Coating with care: 6 tips for successful roof coating installations

By Western Colloid.  

Here are some of the most common mistakes roofers make when installing roof coating systems and how you can avoid them. 

No two roof coating systems are alike. Each system has its own methods for installation and each roof has its own needs before, during and after the system is installed. While you want to approach each system and roof as a unique project, some of the same issues could pop up. Here are six tips for successfully installing roof coating systems: 

1 – Prep your roof before applying the coating 

A successful roof project is like painting a house. You must sand and prepare the facia, protect the ground and mask the windows. Then you can get to the fun part! It’s the same with roofs. It might be a week of prep work for one day of actual roofing, but it’s worth it for a quality job. 

2 – Consider the equipment and roof messes prior to installation 

Having to stop and work around equipment is a huge waste of time. The last thing you want to do is come to a screeching halt to figure out how to work around a pipe or piece of equipment. Then you might make a dirty mess on your newly installed section of the roof.  

Clean up your drains in advance. If you have mastic built up at the scuppers, chip and chisel all that away with a hammer and a pry bar. Then repair with a recommended specification with mastic and plys to tie it into the rest of the installation. Cut out and repair big blisters and buckles for smooth transition. 

Address equipment that’s on a sleeper. It’s a mistake to think you are just going to install a ply underneath. If you haven’t gotten the equipment loose and cleaned correctly underneath prior to installation, you are going to slow down the job and get dirt and debris on the new roof. Not to mention you will have poor adhesion on a dirty surface. 

Loosen up the pipe stands. Often, they are glued down, and the pipes are unmovable. If it is stuck, grab a spud shovel and break it loose. Some of the roof might come up with it, along with dirt and debris. 

3 – Reinforce ponding areas and waterways 

Part of all Western Colloid specifications is the reinforced acrylic requirement in all the ponding areas, spots and waterways. This is extremely valuable, and we encourage you to think about the time it takes to fix it later if you don’t reinforce these areas. Those unprotected ponding areas will be at risk for delamination and peeling down the road. It might not leak, but you’re putting the whole system at risk. 

Think about the cost and time to make that repair later. We’re talking about hours of washing with brooms and cleaners and pressure washers or hoses at a minimum. And then, loading the roof with new repair supplies and then making the repairs. What could have taken you an extra hour during installation has now turned into a 2-day project. 

4 – Plan for repairs 

On every building there is a chance of an addition that will affect the roof. Every roof system will have a contingency for when you cut in a skylight, put in a new A/C unit or if you want to add solar. It could be as simple as just putting a piece of conduit, but you’re going to drill a hole and put a pipe through the roof.  

For example, take a TPO repair. You will take a brand new piece of TPO and glue it to an eight-year-old TPO. Can you assume it will adhere correctly? Silicone is difficult as well. The only thing you can repair silicone with is silicone, and sometimes that still won’t adhere. With Western Colloid water-based elastomeric products, we can go back in five years, 10 years, 20 years. Clean it good, dry and the new acrylic is going to bond to the old acrylic without fail. 

The beauty of these systems is that the entire roof can be renewed and if anything comes up along the way, with the proper repair or reconditioning, you get the same watertight roof again. It’s what contractors love about it. 

5 – Understand that emulsion is a dirty business 

Once the emulsion starts flowing, you don’t want to have other tasks lingering because the emulsion will track everywhere. Complete the emulsion work, paying close attention to detail, then get the emulsion tools and hoses cleaned up and put away. And don’t forget to clean your clothes and shoes! Think to yourself, is there anything on this roof that is going to stop me from being able to being able to finish all the emulsion work once we start? 

6 - Keep your tools clean 

We recommend your crews wear gloves. They are easy to put on, easy to take off and provide you with some safety. But keep in mind that you wear them while doing coating work, not for going and grabbing anything else on the roof. When working with coatings get in the habit of taking off the gloves before grabbing equipment. 

For example, you might tell a team member that you need a blower, a broom and a shovel, and they go get it. Say they’ve been doing emulsion, and they go grab all these other tools. Now they just got emulsion all over the brand-new blower. Now is the time to teach your crews good habits. 

Check out our FARR Best Practices page with videos, podcast, articles and resources.  

Original article source: Western Colloid