Mcn Kyp Chemlink Jan16 1 Low Rez

It's been said that if a metal roof is perfectly installed, there is no demand for sealants. Perhaps therein lies some truth, but perfection is elusive, specially under field conditions. All roofs will leak at some point, simply metal roofs are particularly challenging. Metal has a loftier coefficient of expansion, so it moves more than extensively with temperature swings. To complicate matters further, metal roofs feature flashings and other details that too move forth different directions. Further, sometimes mechanical seamers do not work correctly. They can get out of aligning, causing every bit many as half the seams on a finished roof to be deficient. The result: avenues for water. Fortunately, there are products that can remedy the situation finer.

Ii classes of products are designed for repairing metal roof leaks: sealants and tape. Sealants are platonic for the gaps formed past mechanical fastener heads and other penetrations. Most metal roofs have fasteners and, over time, these will back out from expansion/wrinkle cycles. Missing heads, loose heads, heads with the washer gone are typical. The correct approach to repairing these leaks is to remove the screws, put in a new washer and fastener, and then dab a high-quality sealant over each head.

Sealants and Tapes

For metal roofs, a loftier-solids polyether or silicone sealant is best. Many of these are pigmented to friction match popular roof colors and then they alloy in and form a solid seal. Both of these polymer types have fantabulous adhesion to metal, including coated metallic such as Kynar 500 PVDF, and both are ultraviolet (UV) stable and take excellent weathering and physical properties. Silicone is a little scrap improve in high temperature zones, especially if a nighttime, UV-absorbing color is involved.

Roof tapes are also highly constructive and efficient to utilize in repair situations. On a lower slope metal roof, like a 4:ane pitch typically institute on large commercial warehouses, leaks form forth seams and gaps. A loftier-quality, watertight roof record with 30-mil thickness can be easily installed with one worker holding the edge of a fifty-foot curl of 4- or 6-inch tape, and another worker walking the roll forth the seam or gap, pulling off the bankroll as the tape is applied.

For this application, the tape should accept a polyester scrim for the best flexibility, so it tin can go over a lot of dissimilar shapes and even make 180-degree turns. Proper grooming is critical. The surface area to exist taped should be mechanically brushed to remove dirt and oil residue from the atmosphere. A cleaner such as rubbing booze should then be applied to remove post-brushing remainder. Once the tape is in identify, it should be ready with a roller. The pressure activates the agglutinative in the tape. The concluding quality control stride is to examine the outside edges to ensure there are no voids or loose spots. This type of roof record requires a coating.

Gutters and Water

Tape is likewise platonic for repairing gutters, in joints, corners and places where the gutter has not been cut the precise length and the articulation is too big. The cardinal first pace is to thoroughly clean the gutter since this is a sink for all the dirt and grime that comes off the roof. The process is the same, but a different type of record is amend suited here. Whereas the more than flexible roof record is designed for laps and seams, a thicker tape with a coating is better for the gutter. This is because information technology eliminates the hassle of having to apply a coating to the tape afterward it has been installed in the bars expanse of the gutter.

Some other state of affairs for big commercial roofs is ponding water caused by heavy equipment. In warmer climates such as Texas and across the S, there is a lot of air conditioning (Air-conditioning) equipment. Weight and vibration cause bug. AC units have condensate lines that are supposed to run to the gutter or drain. They can leak, clog or even get disconnected, thus ponding water.

Roof tapes tin exist painted over to match roof colour. Some contractors are going to more expensive coatings, such as two-part urethanes, which are applied over the tape. Some are coating the entire roof to class a monolithic continuous seal offering warranties for upwards to xx years. Most volition give a 15-year warranty on the tape repair and five years on the labor.

Jeff Piotrowicz is product director at Chem Link Construction & Maintenance Products, Schoolcraft, Mich. To learn more, phone call (269) 679-4440 (x204), email jpiotrowicz@chemlink.com or visit www.chemlink.com .