Why Roof Coatings Should Be Installed Correctly

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

By John Wallace


In order to protect roofs of residential and commercial buildings from agents of rust such as water, they are usually coated. Roof coatings have elastic properties that allow them to stretch into any shape without damage. Concerns have however been raised over how roofs are supposed to be painted and what material is supposed to be used in the process.

The coatings act as the top most membrane of a roofing material. They shield rooftops from ultra violet rays, rain, infrared, physical damage and hail. Other than acting as a protective layer, they have several benefits to buildings. They are seamless and can solve leaks when installed in the right way. Most of them are compatible with modern roofing materials.

The quality and durability of paint coated on rooftops is based on its chemical and physical properties. The knowledge and experience levels of the person hired to paint the rooftops also matter. This is why the national agency that registers roofing contractors recently documented policies on how roofing products are supposed to be painted. These policies are aimed at reducing risks associated with unprofessional painting.

The coatings are also designed to add twenty five years of service life to a roofing material. They also minimize the number of discarded or eroded roofing substances that fall in landfills. When compared using infrared scanners, coated rooftops are less affected by strong sun rays when compared to uncoated ones. Furthermore, the rooftop temperatures can be reduced when the tops are coated. This can also minimize the air conditioning bills.

Painted roofs may have disadvantages and risks. For example, those that are generally flat tend to hold stagnant water for long. Consequently, companies that manufacture paint used on these rooftops fail to prove that the paints have the ability to resist the corrosive effects of inert water lying on rooftops after it has rained.

The best tool to use when painting rooftops is an airless spray. This is because airless sprays comprise of a pump designed to release paint under high pressure. They are also more effective in terms of performance when compared to other old fashioned tools of painting such as brushes and rollers. However, as a safety precaution, painters must wear protective clothing such as gloves and gas masks when using these sprays. This prevents their body tissues from being affected by hazardous paint.

For spraying to be successful, the pump should have a capacity of releasing one and a half gallons of paint every minute. The tip of the nozzle should also be tiny. In addition, the minimum pressure applied on the spray should be two thousand pressure units. Airless sprays are usually powered by either a gasoline engine or an electric motor. Those powered by electric motors are less susceptible to mechanical failures especially if backup generators are on standby.

Filters found on airless sprays should be removed when painting. Their main role is to apply fine enamels and finishes on a rooftop. When left on the spray, they increase the back pressure hence decreasing the efficiency of painting. When buying these sprays, look at the specifications. It is also advisable for the painting to be conducted by competent individuals.




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