BUZZ MAGAZINE – Springfield entrepreneur Rafael Joseph is bringing a new level of innovation to residential roofing with the recent launch of SmarT coaT, a system designed to extend the life of aging roofs, improve energy efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.
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A Navy veteran and founder of Seraphim, Rafael has spent more than two decades improving housing through sustainable technologies. Drawing on his experience as a Trident II missile technician aboard the USS Pennsylvania, Rafael brings the same precision and innovation to roofing that guided his military career.
“SmarTcoaT isn’t just a roofing solution, it’s a system that embodies what Seraphim has always stood for: environmental consciousness, efficient living, and innovative thinking,” he said. “It’s about reimagining what we already have, rather than throwing it away. We’re restoring, not replacing.”
SmarTcoaT uses high-performance elastomeric coatings - materials historically used on WWII aircraft and the NASA space shuttle program - that seal and restore existing shingles. The result is a roof that resists weathering, reflects sunlight to improve energy efficiency, and can last significantly longer than traditional roofs.
Rafael personally tested the system on multiple properties before launching the business. “I tested the product on my own roof, another property, then another. Five years later, I’m launching a business around it because the results speak for themselves,” he said.
The launch also reinforces Seraphim’s commitment to Springfield’s Enos Park neighborhood, where the company focuses on rehabilitating uninhabitable homes and providing lease-to-own opportunities for lower- and middle-income families. “Every roof we save is money kept in a family’s pocket, waste kept out of a landfill, and energy kept inside the home,” Rafael said.
More than a product, SmarTcoaT helps families make economically sound and greener choices for their homes. “One of my top priorities is educating the public on how SmarTcoaT works and how big of a difference it can make,” said Rafael.
SmarTcoaT is licensed, bonded and insured. Free estimates can be scheduled by calling 217-779-4677 and more information can be found online at smartcoat.info.
This story originally printed in the December 2025 issue of The Prairie Land Buzz Magazine http://www.thebuzzmonthly.com.
