Maintenance of Your Metal Roof

Metal roofs are a lot less works than other kinds of roofs when it comes to maintenance, and can provide your home with protection for generations if taken care of properly. All metal roofs will come with a protective coating; however, this coating may not last very long. Therefore, the first and best step you will ever make in protective maintenance of your metal roof is to cover it with a new, reliable protective coating. Several different choices of metal roof coating are available and they include polymeric and asphalt coatings.

Most metal roofs are constructed using long metal sheets or with metal tiles. It doesn’t matter what kind of material is used on your roof, there is going to be a danger that, at every intersection where the tiles or sheets are overlapped, leaks can occur. Metal roofs will usually wear fastest around the ridge and valley of the roof, as well as around the fascia board. This can be avoided with proper maintenance.

What’s Necessary

The majority of metal roofs are protected by being either aluminized or galvanized, or else they are painted with galvalume protective coating. Each of these materials is pretty much maintenance free, although regular cleaning is a necessity. However, it is better to add your own, high-performance protective roof coating if you want true piece of mind.

Out of all the different protective metal roof paints available, perhaps one of the best ones is Polyyinylidene Fluoride or PVDF. PVDF can increase the strength of the metal on your roof, it is resistant to chemicals and corrosive substances, it offers the highest weather resistance, protection from UV rays and it is even resistant to fungi. When you apply a PVDF treatment to your metal roof, you should only need to check it every 9 or 10 years to see if a new coat is required, while other metal roof finishes such as plastisol, acrylic and urethane will need checking after just 3 to 5 years.

Metal Roof Sealants

There are many great and innovative new solutions for metal roof sealing. Traditionally used ashphaultic sealants have been outperformed when compared to newer products such as the micro sealant called EternaBond. This new product comes as a large roll of sticky tape and can be applied easily by anyone, even somebody with no experience. The EternaBond tape offers great resistance to temperature extremes and inclement weather, and it’s a good fix for roof leaks too. However, it’s worthwhile to know that while a sealant such as this is great for patch up jobs, employing preventative measures such as a PVDF coating means that it’s unlikely you will ever need to use a sealant.

Metal Roof Types

There are several different kinds of metal that are used as roofing materials, and it’s important to know about the unique characteristics and differences between them.

Steel Roofs

The most common kind of metal roof is made from steel. Being one of the most well developed metal industries, steel is a great choice as it offers strength and flexibility, it’s affordable and it is good for any kind of building be it residential, industrial or commercial roof repairs. Steel roofs are usually made using G galvanized steel, with galvalume steel being used for the sheet metal coils as it’s of a higher quality. Although other (more expensive) kinds of stainless steel are sometimes used on high end developments like commercial buildings, more often than not galvanized steel is the best choice.

Tin Roofs

Tin roofing has quite a long history in the US. Tin smith craftsmen used to do a roaring trade in tin roofs for residential homes for many, many years although they are far less common now. Some are still installed, but tin is nowhere near as durable as other kinds of metal, steel for instance, and needs to be coated regularly in order to preserve their condition and stop them from corroding.

Aluminum Roofs

Probably the longest lasting metal roof material, aluminum can last longer than even the building does sometimes. Aluminum does not get affected or degraded by the natural elements it is exposed to, nor by salt or oxidation. While the paint may fade, the roof will always last.

Copper Roofs

Highly expensive, but offering reliability, beauty and style all in one, copper roofs can be something of a luxury. Unpainted copper has its own natural grace and classical beauty that will never go out of style. Copper is quite similar to aluminum because it is very long lasting though the color will slowly change, but even then it doesn’t matter because the ‘aged copper’ look is very much sought after. Because of its prohibitive cost, copper is rarely used on residential homes. Only the most exclusive homes will have copper roofs installed. The reason for the cost is that copper itself is a very expensive material, and the installation process is also a very difficult process, requiring lots of soldering and mechanical attachment. If you opt for copper shingles, then the process for installing them is the same as for aluminum and steel roofs, therefore the cost will be quite a lot cheaper.

Zinc Roofs

Zinc roofs are not that much different from copper roofs overall. Both are expensive and both are extremely long lasting. However, copper is widely preferred as it is more aesthetically pleasing.

Iron roofs

The last common metal roofing material is iron. Iron roofs are not common at all, and offer much the same qualities as steel roofs do.

Inspect your roof leaks and get repair with Liquid Roof Coatings

There are all kinds of roofs. If your own happens to be quite flat, and your house is a one-story building, so that you can reach the roof by using an ordinary ladder, there is little danger in venturing out on it, but if you have to crawl through a window and claw your way around on a steep roof, you will do much better to stay away from it. However, there are a few basic rules for safe roof work which every homeowner should be familiar with. Liquid roof is a true EPDM rubber in liquid form. Therefore it possesses all the characteristics and features that are typical of EPDM coatings. Many people do not realize they have a problem with their roof until the inevitable happens…..roof leakage. Be aware that roof repairs cost more on a hourly basis then replacing a roof. It would take "only" approximately two days of doing roofing repairs to equal the same amount paid in labor for an entire week when replacing your roof. There are tremendous applications and uses of liquid roof. It is an ideal coating for various forms of roof repair like RV roof repair, metal roof repair, and many more. Liquid roof sticks to the entire types of facades- canvas, plywood, suds, cement, mass rubber, customized roofing, additional roof coverings, strengthen, timber, top tiles, genuine tiles and solids. It is also employed for coating the roofs of newly constructed buildings. It can also be used over decks, pool liners, underground room waterproofing, and channels.

Products Specially Designed for your RVs

Liquid Roof Coatings are Specially Designed for RVs. Liquid roof coatings are aftermarket products designed to extend roof life. Liquid Roof seals roof leaks, or merely provide a heat reflective or aesthetic roof coatings function over existing roof surfaces. Liquid Roof forms a 100% chemically-cured seamless White membrane every bit as solid and attractive as factory-installed sheet rubber. Liquid Roof's simple one-coat application by brush or roller saves you time and money, sealing and protecting your RV from water damage. Liquid Rubber membrane protective coatings are manufactured implementing the most up-to-date achievements in chemistry. They are based on environmentally friendly, reliable and durable high quality materials that meet and exceed North American and World-wide standards. Liquid Rubber is a protective coating. Liquid Rubber is based on environment friendly, reliable and durable high quality materials.

Things to know When Sealing metal Roof

RV Roof Repair comes in metal roof. So we are explaining some points about how to seal a metal roof and what are recommended maintenance measures for metal roofs.

Before undertaking any maintenance we recommend that you consult a roofing expert about all the safety precautions you should take before climbing onto the roof.

The following steps should be followed carefully when it comes to carrying out metal roof maintenance work:

1. Do not allow different kinds of metal to be touching one another. When different metals touch, chemical reactions can occur and cause the metal to corrode.
2. Be vigilant and make sure the paintwork is always touched up. This will help to prevent rust.
3. As soon as you spot a hole or an open seam, repair it immediately, do not delay!
4. Smaller holes can be covered with either roofing cement, or else the EternaBond tape that was discussed previously. Large holes need to be patched and soldered into place with the same kind of metal as the roof is made from.
5. Any screws that you use must be of the same kind of metal as the roof.
6. When screwing plates or sheets into place, make sure you always use a washer, and install the screw into a raised area rather than low areas as this can lead to water pooling and eventual leaks.
7. Use only non-corrosive metal flux with steel roofs. For copper roofs, acid flux is best.

These are the tools necessary for carrying out metal roofing repairs:

• Galvanized metal
• Screws of the same type of metal as the roof
• Roof coating such as PVDF
• A putty knife
• Butyl tape or EternaBond tape
• Roofers caulk
• Wire brush
• Snips


Steps to take when patching a hole:

1. Firstly, clean the area around the hole thoroughly, washing away all dust.
2. Cut a good sized piece of galvanized metal that covers the hole easily. You should have a bearing of 2 or 3 inches over the edge of the hole.
3. Tape the galvanized metal sheet into place with the butyl tape.
4. Screw the sheet into the roof, spacing the screws out every 2-3 inches.
5. Seal the edges of the sheet and around the screws with caulk.
6. Finally, cover the new patch with PVDF roof coating.

Metal Roof Leakage Prevention

Most metal roofs are made from sheets, held into place by sheet metal screws. These screws should be sealed annually in order to help prevent leakages from these points. The roof of your mobile home and sometimes the body will flex and move while the unit is being transported, and this can cause cracks and distortions, leading to leaks. Seal the sheet metal screws with a plastic or flexible rubber coating and be sure to repeat this job every year.

Newer RV trailers and mobile home roofs may have a rubber sheet that covers the aluminum roof sheets to help with waterproofing the metal roof. For this, a yearly inspection and good preventative maintenance is vital if you want to keep the roof in perfect condition. There are many kinds of products available that are designed especially for this kind of roof, products that can prevent damage and repair the rubber covering material. When using these products, be sure to pay attention to the areas near your roof mounted air conditioning unit, as well as other vents on the roof, for example air vents, gas refrigerator vents and plumbing fixtures. It’s also possible to buy kits for replacing the rubber roof material at most mobile home dealers and suppliers. However, preventative measures are always the most practical idea. Applying a decent sealant to your roof once a year can save you possibly thousands of dollars.

Liquid Roof Application

Surface Preparation:
EPDM Coatings/Liquid Roof/Liquid Rubber may be applied on roof decks, gutters, structural steel, air conditioner enclosures, cooling towers, galvanized steel, unit heater flues, smoke stacks and chimneys, fiberglass and non porous masonry surfaces. Surface to be coated should be clean, dry and structurally sound. Fasten loose areas with adhesive (contact cement) or pop rivets. Oil or wax must be completely removed.
All surfaces to be coated should be clean and dry. Remove peeling paint and brittle caulking. Heavy build ups of asphalt roof cement should also be removed. Tighten any loose fasteners and replace those which are severely corroded. Repair or replace roof panels damaged by storms. Remove heavy rust with abrasive discs or wire brushes. Power washes all surfaces to be coated and allow drying thoroughly. Caulk all gaps wider than 1/16 inch which are not expansion and contraction slip surfaces.

Remove loose portions of existing coatings and brittle caulk with scraper and wire brush before using Liquid EPDM. Whatever still has good adhesion may remain to be re-coated.
Rusty or pitted metal should be wire brushed to remove loose oxide. Tightly adhering corrosion may be recoated. Asphalt based aluminum coatings should be removed as much as possible by wire brush or abrasive disc. Roof cement should be removed and replaced with butyl caulk where necessary.

Repair torn rubber by re-gluing loose areas with contact cement. Coat exposed edges with contact cement to prevent solvent absorption from Liquid EPDM Roof/Liquid EPDM Rubber. A rubber patch may be applied over torn area if desired. Remove chalk from white rubber membrane by brushing with a detergent solution followed by a water rinse or working surface with a stiff brush. Smooth metal or plastic surfaces should be roughed up to improve adhesion of Liquid Roof/Liquid Rubber A de-glossing solvent may work on some plastics.
For Large Commercial Projects: Airless or Air Atomized spraying, Airless equipment needs only one hose from pump to gun but must generate 3500-4000 psi pressure and is limited in the length of hose which can be used because of high pressure drops. Air atomized equipment requires two hoses to the gun making it more cumbersome to maneuver plus the addition of a compressor.

Liquid Roof is the only liquid EPDM Rubber product currently on the market.

Equipment specifications:

PUMP -capable of delivering 3-4 gal/min. at 3500-4000 psi
HOSE if 3/8 inch ID max. permissible length is 150 feet
when using .019 tip
if 1/2 inch ID max. permissible length is 200 feet
when using .21 tip