Breaking down the differences in roof coatings

By Dani Sheehan. 

Understanding the similarities and differences between silicone and acrylic roof coatings can help you guide building owners toward the best long-term solution for their roof. 

Building owners are increasingly turning to coatings as a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to full tear-offs, but the variety of products on the market can be overwhelming. Knowing the nuances between silicone and acrylic coatings is key to guiding customers toward the right choice for their building, budget and long-term plans. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards sat down with TJ Flick and Jay Mitchell of Progressive Materials to break down the practical differences between these two coating systems. Their insights make it clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution and choosing the right system depends on environment, performance needs and customer goals. 

Jay emphasized that the first step for contractors is building their own knowledge so they can be transparent with customers. “It all starts on getting educated on the topic... once you’re educated on that topic, [the next step] is educating the owner on what exactly it can provide them,” Jay explained. “They might save $100,000 with an acrylic system, but you need to ask: do you really want a roof that might last 10 years instead of 20?” It’s not about pushing for the cheapest solution but making sure building owners understand what they’re getting and how long it will last.  

The core differences 

TJ broke down the technical aspects that separate silicone and acrylic coatings. 

• Silicone: Silicone’s chemistry makes it resistant to UV breakdown, so it performs longer than many alternatives. It’s also resistant to ponding water, which makes it ideal for flat roofs. However, silicone tends to pick up dirt and can be slick when wet, which requires caution where foot traffic is expected. 
• Acrylic: More affordable and better for sloped roofs where aesthetics matter, acrylic coatings resist dirt pickup and offer a harder surface for traffic. However, they’re more vulnerable to standing water and may not last as long as silicone in some environments. 

As TJ explained, “If you have a sloped roof that needs a really good aesthetic finish that you want to keep clean over time, it may be a good choice to pick acrylic. If you have a flat roof that has bird baths all over it, it may be better to pick a silicone.” 

Another consideration: once a roof is coated with silicone, future recoating options are limited to silicone. That’s why Jay stressed having these conversations at the start of a project to align with the owner’s long-term goals. 

The importance of quality and training 

Both Jay and TJ emphasized that coatings today aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago. Investments in research and development and higher-quality raw materials have advanced performance dramatically, but success still depends on the contractor’s skill and preparation. 

“Being trained and knowing what you’re doing on the roof is probably the most important thing for the overall coatings industry,” TJ shared. “We’ve seen businesses fail from not having the correct training and applying coatings over wet roofs where it’s not sustainable.” 

Progressive Materials addresses this by offering robust, hands-on training through their Certified License Applicator (CLA) program. From classroom instruction to jobsite visits, they ensure you are equipped to deliver quality results. 

Listen to the full podcast to learn more about matching the right system to the right building and budget and how Progressive Materials can help.