Managers must also be aware that substrate suitability for receiving a coating system application is an important consideration, along with any required modifications to the substrate to provide a surface to which a coating may be applied.
“Sometimes an existing surface is unsuitable for a coating application, and a suitable material may be fastened or applied to the existing substrate to meet the manufacturer’s substrate requirements for the coating application,” Hnatiw says.
Adhesion depends on surface preparation, she says, “whether it be a metal surface ground to bright metal, a concrete surface roughened to meet (Society for Protective Coatings) requirements, or removal of debris, grease or any loose or any foreign matter on the substrate that would adversely affect coating adhesion.”
A thorough roof evaluation provides data that drives decisions when selecting the correct system and establishing an effective roofing plan.
“The key to any good roofing project comes down to a few fundamental steps,” says Josh Poole, board president of the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and director of Product Management at Tremco CPG Inc. “This especially holds true when it comes to roof restoration utilizing roof coatings.
“Proper installation helps the end user realize the expected performance of the roofing system. Routine maintenance maximizes the long-term performance of the roofing system during its service life. By following these steps, you can create a roofing plan that aligns with the lifespan of the building in many cases.”
Poole says managers and technicians can access RCMA’s virtual training program, which underscores the danger of neglect.
“Lack of maintenance and upkeep can lead to premature degradation and breakdown of the roofing system,” he says. “Choosing established contractors and manufacturers “can be the difference between a good project and a bad one.”
To ensure a coatings application succeeds, RCMA recommends several steps that managers should take:
Other situations managers should be aware of when technicians start a coatings job include:
Preparing the surface is the most critical component of the coating application process.
“After the repairs are completed, the roof area must be properly cleaned of all debris, loose materials and containments prior to the coating application,” says John D’Annunzio, president of Paragon Roofing Technology, a roofing consulting firm.
Waterproof protection is also important when specifying coatings.
“Although coatings can extend the service life of the roof system, most of them do not provide long-term, stand-alone waterproofing protection,” D’Annunzio says. “Therefore, proper repairs to deficiencies in the existing roof material are required prior to the coating application. Proper repairs are required on the entire system, and include removing all wet insulation, repairing all openings and replacing all deteriorated membrane or flashing materials.”
The application process should comply with the manufacturer’s requirements. Most roof coatings have temperature constraints, meaning managers must make certain the materials are properly stored prior to application.
“The application should be completed within the material’s proper temperature requirements,” D’Annunzio says. “Cold weather application can lead to loss of adhesion, and hot weather application can lead to improper curing of the material. Check the forecast prior to application, as some roof coatings cannot be applied within 24 hours of precipitation like rain, snow and ice.”
While there have been significant technological advances in coatings, D’Annunzio says they still have limitations.
“Facility maintenance engineers and managers should understand that coatings are primarily restoration materials that can extend the service life of roof systems,” he says. “However, if the existing roof system is at the end of its service life, then coatings will only be a short-term solution.”
Managers should ensure that technicians conduct a thorough roof-condition assessment — including moisture analysis — to determine if the existing roof system is a good candidate for coating.
“The performance of the roof coating will only be as good as the condition of the roof system it is applied over,” D’Annunzio says.
Howard Riell is a freelance writer based in Henderson, Nevada.
Roof Coatings Considerations Managers Must Navigate During Projects
Why Roof Coating Success Starts with Preparation
