- Dow in Brazil
Think about a beautiful, clear and sunny day. Get on a plane and fly over any city you choose. You will see a vast sea of dark roofs and, occasionally, one beautiful white island here and there known as "Cool Roof". This concept aims to reduce urban temperatures and improve the energy efficiency of buildings through the use of advanced Elastomeric Roof Coating (ERC).
Downtown areas concentrate high temperatures (1-6 degrees Celsius hotter than remote locations), creating the so-called "heat islands" phenomenon due to the presence of buildings, impermeable ground, asphalt or concrete and lack of vegetation. These materials absorb and gather most of the heat, which contributes to global warming and the lower energy efficiency in buildings, since more energy is spent to control indoor temperatures.
Over the last three decades, this increase has become increasingly more evident. Elastomeric roof coatings are, in many ways, seen as green and enhanced products from an environmental point of view. They not only help save energy, but also reduce the volume of waste going to landfills and provide significant savings in maintenance and replacement costs. This happens because, overtime, heat, sunlight and cracks resulting from the expansin and contraction of the material lead to wear and tear of the roof. The traditional maintenance method consisted of removing old roof titles after 15 or 20 years of use and replacing them with new ones. Elastomeric coatings can completely change this method. A roof coating increases the durability of several types of roof materials, some of which may last as long as the building itself, if given the regular maintenance considering high pressure washer and coating reapplication every 10 or 15 years.
Today, elastomeric roof coatings are recognized as key components of construction materials, since they provide increased structural integrity, require less maintenance, offer more longevity, improve efficiency and assure significant mid- to long-term environmental benefits.
This type of coating looks resistant and elastic, having specific properties that allow adhesion to metal, concrete and tiles to form a protective uniform layer that is water resistant and durable. Therefore, it cannot be compared with common paint or white coating, whose residential thickness is usually about 4 thousandth of an inch, since elastomeric roof coatings are five times thicker, that is 20 thousandth of an inch.
Collaborating with our clients and their own clients is a core value in the Dow Building & Construction segment. Therefore, Dow is affiliated with the Green Building Council (GBC), of which Brazil is a founding member, so that we can actively work to promote sustainable building concepts.
A Flexible and Resistant Wall
The benefits provided by elastomeric coatings are not limited to roofs. Wall coatings formulated with this 100% acrylic elastomeric material remain flexible and maintain a tensile strength, which provides protection over a wide temperature range. Its flexibility and soft consistency also offer excellent resistance to soiling and prevent wind-driven rain and moisture from infiltrating―which would cause structural damage―even in areas that are prone to humid weather and hurricanes. Elastomeric walls keep homes uniform, safe and dry. By creating a bond between microcracks, elastomeric coatings help to maintain brick walls, protect old buildings and offer integrity and easy maintenance to new buildings.
Recent technological advances developed by Dow Building & Construction allow modern elastomeric wall coatings achieve higher levels of performance, appearance and functionality.
A Top-Quality Solution for Conventional Paint
Microcracks represent a special challenge to brick surface protection. Conventional paint, including brick paint, is based on "hard" polymers that form rigid films at room temperature. As the underlying cracks expand, the paint cracks as well and affect coating integrity.
Protecting brick surfaces requires a "soft" solution, that is, an elastic polymer-based solution capable of expanding with cracks to create a bond between them and prevent water and salt penetration, thus returning it to its original state when crack contract themselves again.