Step by Step = Perfect
One of the most important things to consider when it comes to coating an old metal roof is adhesion, and in order to ensure that it sticks well, the preparation of the roof is equally important.
Older roofs have been exposed to the elements for years. It might be covered in dust, dirt, and other debris. A silicone coating won’t stick well to a surface that’s covered in gunk. That is why the preparation of metal roofs is important.
In addition to being clean, the surface of a metal roof needs to be dry. So, while just about any temperature will suffice to install the coatings, morning dew or frost can delay the installation because crews need to dry the surface before they can begin.
Once clean and dry, the next step is all about the details.
All the exposed screws and metal membrane overlaps need to bepretreated or reinforced with what’s called a mastic grade coating. The masticlayer is like caulking; it’s thicker than the main grade that is used as thetop layer. This mastic layer ensures that the most vulnerable parts of the roof are reinforced prior to installing the main layer of silicone.
The main grade silicone is the final layer. This product is spreadable, like thick paint. This step is usually applied swiftly by sprayers and rollers.
Getting Your Roof in Tip Top Shape, No Matter the Shape of It!
There are a few different profiles of metal roofing systems. There’s the common wave-like, or corrugated roof, the standing seam roof, and the butler roof.
The standard corrugated roof is typical of shops or industrial buildings mainly because it’s the least expensive product to install. This roof style is lightweight and durable.
The standing seam roof comes in broad, flat panels with a higher rib on the edges sticking up about 2.5 inches that curl over to overlap with the next panel. These are usually seen on higher end industrial or manufacturing buildings. The purpose of the higher edge is that it would be above the water that might pile up on the roof
A butler roof is similar to thestanding seam roof but with a slightly different profile and uses clips toconnect the panels.
Despite the shape differences, the roofing systems are treated similarly, and coatings are still applied using the silicone product, but how it’s applied is approached differently as each type of roof will have different details to consider.
Climate Concerns? Not Much, With Silicone
When it comes to outside temperature, if it’s above 0°C, roof coatings can be installed at almost any time of year. It’s worth noting that the silicone does take longer to cure the colder it gets.
Heat isn’t a factor that affects the silicone installation, in fact, the hotter the better.
