ROOF COATING COMPARISON CHART
Roof Coating Comparison: ArmorGarage vs. The Competition
Side-by-side technical specifications prove why Armor Roof Shield outperforms water-based, silicone, and elastomeric coatings in every category that matters.
β ASTM 9000 Hr Weathering Tested • Lowest Permeability • 15-Year Guarantee
Why This Comparison Matters
ArmorGarage Roof Shield is NOT a typical elastomeric coating. It's a copolymer epoxy rubber formulation engineered to provide a much longer useful lifespan than lower-cost, retail-grade products. The difference is in the materials — and the specifications below prove it.
Retail-grade roof products use water and silicone as their primary ingredients — much lower-grade materials compared to our copolymer epoxy rubber base. Water-based and silicone coatings always break down prematurely, regardless of how exaggerated their marketing guarantees may be. The tradeoff for lower material cost is lower performance in every critical category.
Almost no other roof coating company provides ASTM Accelerated Weathering test verification — meaning any claims to longevity are just marketing hype. Armor Roof Shield passes the ASTM 9000 Hour Accelerated Weathering Test with no signs of degradation.
Technical Specifications Comparison
| Specification | ArmorGarage | Gaco | Elastek | Lexis | Henry | Gardner-Gibson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Armor Roof Shield | GR 1600 | Solar Extreme 120 | Energy Guard | HE280DC | Black Jack 1000 |
| Product Type | Copolymer Epoxy Based | Silicone | Water Based Elastomeric | Butyl Elastomeric | Water Based Acrylic | Water Based Siliconized Acrylic |
| Coverage | 100 sf/gal | 100 sf/gal ^ | 100 sf/gal | 30–35 sf/gal | 30–35 sf/gal | 40–50 sf/gal |
| Dried Thickness | 22 mils | 22 mils ^ | 20 mils | 20 mils | 11 mils | 10 mils |
| Density | 9.85 lbs/gal | No Data | 10.6 lbs/gal | 7 lbs/gal | 12 lbs/gal | 11.53 lbs/gal |
| Tensile Strength | 1,000 PSI | 300 PSI | 340 PSI | 1,000 PSI | 240 PSI | Up to 250 PSI |
| Hardness | 60A | 50A | No Data | 45A | No Data | No Data |
| Elongation | 500% | 150% ^ | 260% | 900% | 230% | Up to 350% |
| Cure Time @ 70°F | 24–48 hrs | 24 hrs | 24–48 hrs | 24–48 hrs | 2–3 days | 24–48 hrs |
| Vapor Transmission β | .025 perms | .06 perms | 2.0 perms | 5.9 perms | 7.0 perms | No Data |
| One-Component | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Primer Required | No | Sometimes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ponding Water Rated | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Able To Walk On | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Min Application Temp | 40°F | 32°F | 55°F | 45°F | 50°F | 70°F |
| Energy Star Rated | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reflectivity | 90% | 85% | 86.5% | 85% | 88% | 90% |
| UL Fire Rated | Yes | Yes | No | No (Flammable) | Yes | Yes |
| Guarantee | 15 Years | 50 Yrs ^ | 7 Yrs | 10 Yrs * | 10 Yrs | 10 Yrs |
Table scrolls horizontally on mobile devices. ^ and * refer to notes below.
Important Notes On Competitor Claims
^ Gaco GR 1600 — Read the fine print:
Coverage: On textured surfaces such as asphalt-based roofs, Gaco requires 3–4 coats. Actual coverage on textured surfaces is 33 sf/gal — you'll need substantially more product than advertised.
50-Year Guarantee: Gaco does not guarantee their product unless installed by an authorized Gaco installer. Furthermore, they do not guarantee results such as stopping leaks. Guarantee is void if the coating is walked on or strict maintenance is not performed. Gaco provides no ASTM Accelerated Weather Testing to verify longevity. Guarantee is non-transferable.
Tensile Strength: Very low at 300 PSI — should not be walked on.
Hardness: 50A rating is exponentially softer than Armor Roof's 60A. ArmorGarage can be walked on; Gaco cannot.
Elongation: Very low at 150% — may be subject to cracking in extreme conditions.
β Vapor Transmission (Permeability) — The most important factor:
The lower the rating, the better the coating resists water and vapor transmission. Armor Roof Shield at .025 perms is four times less permeable than Gaco and multiple times better than the rest. Simply put, it means Armor Roof Shield is far superior at preventing water and moisture transmission through your roof. Some coatings have ratings barely below the threshold where moisture penetrates — just a tiny bit of wear causes them to start leaking. Black Jack 1000 is not approved for use on flat roofs.
Application temperature matters more than you think:
This is the temperature at which the coating stops curing and becomes vulnerable to rain or to not having the curing process restart. The same holds true for cure time — until fully cured, the coating is vulnerable to being washed away. We receive many calls from customers who had other popular brands simply wash right off their roofs.
* Lexis Coatings: 10-year guarantee only when applied by a certified Lexis applicator.
EPDM Coatings, Liquid Roof, and Pro Guard are the same product and share identical specifications.
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Visit our main Roof Coating product page for pricing and ordering. Call 866-532-3979 or email info@armorgarage.com for expert guidance on your roof project.