The roof is generally the most overlooked part of the home. Rarely do homeowners remember to clean, let alone maintain the roof. So often, it takes a leak for the homeowner to schedule a check.
You need to take better care of your roof. Proper roof maintenance improves the appearance of your home while expanding the life of the roof. It also prevents leaks and general damage, thus can save you a lot of money down the life.
However, if you already have a leaking roof, don’t despair. There are dozens of excellent roof sealants explicitly designed for leaking roofs.
Read on to find out some of the best roof sealants for leaks. We also explain how to select the best roof sealant for leaks depending on your circumstances.
The following are seven of the best roof sealants for leaks based on essential qualities such as durability, flexibility, weather resistance, and cost-effectiveness.
Best Roof Sealant for Leaks Reviews
1. Tuff Guard Heat Block White Reflective Roof Coating
Pros
- Withstands hot and cold conditions
- Easy to apply
- 90% solar reflectivity
- All-purpose, industrial-grade sealant
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Only available in white color
Let’s begin with one of the most eco-friendly sealants. Tuff Guard is a 5-gallon water-based roof sealant best known for its high quality, ease of use, and above all, environmental friendliness. The rubberized roof sealant is made without any solvent, meaning it has no negative impact on the environment. The rubberized components also allow it to withstand both heat and cold conditions.
Regarding ease of use, you can apply it with a sprayer, brush, or roller. The only requirement is that you wear protective gear, including gloves and masks, to protect you from the fumes. Once applied, it forms a highly reflective shield, capable of reflecting up to 90% of solar heat. This makes it a great choice for energy conversation and comfort.
Tuff guard works for a wide range of roofing types, including but not limited to RVs, flat roofs, and even concrete surfaces. The recommended application rate is one gallon for around a hundred feet. However, you need 2-3 layers for the best outcome.
2. Jet Coat Cool King Roof Sealant
Pros
- Impressively reflective finish
- Applicable on many roof types
- Up to 70 square feet per gallon
- Energy-efficient and heat resistant
Cons
- Only available in white finish
If you’re a reliable, tried-and-tested sealant, then you wouldn’t go wrong with Jet Seal. It’s been around for nearly half a century and is one of the most trusted brands among roofing contractors. Part of its legacy is its strong adhesion. It creates a seal so strong you’re guaranteed at least 20 more years from your roof. The manufacturer provides a 5-year warranty as a show of confidence in the product.
Being an acrylic sealant, it’s also highly affordable. The only downside is that acrylic sealants require multiple coats to provide the best results. For this specific sealant, you need at least two coats. Also, acrylic sealants traditionally cure into a white coating. There’s no other color option. The good news is that white is highly reflective, thus keeps the home cool and reduces air conditioning costs.
Jet Cool is an all-purpose sealant that works on almost all roof types, except gravel. It’s also not very good on asphalt and flat roofs. A gallon of the sealant covers up to seventy square feet, which is quite impressive. The first coat dries fast and can take the second coat after eight hours – which dries completely within 24 hours.
3. Liquid Rubber Color Waterproof Sealant
Pros
- Water-based, this environmentally friendly
- Applies on horizontal and vertical surfaces
- Easy application, as easy as painting
- Fast-drying, i.e., cures within 24-48 hours
Cons
- The application rate is a little high
Liquid rubber is another highly flexible rubberized sealant. Indeed, some experts say it’s one of the most elastic sealants around. However, one of its biggest advantages is the range of colors. The sealant comes in seven color options, meaning you can keep your roof color if you wish. It’s also very easy to apply. You just apply it likely you’re painting the roof.
As you may imagine, this sealant is designed for a whole-roof application. If you feel that applying with a brush may take too long, you can also use a roller. Some experts even say that you can pour a bucket of sealant on flat roofs and use a large squeegee to spread it throughout the surface.
You’ll appreciate that this is a water-based sealant without solvent or VOC materials. This makes it environmentally friendly. It also can’t harm your pets. The recommended application rate is one gallon for every 25 square feet. However, you need two to three coats. Make sure to apply the coats at least 12 hours apart.
4. Henry HE587372 Dura Bright
Pros
- Low application rate (100 square feet/gallon)
- Easy to apply, even with a brush
- It’s a highly reflective coating
- Durable for extended roof lifespan
Cons
- It’s a tad expensive
If you’ve used roof sealants before, you must be aware of Henry’s products. They are some of the most revered in the market. This particular sealant is highly flexible and cures to a firm white finish that’s highly reflective and impressively durable. It reflects up to 90% of the sun’s heat rays, leaving your home cool and comfortable. Studies say it reduces indoor heat by up to 40%.
What stands out most about this sealant, though, is that it doesn’t require a primer. Unlike other sealants that require extensive prepping before application, this one only requires a bucket of the sealant, and you’re ready to go. You can apply it using a paintbrush, though a roller or sprayer works better for large applications.
Henry’s sealants are made from high-quality resins that guarantee durability and stability. You can rest assured that you won’t see small cracks or sagging after application. This is the case even when temperatures soar. It’s flexible enough to withstand extreme expansion and contraction.
5. Rubber Seal Liquid Rubber Roof Coating
Pros
- It comes in four colors
- A low application rate of 60 square feet/gallon
- Highly reflective and UV resistant
- Puncture and chemical resistant
Cons
- It’s one of the more expensive options
Rubber Seal is one of the most prominent brands when it comes to roof sealants. It offers a versatile size and comes in a wide range of colors, allowing you to choose the exact size and color you want for your roof. We also love that it’s a low-VOC sealant that also protects the roof against harmful chemicals. Low-VOC solutions are environmentally friendly.
Rubber Seal sealants are also highly reflective. If, besides the leaks, you’re also concerned with the heat that enters the house via the roof, it would be an excellent choice to minimize heating. It’s also highly waterproof, thanks to the puncture-resistant formula that ensures super adhesion to the roof surface. The bond is so strong it stays in place for many years.
The application rate for Rubber Seal is 60 feet per gallon, meaning that a five-gallon pack can seal up to three hundred square feet. You need two or three seals for the best results. However, once in place, the seal creates an extremely tough, UV-resistant coating for extended durability.
6. Dicor RP-CRC-1 Rubber Roof Acrylic Coating
Pros
- Extremely flexible and elastic
- Easy to apply with stable finish
- Low maintenance requirements
- UV and heat protection
Cons
- Not available in containers larger than one gallon
Finally, another excellent roof sealant you can turn to for crack sealing and prevention is RP-CRC-1 from Dicor. It comes in a one-gallon container and mainly stands out for its durability. It’s also highly flexible, meaning you can forget about cracks forming on the roof after sealant application. The elasticity qualities are also beneficial in the winter weather when the roof tends to contract significantly. The sealant will contact similarly without losing its shape.
You’ll also love this sealant because of its ease of application. It applies effortlessly, whether with a brush or roller. You can even use a high-pressure sprayer. When dry, it forms a reflective white surface that protects your roof from the sun’s damaging rays.
The best part of the Dicor sealant, however, is low-maintenance. Dicor is almost a set-it-and-forget type of application. Once in place, it can protect the roof for decades without the need for leak repairs and any form of painting.
Buying Guide
A well-designed and properly installed roof can withstand everyday weather and factors, eventually lasting a few decades. Indeed, some of the best roofs can last up to 20 years without signs of trouble. Some even last 40 years with good maintenance.
Unfortunately, over time, continued exposure to sunlight, rain, hail, and stone can take a toll on the roof. The problem is worsened by the fact roofs age too. General wear and tear can gradually degrade the roof, resulting in holes and even cracks. When this happens, leaks are inevitable.
The best remedy against leaks is sealing. A proper seal blocks all holes and cracks on the roof, no matter the type of roof, instantly curing the issue of leaking. Regular sealing can even extend the lifespan of the roof, thus saving you from replacement costs.
What is Roof Sealant?
A roof sealant is a monolithic, fully adhering fluid applied to the roofing membrane. The majority of roof sealants are elastomeric, meaning they have elastic properties that allow them to stretch substantially and return to their original shapes without damage.
Sealants vary in thickness. Some are only as thick as standard paint (around 3.0 dry mils), while others are more than 40 dry mills, equivalent to about 1.0mm. Remember that paint regular paint is about 0.075mm thick.
Once installed, the sealant becomes the top layer of the roofing material. Thus, it shields the rest of the roofing components from ultraviolet rays (UV), physical damage, and weather elements, such as sunshine and rain.
Roof sealants must not be confused with deck coatings. Whereas the deck coating protects surfaces from traffic (human or vehicular), a roof sealant only protects surfaces from weather elements. Roof sealants cannot withstand significant traffic.
Benefits of Roof Sealants for Leaks
When installed correctly, roof sealants are seamless and can seal leaks on almost any type of roof. The following are a few primary benefits of using sealant over other solutions for roof leaks;
- Permanently seal leaks
Obviously, the first benefit of roof sealant for leaks is that it permanently seals all holes and cracks on the roof, instantly resolving leaking problems. Sealants do so by flowing into and filling the holes. Then the sealant inside the cracks cures to become a hard solid that permanently prevents leaking. Some sealants are so good that areas sealed never leak again.
- Extend the life of the roof
Although most roof sealants for leaks apply directly to the leak’s location, others are designed to cover the entire roof – including areas without leaks. A significant advantage of completely sealing the entire roof is that the sealant provides a tough layer over the roof that can extend the roof’s life by many years. Some can extend the roof’s lifespan by as much as 40 years.
- Keeps the roof (and home) cool
Another benefit of applying sealant throughout the roof is cooling. Sealants are highly reflective. Some reflect up to 90% of the sun’s rays. This quality allows roof sealants to keep the home relatively cool, even in the heart of the summer season. Sealants also reflect away damaging UV rays, thus extending the life of the roof.
- Waterproofing benefits
Roof sealants are waterproof. They seal tightly to the roofing material, creating an impenetrable bond that doesn’t allow water to seep through. First off, this slows down wear and tear because water degrades roofing materials. Additionally, it keeps repaired leaks water-free, allowing the sealant to stay in place for a long time.
- Highly elastic and flexible
However, the biggest advantage of roof sealants over other solutions for leak repairs is the property of sealants to stretch and contract without becoming weak or losing their original shape. It’s a vital quality considering that the roof expands and contracts a lot, especially during extreme weather. Sealants will contract and shrink proportionately but ultimately return to their original shape. This prevents sagging and cracking of the sealing material.
Top Considerations When Choosing a Roof Sealant for Leaks
Roof sealants for leaks come in all shapes and qualities. The following considerations should help you select a proper sealant for your project.
- Type of roof
Although most sealants work just well for most roofs, a few don’t do great in selected roofs. Generally, most sealants work excellently for asphalt shingles, slate, metal roofing, and rubber slate. However, for the other roofing materials, you must be very specific. Check the label. Nearly all sealants indicate the best applications for the specific sealant.
- Roof sealant material
Roof sealants are made from different materials. The four primary materials are acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, and rubber. All these materials are applicable for a wide range of projects. However, they perform differently from one material to the next. Make sure to choose a sealant material that works excellently for your roof type and climatic conditions.
- Ease of application
If you’re planning for a DIY, then ease of application becomes another critical factor. Most roof sealants can be applied with a brush, roller, or special sprayer. However, not all support all three application methods. Moreover, if you intend to apply the sealant only to the leaking areas, a spray gun works better. Meanwhile, for whole-roof application, a roller would be more suitable.
- Reflectivity
Reflectivity is the quality of a material to reflect light. If you’re only concerned with sealing the leaking areas, reflectivity isn’t such a big issue. However, if you intend to coat the entire roof, choosing a highly reflective sealing can save you a lot of money in reduced cooling costs down the line. That’s because highly reflective sealants keep the home cooler in the summer.
- Breathability
A breathable sealing allows moisture from below the seal to escape. The reason this is a big deal is that you may have moisture trapped under the seal occasionally. For example, maybe the air got trapped during sealant application, or maybe it’s from vaporization processes under the coat. Such air, if lot allowed to escape, can degrade the roof.
- Sealant durability
Durability concerns the sealant’s projected lifespan. While some can only last about five years, others last an impressive 40+ years. One way to determine the durability of the material is to check the warranty. A 5-year warranty hints that the sealant should last just over five years, whereas a 20-year warranty means it typically lasts at least 20 years.
- Elasticity and flexibility
Finally, it’s also wise to select a highly elastic and flexible sealant for roof leaks. Why? Because the roof gets extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in winter. These extreme conditions cause severe expansion and contraction. If the sealant isn’t elastic enough to withstand the repeated contraction and expansion, it may lose shape within a month. It may even crack and begin to wear off.
Roof Sealant Pricing
It also helps to keep in mind application rates for the different sealants and how much the sealing project would cost you in the end.
According to Home Advisor, the average cost to seal the entire roof (with any sealant) is $445 to $1,953. This is about 5% to 10% more than last year. The rise in prices is mainly the result of an increase in demand over the past year. Nationally, the average is $1,177.
The good news is that you can still seal a leaky roof for as little as $100, which translates to about $0.65/square foot. On the other extreme, costs can be as high as $3,200, equivalent to $5.0.square foot. Ultimately, the application cost depends on;
- The type of roof
- Type of sealant
- Current roof condition
- Geographic location
If you’re wondering the costliest sealants, liquid rubber is at the top of the list, costing $1.50 to $2.5.square foot on average. Acrylic is the most affordable sealant at $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot. The others, including bitumen, polyurethane, and silicon, cost $0.5 to $1.50 square feet.
You can always install the sealant yourself. However, if you opt for professional installation, be prepared to pay an extra $0.25 to $3.00 per square foot. Liquid rubber is the cheapest to install at as low as $0.25/square foot, with polyurethane the costliest to install at up to $3.0/square foot.
Prepping the Roof for Sealant Application
Now that you know how to find a suitable sealant for your roof, the next step is to prep the roof for sealant application. Here’s how to proceed;
- Carefully examine the roof for damage: Check for cracks, tears, blisters, exposed foam, open seams, and signs of ponding. If dealing with a previously sealed roof, evaluate the condition of the existing coating. The roof must be in good condition to warrant coating.
- Consider repairs before sealing: If the roof has evidence of significant damage, it would be best to repair it before resealing. Sealing cannot save worn-out, dried-out, and structurally weak roofs.
- Measure the area to be sealed: If you intend to seal the entire roof, measure the surface area of the entire roof surface. Otherwise, measure only the damaged area that you intend to seal. This will help you determine how much sealant to purchase or bring up the roof. Always measure in square feet for easy reference.
- Thoroughly clean the roof: We recommend cleaning with an inexpensive solution of TSP or TSP substitute in a bucket of water. Use a broom to sweep off the dust, then follow up with a thorough washing using the TSP solution.
- Wait for the roof to dry: Although some sealants adhere well, even in wet conditions, you’ll get the best results from a dry roof. Indeed, it is best to choose a sunny day for roof sealing. If you must seal in rainy weather, find a sealant that works well in damp conditions.
Summary
Now you’re ready to seal your roof. We just want to remind you that sealing rates depend on the type of roof and sealant. Fortunately, all sealant manufacturers capture application rates elaborately in user manuals. The manual will also tell you how many coats/layers you need for the best results.