod-bit, metal, concrete | Metal and well-drained roofs | Most roofs; single-ply needs cover board | |
| Future recoats | Silicone | Acrylic | Same type as the original topcoat | |
| Strongest fit | Low-slope roofs that hold water | Sloped or fast-draining roofs | Roofs that need insulation or slope | |
Strong Contractors takes on spray foam, coating, and ballast removal projects outside Colorado, bringing our own crews, equipment, and project management to the job. Before we bid an out-of-state project, we confirm that state’s licensing, registration, and permit requirements so the work moves forward cleanly.
Yes. Silicone resists standing water, which is why it is the usual coating for low-slope roofs where water sits after rain. It also stays flexible instead of turning brittle. Ponding still deserves a look, because blocked drains or a sagging deck can point to problems no coating will fix.
Yes, when the TPO is dry and sound. For the U.S. Space Force, Strong restored an existing TPO roof with silicone and embedded granules instead of the planned swap to a black EPDM membrane. The coating extended the roof’s life, raised its reflectivity and avoided working a new membrane around the facility’s antennas.
Yes, with the right planning. On the UCHealth Memorial Hospital campus in Colorado Springs, Strong restored a modified bitumen roof, including the helicopter pad, with silicone and broadcast granules. Crews worked under a communication plan with hospital security and could clear the roof within 10 to 15 minutes of an incoming helicopter.
Plan around the manufacturer warranty quoted for your roof, since terms are set by the system and the coating thickness specified. Service life also follows the condition of the roof underneath and how well the coating is maintained. When it wears, the roof can be cleaned and recoated with silicone instead of torn off.
A smooth silicone surface can be slick when wet. Broadcasting granules into the final coat gives a harder, slip-resistant finish, and it is worth specifying anywhere maintenance crews walk to equipment. The granules also add puncture resistance on roofs that see regular traffic.
Coat it if the membrane is weathered but the insulation below is dry and the deck is sound. Replace it if moisture is widespread or the structure is failing. Strong treats a full tear-off as the last resort, so the assessment starts by asking whether restoration can do the job. That approach has saved 1,000 dumpsters from landfill.
They can, when the roof is a sound candidate. Strong worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the historic barn at Fort Carson Mounted Guard with a silicone coating, adding a seamless weather barrier while preserving the original structure.
