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Coating
Your Roof
Your metal roof needs a new coating
every 2 years and touch-ups at frequent intervals, especially
after storms have deposited debris or branches on the roof.
To coat your roof, select a good quality roof coating.
Consider a reflective (white) coating
rather than a gray coating, especially if you live in the
southern states. The light colored coating will reflect the
sun's rays and reduce your cooling costs.
Materials needed: roof coating, patching
cement, diluted chlorine bleach solution and strong detergent
(if needed); Tools: wire brush, putty knife, coarse sandpaper,
stiff-bristle paint brush, paint roller, broom, garden hose,
roof-coating brush.
STEP 1: Check Weather
Before you start, make sure rain isn't forecast. The temperature
should be over 50 degrees F. Lower temperatures or high humidity
will affect the curing process of the roof coating.
STEP 2: Inspect
Just because you don't have a leak doesn't mean your roof
hasn't deteriorated. Look for blisters, cracked seams and
peeling roof coating.
 STEP 3: Clean
Use a wire brush, coarse sandpaper or a putty knife to
remove any flaking roof coating. Pay particular attention
to seals around the j-rail, roof seams and flashing. This
is an important step because it provides a clean surface for
the new roof coating. Use a broom to sweep away loose material.
STEP 4: Repair
Use the methods described later in this chapter to repair
any splits and patch any holes. Reattach any loose screws.
Treat any mildewed spots with diluted chlorine bleach. Then
rinse the mildewed area with a strong detergent such as T.S.P.
STEP 5: Rinse & Check For Puddling
Use a garden hose to wash your roof. Check for puddles.
Determine if the puddles are forming because the house is
unlevel, the gutters are clogged or there is an indentation
in the surface. Dry off the water, then check the metal for
deterioration. Cover this area with a metal primer.
 STEP
6: Coat Seams
Use a stiff bristle paint brush and cover all seams and
edges of flashing with patching cement. Overlap the edges
by 1 inch. Also cover any screw heads. It's important that
you coat:
- Roof seams. These connect the roof
panels and they can pop or split from wind action or from
the weight of snow and ice.
- Flashing. Every roof vent, stack
or skylight will have a frame or flashing connecting it
to the surface of the roof.
- J-rail. Not only is this one of the
most common sites for a leak, but a leak here will often
run down the inside of your sidewall, causing considerable
damage before you even know it exists. The j-rail runs around
the perimeter of your roof. This is where all the water
runs, which means more wear and tear, and more opportunity
for leaks.
 STEP
7: Coat Roof
Make sure the patching cement has dried. Take a few minutes
to thoroughly mix the roof coating.
Apply the roof coating with a roof brush
or paint roller designed just for this purpose. Do not
use a mop. You cannot control the coverage with a mop.
Carefully follow the instructions on
the label for coverage. That is, if a gallon of roof coating
covers 100 square feet, measure out a 10 foot by 10 foot area
and cover it. This is how thick the coating should be over
the entire roof.
Do not thin the coating
or apply excessive amounts. You won't improve the water seal
by putting on too much. It will dry and crack if it's too
thick.
Start at one end of the roof and finish
at the other end. Make sure you have a ladder on that end
so you can get down.
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