Painting a roof is one of the most important steps in protecting it from the elements. Covered with properly applied paint, the roof endures years of downpours, hail, snow, or wind-borne dirt. For the coating to actually serve for many years, it must be applied correctly. This is hindered by mistakes made during the execution of the work. What are the most common mistakes when painting a roof? We answer.
The roof is one of the sensitive points of any building. Its sizable area and location make it the part of the structure most exposed to weather conditions. Therefore, the roof requires a lot of work, including painting.
Four most common mistakes when painting a roof
An improperly painted roof will not only wear out more quickly, but also do a worse job of protecting the building from the weather. Here are four of the most common mistakes that contribute to roof painting problems.
Poor surface preparation
A basic and very common mistake. The surface of the roof before painting must be properly prepared so that the paint effectively covers every nook and cranny. Before starting the actual work, the roof must be thoroughly cleaned of all dirt. It may be necessary to sand the top layer so as to get rid of rust, remnants of the old coating, or other contaminants.
Sanding is not the end of preparation. The stripped surface still needs to be thoroughly degreased. Only then will the roof be ready for a primer coat and then the actual paint. Otherwise, the coating may begin to fall off quickly.
Painting in bad weather conditions
When painting a roof, we are “slaves” to the weather. In extreme conditions, the paint will take a long time to dry or will not adequately cover the roof. What is the right weather for painting? Humidity must not exceed 80 percent, and the temperature should be between 10-25 degrees Celsius. On top of that, the air should be dry and the weather should be sunny. It is worth making sure that the temperature is at least 3 degrees above the dew point. Otherwise, the applied paint may simply run off the roof.
Rainfall makes the roof impossible to paint. Similarly, the coating is affected by too high a temperature. The coating may become excessively hot, making the paint unable to adhere properly to the substrate.
Painting with the wrong paint
Choosing the wrong paint is one of the most serious mistakes when painting a roof. To succeed in creating an effective and durable coating, the paint must be suitable for the surface it will cover. In the case of roofs, the most common are sheet metal or ceramic/concrete tiles. Paint for such applications should offer:
- uv resistance;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- resistance to weathering;
- high flexibility;
- high film thickness.
Neglect of maintenance after painting
Just painting the roof is not enough. Then it still needs to be properly preserved. Without a protective layer, the coating quickly begins to peel or even crumble. What should a comprehensive roof maintenance after painting include?
Remember that it is necessary to clean the roof regularly. A new coating can’t be given over a dirty layer, but this one doesn’t protect against new dirt either. They still need to be removed, for example, using a pressure washer with clean water. It is also worth thinking about waterproofing the roof, especially on the north side. This one, due to less exposure to the sun, is exposed to overgrowth of moss or other vegetation. Roof impregnation can effectively inhibit the growth of moss.
How to eliminate all mistakes when painting the roof?
A well-painted roof can only be guaranteed by attention to detail at each stage of the work. To this end, we encourage you to read the roof painting guide and get help from our professionals. RS-Mal company will help to create a protective layer on the roof of the building.
This is a company that specializes in roof painting, among other things. Using the company’s services, we can count on comprehensive advice on the selection of materials and more Roof painting will be handled by experienced professionals. Thanks to this, we can rest assured that the coating created on the roof will withstand many years of use.
