If your old metal roof is leaking, rusting, or showing its age, you may want to restore it rather than replace it. A metal roof restoration system could add several more years of life to your roof so you can postpone the expense of a roof replacement.
A restoration system consists of some type of coating. There are a few coating options to consider, and your contractor can help you choose the best one for your roof. Here's a general overview of how a metal roof restoration system is applied.
The Old Roof Is Repaired And Cleaned
If your old roof has areas of damage, repairs should be done to ensure your roof is in good shape before the coating is applied. After that, the entire roof is cleaned with a pressure washer to get rid of dirt and debris. This also gives the roofer a chance to walk over your roof to find areas of damage that may have been missed. When the roof is clean, the coating will stick to it much better than when it is dirty.
Primer Is Added, If Needed
If your old roof is bare metal, a primer might not be necessary. However, if you have a standard roof that has a coating or paint on it, a primer is necessary so the new coating will stick. The primer can also add a layer of rust protection to the roof.
Fasteners And Seams Are Sealed
Leaks are more likely around seams and fasteners, so these areas are sealed before the base coat is applied to the roof. This involves covering the seams between the panels and the tops of the screws with a waterproof sealant.
One of the reasons metal roofs start leaking is due to the constant expansion and contraction of the metal that can weaken seams and areas around flashing and screws. By applying the sealant, these areas are covered, but still able to move along with the weather conditions.
Apply The Metal Roof Restoration System Coating
The metal roof coating is applied in two layers. The bottom layer is made so it bonds to the metal roof and lasts for years to keep out rain and to cover up imperfections in the roof. Once that layer is dry, the top coating is put on. The coatings can be applied by spraying and rolling so the coating gets evenly distributed over the whole roof.
The top coating is often bright white for a pleasing appearance and to reflect the sun to keep your building cooler. The top coating may also have additives that prevent algae from growing and that protect the coating from UV rays.
For more information, contact a company like Bunkum Valley Roofing LLC.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.