What is a Cementitious roof ? Or also known as C-cure. C-cure is a light weight Cementitious concrete that is spray applied over a polyurethane foam roof. It is one of the most expensive foam roofs you can buy. The c-cure has a very high fire rating and is usually applied on schools, government buildings, high traffic roofs or anywhere you need a fire rating. This is also Known as a Class A Roof
I was on one recently and took some pictures. The foam application part of the roof is just about as good as they come, but Cementitious part of the roof is as bad as they get.
The application of a Cementitious roof is as follows:
1. Polyurethane foam is applied at a thickness of the roof spec. usually @ 1 1/2 inches or greater.
2. An elastomeric roof coating is applied @ about 1.5 gal. per 100sqft.
3. A second coat of elastomeric roof coating is applied @ 1.5 gal. per 100sqft. and a 3rd coat @ 1.25 gal per 100sqft At this time a #6 Aggregate is applied into the wet coating @ the rate of about 35-40lbs per 100sqft.
4. All verticles ”anything above the roof surface” walls, pipes, a/c curbs t-tops ect. are coated with an elastomeric coating.
5. Finally the C-cure is applied over the roof surface. It’s applied in both directions to prevent voids. The dry thickness is 1/4 of an inch. The finished surface should have a smooth apperance with only the top of the aggregate visable.
Below are some pictures of an inproper c-cure application that will lead to premuture roof failure. Also pictured are incorrect repair methods.
This next picture shows a repair done using an elastomeric roof coating. Elastomeric coating will not stick to c-cure so that’s why this repair has failed.
This next picture shows a c-cure repair done using an aluminum roof coating. You can’t use this coating on a c-cure roof.
What happens now?
This deficiency was discovered during a roof inspection. Good for the owner because the roof has not yet completely failed. The bad news is a $15000 c-cure recoat 10 years early (as of the time of this post). The bottom line here is had the building owner used a roofing consultant to over see this roof installation he wouldn’t have the problem he now has. This is more common than you might think.
The origins of C-cure
John Young of Young Builders is widely recognized in roofing circles as an early pioneer of the cementitious aggregate surfacing system used over polyurethane/foam roofs.
This wasn’t just a coating — it was a durability upgrade to early SPF systems that struggled under Southwest UV and traffic conditions.
What He Helped Pioneer
John Young’s work focused on developing a hard mineral wearing surface that:
- Protected SPF from UV degradation
- Increased impact and traffic resistance
- Created a thicker, more abuse-tolerant system
- Extended the practical life of foam roofs in harsh climates
The system typically involved:
- Spray polyurethane foam base
- Cementitious or urethane-modified slurry
- Broadcast #6 mineral aggregate
- Seal/top coat
This became a recognizable heavy-duty SPF protection approach, especially in the Southwest.
Why It Mattered at the Time
When SPF roofing was still evolving:
- Early coatings chalked and eroded quickly
- Foam exposed to sun degraded fast
- Roofs with mechanical equipment needed tougher surfaces
The cementitious aggregate approach was one of the first real solutions for long-term SPF durability.
Where It Sits in Today’s Market
While modern elastomeric and silicone coatings now dominate, the Young-style cementitious aggregate system represents:
- A historical milestone in SPF system evolution
- A high-durability, mineral-surfaced protection concept
- A system still seen on older commercial roofs in Arizona
It helped bridge the gap between early foam roofing and today’s advanced coating technologies.
Bottom Line
John Young and Young Builders played a significant role in advancing the cementitious aggregate surfacing method over SPF, particularly in high-UV regions. It stands as one of the foundational durability strategies that influenced how modern SPF protection systems evolved.
Company History & Role
- Young Builders Roofing was founded in 1972 by John Young in the Valley of the Sun, Arizona. His work focused on urethane/foam roofing systems and related technologies. The company developed the DURAGARD roofing system — a urethane foam roof system designed for desert climates.
- Historical references note that John Young started the company in 1972 and trained others in roofing systems, including the technologies that became foundational in their product offerings.
- The company later changed ownership (sold to employees in 1989 and again in subsequent decades), but the roots trace back to his early work building foam/urethane roofing applications in Arizona.
