Acrylic Vs Urethane
The same family, a different job
Both are Conklin liquid coating systems. The difference is what each one is built to take.
| Acrylic | Urethane | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower, the most affordable reflective option | Higher, priced for the added durability |
| Ponding water | Not recommended | Better tolerance, built for it |
| Impact and foot traffic | Standard duty | Higher resistance, handles more wear |
| Best for | A sound roof on a budget | A roof that takes more abuse than most |
The System
Two layers, two jobs
Urethane earns its durability from two different chemistries working together, not one coat doing everything.
UV Stable Finish
Aliphatic Top Coat
Debris cleared, seams checked, any minor rust or damage addressed before coating goes down.
High Build, High Durability
Aromatic Base Coat
Not every roof needs it, some do. Applied to help the coating bond correctly.
Existing Substrate
Your Roof Deck
Conklin Snow Leopard acrylic, applied at full system thickness, not a thin skim coat.
See if urethane is worth the upgrade for your roof.
Why It Costs More
Where this earns its higher price
Urethane costs more than acrylic because it is doing more work. Roofs with regular ponding water, heavy foot traffic from rooftop units and maintenance crews, or exposure to hail and debris wear through a standard coating faster than the system can protect it. Urethane is built to outlast that kind of punishment. If your roof is not dealing with any of that, acrylic is the more efficient choice.
FAQ
Straight answers
Is urethane overkill for my roof?
If your roof sheds water fine and does not see heavy traffic, probably. Acrylic does that job for less. Urethane earns its price on roofs that ponding, traffic, or impact would wear through faster.
Can urethane go over an existing acrylic coating?
[ Placeholder: confirm compatibility and prep requirements with Justin before this goes live. ]
Does the ponding water tolerance mean I can ignore drainage problems?
No. Urethane handles occasional ponding better than acrylic, it does not replace fixing a real drainage issue.
Built for the roof that takes a beating
More durability where the roof actually needs it, not paid for where it doesn't.
Some roofs just see more punishment than others, more ponding, more foot traffic, more debris. Urethane is the system built to take that on without the recoat cycle running out from under you. If that is your roof, this is the right coat, not the expensive one.