National Coatings Blog

Don't Let This Happen To Your Roof!

  

Proper roof maintenance is key to keeping your roof free from major issues. The roof is the most vulnerable part of the building when it comes to protecting the assets inside. It experiences the most abuse and we can thank the weather conditions and debris for that one. National Coatings recommends in order to properly maintain your commercial roof, you should inspect your roof at least twice a year; preferably before the winter/rainy season and soon after the rainy season has ended; fixing any issues immediately to prolong the roof life of your existing building. The AcryShield ARM System is a sure-fire way to avoid a costly tear off indefinitely! If your roof has already experienced degradation, we can refurbish it with the AcryPly Roof Restoration System and 10 years down the road, maintain it with the ARM System.   

1. Remove all debris from the roof. Pipes, skylights, pitch pans, HVAC units and other equipment are perfect gathering locations for debris. It is important to remove all the debris because it traps and holds water, which will promote roof deterioration at a faster rate. 
   
   
2. Check all your drains. Make sure they are open and functioning properly. It is a good idea to pour water down them and test them out because a clogged drain could cause a leak.   
    
3. Test all gutters. Clear them of debris. 
   
   
4. Check your roof for blisters and delamination. If you see these, we suggest you call National Coatings for a professional roof inspection 800-423-9557 or fill out our FREE roof evaluation form online. 
   
   
5. Check the entire roof membrane for deterioration, holes, mechanical abuse areas, defects, separation at any seams and edges - if you see any of these failures, consider an ARM System now, so you don't have to replace and tear-off your roof later - this will save you thousands of dollars.
    
6. Carefully inspect junctures at wall and equipment base flashings and pipe penetrations.
    
7. Make sure sealant and caulking are in good tact. 
   
   
8. Trim back any trees that hang over and are near your roof to avoid future unnecessary debris.

This is a commonly asked question that is very important because if the roof is not thoroughly cleaned, the coating will adhere to the dirt and degraded roofing material instead of the actual roof surface. This will cause poor adhesion, blisters, delamination and dirt and other particles to be adhered to the underside of the applied coating - preventing proper adhesion of the coating to your roofing surface.

How to Properly Clean Your Roof:

1. Pressure Wash the Roof - Pressure washing is the most common technique for cleaning the roof, as it is effective and can incorporate detergent to improve cleaning efficiency. It is important to note that you must be careful not to damage seams, penetrations, flashings and side and end laps when cleaning with a pressure washer.
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2. Brush the Roof with a Heavy Bristle Broom & Water Hose - If you don't have a pressure washer accessible, you can use a heavy bristle broom and water hose to clean the roof. Trisodium Phosphate cleaner (TSP) or other hard surface cleaner can be used to remove stubbornly adhered particles.
3. Rinse ALL Debris Off Roof - After the roof is sufficiently cleaned, it must be thoroughly rinsed and all debris flushed down the drains or into the gutters. Residual dried soap film prevents adequate coating adhesion. If the coating is adhered to dried soap film, it would be similar to coating a bar of soap - you won't get acceptable adhesion!

How to Test the Roof for Adequate Coating Adhesion (after the roof is cleaned, rinsed and dry):

1. Apply 2" masking tape to an area of the roof that had previously been dirty, such as a ponded water section or a drain sump. Press the tape firmly into the roofing substrate.
2. Peel the tape back:
• If it is difficult to peel off and there is no dirt or degraded roofing material on the backside of the tape, proceed with coating.
• If it peels easily with dirt or degraded roofing material embedded on the underside of the tape, you MUST clean again and retest!

The photo above shows the back side of masking tape after pressing on un-cleaned modified bitumen (above) and after thorough cleaning (below).

This simple technique should be done on numerous areas of the roof, especially in sections that were the dirtiest and most difficult to clean. Testing your roof like this will insure a suitable substrate for coating and a successful project!