roof coatings Information

2008-04-23 16:13:19

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Roofing contractors – do you need information about roof coatings for metal roofing or other roofing?

Roof coatings usually come in the form of bitumen. Bitumen as roof coatings is temperature sensitive. That is, it is more viscous and thicker when it is cold and more fluid and thinner when it is hot.

Today people who manufacture cold applied roof coatings made of asphalt (that is, liquid at room temperature) formulate their products so they are usable when the ambient temperature is as high as 120°F and as low as 40°F. If the coating is water or coal tar based, it is usually applied at a temperature of 50°F or higher.

Some manufacturers of roof coatings produce “all temperature” products – covering a wide range of temperatures. Others offer only summer, winter or intermediate grade products. Ask your supplier to help you choose the right product. If various viscosity grades are offered – be sure that you can distinguish between grades. Check all markings and identification on the containers. In any types of weather there are always important rules to follow if you want to apply the system successfully.

Storage
It is important to keep the product at around room temperature. If your warehouse is heated this is ideal. If you store outside keep the containers together under a tarp. This way the temperature of the product won’t drop quickly and the application properties and viscosity will be maintained longer.

Heating
If stored property, heating is unnecessary. But if you are on a job site you should use heated storage units for coatings that are heavier bodied.

For making liquid roofing materials easier to spray on, use warming devices which make use of circulating air as heating. The supplier will give you information about which is the best heating method to use.

Surface preparation
Don’t apply the product to a surface which is covered by frost or ice. Once you have freed the surface of snow/ice/frost – follow standard application directions provided by the manufacturer. For solvent-based products make sure the surface is dry. In certain cases there are products formulated for wet surfaces.


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