Roof Coating in Placitas, NM

Placitas homes range from century-old adobes in the village to custom homes on the mesas and ranch properties with barns and casitas. What most of them share is a flat roof, usually sprayed foam with a protective coating on top, surrounded by parapets and drained by canales.

That kind of roof can last a very long time if the coating is kept up. The coating blocks the sun; the foam keeps out water. Once the coating wears through, the foam starts to break down, and repairs grow from a simple recoat to foam replacement. Knowing what your roof looks like right now is the first step.

Five things to check

• Has the white surface turned gray, beige or chalky?
• Is any tan foam showing?
• Are canales clear of needles and debris?
• Do you see cracks along the tops of parapets?
• Are there stains inside, especially after snow or storms?

Recoating done right

Wash the roof, let it dry, replace damaged foam, seal every opening, reinforce corners and apply the coating at full thickness. See foam roof recoating.

Which coating?

White acrylic for roofs that drain, silicone where water or slush sits, urethane where people walk. See choosing a coating.

Solar on the roof

Mounts need sealing, and full recoats should be planned with your solar installer. See coating around solar.

After winter

Freeze-thaw opens small cracks. A spring check catches them before storm season. See snow and freeze-thaw.