National Coatings Blog

A502 was introduced by National Coatings Corporation in 2006 after three years of intensive research and successful installation, including both laboratory and actual in-service field testing. This coating was designed with self-priming characteristics that eliminate the need for additional primers or etching rinses while exhibiting a tenacious adhesion for thermoplastic and thermoset single-ply membranes, such as Hypalon, TPO and EPDM.  Previously, the only primers used for coating these membranes were solvent borne, which required warning labels, had very high VOC (volatile organic content) and required extreme care when applying to prevent fumes from entering the building.  The only other option for coating EPDM was a "prewash" or "rinseable primer" that had a very high, corrosive pH, so high that it would react with human skin oils, causing chemical burns. 

The AcryShield A502 has three inherent advantages over the previously used primers:

• It is water borne, so there is no concern about flammable solvents, VOC or fumes entering buildings.
• It replaces both specialty primers for the thermoplastic membranes and the corrosive rinseable primer for EPDM.  Thus there is no need for separate primer/basecoats for different types of roofing membranes.
• Its VOC is only 0.5 grams per liter. (According to the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) the mandated maximum allowed is 50 VOC’s grams per liter.)

AcryShield A502 has allowed National Coatings to be the only roof coating manufacturer with industry leading capabilities that successfully adhere directly to aged and failing single-ply membranes with a proven and verifiable 10-year track record. The next time a project calls for coating single-ply roofing membranes, the roofing contractor, consultant or specifier should request the AcryShield A502. 

Restoring your aged and failing EPDM roof allows you to save a substantial amount of money and time on avoiding a roof tear-off while gaining a seamless roofing system with high reflectivity.

When initially installed, an EPDM roof is ballasted, mechanically attached or fully adhered to the roof. Shrinkage occurs to the EPDM as the oils of the substrate slowly evaporate, causing the EPDM to become brittle, losing its flexibility and capability to expand and contract with different temperature fluctuations. The shrinkage results in seam failure as the membrane tears away from the adhered substrate, eventually leading to roof failures. 

We have an excellent solution for restoring your EPDM roof into a brand new roof without business disruptions or closures. The AcryShield EPDM roof coating systems are ideal for proving excellent waterproofing, superior durability and protection, and reduced maintenance costs while extending the life span of the roof. Our AcryShield A502 base coat can be adhered DIRECTLY to the EPDM without the need for additional primers or etching rinses. (For more, download our FREE guide on Restoring EPDM Roofs.) This coating saves installation cost and time as the labor intensive and time consuming priming stage is removed from the process altogether.

The AcryShield EPDM roof coatings deliver the benefit of a seamless roofing system. Seamless membranes provide waterproofing advantages because they are spray applied across your entire roof surface, including difficult areas such as HVAC equipment, pipes, drains and other hard to reach areas. The seamless membrane eliminates joints and patches, creating a very durable, monolithic surface with excellent strength and flexibility.

Another advantage to coating your existing EPDM roof is gained reflectivity. These days, many jurisdictions require a “cool roof” and many building owners desire one; however, EPDM’s surface is black providing no reflective capabilities. Reflective roofing systems are beneficial because they provide a cooler ambient air temperature inside the building with less air-conditioning usage. This saves a tremendous amount of energy usage and cost throughout the year. The reflectivity capabilities also provide UV protection against premature aging and damaging to your roof. (See the Harbor Freight Case History for a testimonial on their experience with an AcryShield Cool Roof System.)  

For more information on fully restoring your EPDM roof into a bright white, highly reflective, seamless roof without worrying about a costly tear-off or any disruptions to your work environment during installation, click here to download our FREE guide Restoring Your EPDM Roof!

An aged EPDM roof substrate can greatly benefit from installing a preventative roof maintenance system.  The AcryShield EPDM Roof Coating System can prolong the life-span of your existing EPDM roof, lower roof maintenance costs, decrease energy usage and costs and these EPDM roof coatings are renewable, indefinitely.

The ease of application and non-intrusive application process for installing one of these systems makes them attractive to both building owners and contractors. With minimal noise disruption – no drilling, nailing or seam-welding necessary, ZERO or ultra-low VOCs, no harmful or strong odors, your company can remain open and conduct business as usual with minor distractions.

Let’s dive into the installation process… 

Examination

Before application begins, all surfaces that will receive the AcryShield EPDM roof coating system need to be clean and smooth – free of moisture, dirt, debris and any other contaminations. All roof penetrations, mechanical equipment, cants, edge metal, and other on-roof items need to be established that they are in place and secure. Drains need to be cleaned and in working order. The surrounding areas, air conditioning systems, and air intake vents in the immediate vicinity of the coating system need to be protected and/or closed from over-spray.

Surface Preparation In order to prepare the surface of the roof and insure it is clean and smooth for proper adhesion of the coating, the following may be necessary - an industrial cleaner, scraping, power brooming, vacuuming or other means to remove the debris. Pressure washing the rooftop prior to application of the EPDM roof coatings significantly removes extra dirt and debris; however, it is important to note areas of defect or leaks should be manually cleaned to avoid causing a larger issue.

After the cleaning stage is completed you will need to seal and reinforce all loose seams and other failing areas specified by the coating manufacturer on the existing EPDM roof system. National Coatings recommends using either butyl seam tape or saturating 10” wide T272 polyester reinforcing fabric in AcryShield A502 base coat. HVAC duct work joints, mechanical equipment, coping seams and other critical junctures should be sealed with AcryFlex, an architectural sealant, and reinforced with polyester fabric or butyl seam tape. Skylights, equipment platforms and all other roof penetrations should be reinforced using 20” wide T272 fabric and AcryShield A502 base coat. The sealants and base coats will need 8 to 24 hours (depending on weather conditions) to dry thoroughly before application begins.

Application
After the entire roof field is cleaned, defects and seams are repaired, and custom reinforcement has been installed, the application process begins. A base coat is installed across the rooftop. The AcryShield A502 base coat is ideal for coating single-ply as it was specifically made to tenaciously adhere to hard to coat surfaces such as EPDM, while eliminating the need for additional primers or etching rinses. After the base coat dries, which takes 8 to 12 hours, a topcoat is applied. The AcryShield A500 topcoat is supreme as it provides longevity, brightness, superior dirt pick-up resistance and protection against biological attach, such as algae and mold. The A500 exceeds all ASTM D6083 requirements and also offers excellent tensile strength, elongation, and wet adhesion.  Once the topcoat dries, roughly another 8 to 12 hours, the EPDM roof coating system is complete and can be exposed to foot traffic.

Contact National Coatings for a detailed installation specification for EPDM Roof Coating Systems for further information on required gallons per square feet, dry mil thickness and other important application requirements.