Save Energy With Metal Roofs

Due to global warming and other environmental problems we are facing due to our energy consumptions, many people are replacing their roofs with metal ones. They are not only environment friendly but also reduce the energy consumption bills and look trendy as well. You can get these roofs in various colors, shapes like steep slope and different textures. It has been estimated that with metal roof installation, you can save almost 40% of your energy cost, also depending on your location.

 If you are living in hot regions, you can simply install reflective metal roofing that will make your home cool from inside and reduce the air conditioners expenditure annually. The overall temperature of your home or any other building will be almost less 12 F than real temperature. Installing metal roof once for all is going to be a better choice and much economical if compared. You will be spending much less on your energy bills after metal roof installation and surely, it will be a positive step in the favor of the environment. Yes, you will be playing your role as a human being who wants to make this world a better place for our generations to come.

In metal roofs, you have a choice as well. You can choose metal roof repair materials and finishes like copper and aluminum. For hot weather conditions, most people have unpainted roof that will reflect the heat directly hiding from the sun. Now when you are installing metal roof, choose prepainted or granular coated metal roofs that reflect the direct heat from the sun but also remit the absorbed solar radiation. It has been estimated that these metal roofs can approximately re-emit 90% of absorbed solar radiation. Altogether, this will automatically reduce the energy consumption of your home or any other building.

 Many environmentalists recommend installing such roofs so that the overall condition of the environment can be made better. Many countries who are facing environmental problems due to heavy energy consumptions have introduced the laws that make sure that every new house has metal roofs otherwise the builder may face serious consequences. Also, in many other countries where metal roofing is common, metal roofing is directly installed on roofs, most asphalt roofs. This not only reduces the landfill waste but also promotes the easy installation with environmental friendly, trendy and maintenance free like features. Altogether, these features have helped to increase in demand of such roofs since people are now aware of these benefits.

For product information or ordering Visit their site at http://www.epdmcoatings.com or their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/liquidepdm or call them at 855-281-0940. 

Importance of Roof and Development of Roof Industry

With the passage of time, many things in the world have changed and many things are still changing. With the increasing facilities for research and increased thinking abilities, the change is inevitable. Same is the case with the roofing. Over the years the importance of a house having an appropriate roof has significantly increased. It is now the concept that the sale value of your house is largely dependent upon the appropriate type of roof. For example a house in an area that has snow fall in every winter, must have a slanting and steep roof over which the snow must slip off. A house in such area with a flat roof may not have such value as that of a house with the slanting roof. Going one step ahead, two houses having the steep and slanting roof, the one with the pretty roof is always desirable. That was just an example to show you that how important the roof is for the beauty of a house.

The oldest form of a roof is the flat roof which is still widely in use. But over the passage of time there came a lot of designs and now there are probably more than 12 to 15 designs of roof that are in use today. To give these designs more value and a beautiful and stylish look, there is an increase in the roofing material, which at an earlier stage was just concrete. Now you can have a roof made up of asphalt shingles, wood shingles, slate, tiles, metal, fiberglass and many other materials. Each material has its own qualities and each add something of value to your roof. At the same time, there may be disadvantages of such roof as well, as metal roofs are highly reflective that cause the global temperature to rise.

The roofs made up of materials mentioned above are very costly. Some require high maintenance and some require to be changed after a specific period of time. To cater to this problem certain protective materials are introduced that protects the original layer of the roof from the effects of weather made up of any of above mentioned material. One such type of material is roof coating. The roof coating is applied on the top of finished roof and it protects the roof from the rain, and intense sunlight. The prime advantage of such materials is that, they protect the roof for some time but they also deteriorate, but you have to change only the protective material, not the whole roof. Such type of maintenance is much less costly than changing the whole roof. So these materials increase the life of the roof. One of the major problems that most of the roofs face with the passage of time is that, there may develop a leakage in the roof.

To address this problem, roofing industry came up with certain waterproofing materials that solve such problems. The coating mentioned above also serves the purpose. One of the other such products is liquid rubber Coating that seals the edges and unions of different roof parts thus making it waterproof.

 Now energy efficient roofs are also available that keeps the inside of building cool thus providing significant annual savings in energy budget. Examples of such roofs are cool roofs and green roofs.

For product information or ordering Visit http://www.epdmcoatings.com or their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/liquidepdm or call them at 855-281-0940. 

Roof Choices Today and Their Effects Tomorrow

The roofing material choices you make today may have a variety of effects in the future. There is no perfect solution for every home owner to prevent their roofs from roof leaks. There would only be one roofing system if that were the case. Here are some of the factors to consider before making a roofing material selection.

A big consideration is the slope of the roof. While some products can be applied to any roof, regardless of the slope, some are only suitable for flat roofs and others can only be used on pitched roofs commonly seen in homes.

Asphalt shingles are the most common selection for residential homes with a sloped roof. They are available in numerous colors. Some modern shingles include reflective particles that reduce heat buildup and conduction. The goal is to reduce summer cooling costs by reflecting more heat from the sun.

Ceramic tiles, cedar shakes and slate shingles are less common. Ceramic or slate may last longer but they cost more and they are also heavier. The roof design must be strong enough to support the heavier materials and also to support any anticipated load from snow or ice.

The popularity of sheet metal roofs waxes and wanes as the years go by. Some houses are nicely suited for sheet metal roofs that are reminiscent of the tin roofs of old. The new materials are more rust-resistant and long lasting. The appearance is one of the selling points.

For flat roofs, a membrane roofing system is most commonly used. There are about a half dozen different types of membrane roofing systems. The name refers to the different layers used in the system that rely on some type of membrane to prevent water leakage and other types of roof leaks.

The membrane roofing systems on today’s market include modified bitumen and plastic polymers. Liquid EPDM rubber roofing systems are becoming more popular for commercial buildings. These systems are among the most water-resistant and energy efficient. But they are still more expensive than some of the other solutions.

The cost of materials and installation are factors to consider. While it is true that a cheap system may be lower in quality, you have to look at how long you can expect the roof to last. It might not make sense to install an expensive system on an existing roof that will need to be replaced in just a few years.

On the other hand, making the most energy efficient choice could start paying you back in the very near future. The roofing system is arguably the most important part of any building. If the roof fails, the rest of the building will be damaged too.

For product information or ordering Visit their site at http://www.epdmcoatings.com or their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/liquidepdm or call them at 855-281-0940.

Liquid EPDM Rubber Coatings are aftermarket roof sealants

A number of aftermarket roof sealants are available, including urethanes, acrylics and liquid rubber. Liquid EPDM rubber is by far the most durable of the sealants available and has the widest range of applications.

It is more water resistant than other rubbers, including neoprene. It is more resistant to swelling and has a wider range of acceptable temperatures. It can be applied directly to practically any roofing material other than asphalt and can even be used on wood that has been primed.

Liquids have an obvious advantage over sheets. Sheets have seams. Seam sealers eventually deteriorate and water gets through the seams and under the sheeting.

Liquid EPDM can be used on top of neoprene, although some pre-treatment of the surface is required. Just knowing that the liquid rubber is recommended for use on top of the other type of rubber should be an indication that the material is more durable.

Liquid EPDM can also be used on top of polyurethane after a light sanding. It is somewhat surprising that urethanes are still used as aftermarket roof sealants. It is known that the structure is damaged by UV light and that discoloration occurs relatively quickly. Anyone who has made the mistake of using urethane as a roof sealant should consider applying liquid EPDM to truly protect the roof.

The liquids can also be used to seal existing leaks. They are self-adhering and fill up tiny fractures that let water through. It is a good idea to use a thick coat and cover the entire surface instead of attempting to only cover the leaky area.

When covering the entire roof, the liquid rubber reduces heat buildup. Not only does the roof stay cooler, but the interior of the building or the vehicle will also stay cooler. This benefit may reduce heating costs and keep the occupants more comfortable.

Liquid EPDM has become the most popular choice for RV roofs, because of all the above-mentioned advantages. It extends the lifespan of the roof and requires less maintenance. It lasts up to three times longer than any other aftermarket RV roof sealant and also reduces noise from rain.

As far as price goes, most sealants are similar in price. Depending on where you buy, EPDM may be a little more expensive, but because primers and additional coats are not usually necessary, and because it lasts so much longer, owners who choose this aftermarket roof sealant save money in the long run.

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING LIQUID RUBBER

1)       Catalyst must be added prior to use.  Scrape sides of container with a Liquid rubber spatula to ensure catalyst distribution.

2)       Xylene or Mineral Spirits Solvents may be added to adjust viscosity or for clean-up. 

3)       Easiest way to spread the rubber on a flat surface is to broadcast material with a rubber squeegee then roll using a short nap roller.  Product is self leveling.  A flat spatula can be used for small areas. 

4)       Product has a long pot life after catalyst has been added; 4-6 hrs. depending on temperature. 

5)       Only temperature affects the rate of cure.  Relative humidity has no influence. 

6)       Product is hydrophobic (sheds water) so substrate to be coated must be dry initially.  The uncured rubber can get wet or even have ponding water, with only a cosmetic effect after application, and will still cure.

7)       The rubber will penetrate into porous substrates such as wood and poured concrete.  A primer/sealer should precede application of rubber. 

8)       The chemical reaction of the catalyzed rubber can be arrested by freezing the material.  This can keep material usable for weeks or months.  To use again simply allow it to reach room temperature and apply.

Liquid EPDM vs. Other Roofing Materials

When compared to other roofing materials and sealants, Liquid EPDM may seem more expensive. As it turns out, the other materials will cost you more in the long run. Here’s why.

Liquid EPDM is identical to the older sheet EPDM rubber that was often used in roofing to waterproof and protect the underlying timber or other materials. The primary disadvantage of the sheet type is that there are seams. Even when seam-sealers are used, rain and temperature eventually cracks the seams. If the damage is not caught early enough, leaks are the outcome.

Liquid EPDM rubber is seamless. It is self-adhering. So, there is no need to use adhesives or fasteners, which are a source of corrosion and leakage. The liquid can also be used on any shape or angle.

Other liquids and sheets are now available, but none last as long as EPDM. It is resistant to tearing, ozone, abrasion and temperature changes.

The other liquid sealants require the use of primers, multiple coats and top coatings. EPDM is a one-coat system that does not require primers. That’s the first way that your overall cost is reduced. You don’t have to buy the primers and you don’t have to use multiple coats.

Another way that you save money has to do with repair and replacement. The initial EPDM coating can be applied three times as thick as neoprene and other elastomers. In side by side comparisons, the EPDM last three times as long as those other materials. It is also superior to acrylics and urethanes.

When compared to neoprene, which is an older elastomer that is less expensive, EPDM has a wider temperature range. It can withstand temperatures as low as 40 degrees and as high as 300 degrees without cracking, swelling or bubbling. Neoprene’s temperature range is from 60 degrees to 250.

The biggest “temperature” disadvantage of neoprene is that it cracks during cold winters, especially if ice builds up on the roof. This is not usually a problem with EPDM, because the temperature inside of the building will usually keep the roof temperature at or above freezing. It’s still a good idea to remove ice build-up, just to be on the safe side.

Neoprene is also less resistant to water damage and swelling. When you have to replace or repair something frequently, you can see how the costs add up. You’ll find that liquid EPDM really pays for itself as the years go by. With a 25 year history of success, you simply can’t go wrong with liquid EPDM.

Proper care of an RV EPDM roof and maintenance of RV roof

How to Maintain Your RV EPDM Roof

With proper care and maintenance, your RV EPDM roof can last for 20 years or more. That’s pretty much equivalent to the life of the vehicle itself. One of the benefits of EPDM roofing materials is that the care and maintenance required is minimal. Regular cleaning is the first step.

 Most manufacturers recommend cleaning the roof at least four times per year. The cleaner used should be one that is specifically designed for EPDM roofing and is free of petroleum distillates.

 Products containing petroleum distillates, whether they are designed for cleaning or protecting, will cause the rubber to swell and loosen. There are many chemicals that fall under the category. The easiest way to tell for sure that the cleaner you are using does not contain any of the chemicals is to look for one that states on the label “free of petroleum distillates, safe for use on EPDM materials.”

Cleaning is a relatively simple matter, but you should keep your safety in mind. If you are going to be getting up on the roof, you should be on your hands and knees to reduce your risk of falling.

 The first step is to rinse the roof thoroughly with plain water at a relatively high pressure. Any branches or sharp objects should be removed by hand, if possible. While EPDM is tear resistant, sharp objects can cause scratches when they are pushed along the surface. Eventually the scratches can become tears. Once all debris has been rinsed away, you will need to take a medium bristle brush, a bucket of safe cleanser diluted with water and get up on the roof. You need only scrub in areas where you see stains or dirt. Keep your hose with you so that you can rinse while you are cleaning. Start in the corner farthest away from your exit point and work backwards to minimize the amount of time you spend on the wet surface.

After the roof is cleaned, you can use an EPDM protectant if you like. The protectant should be specifically designed for EPDM roofing, not for other types of materials. Some EPDM manufacturers also sell special protectants. While using the protectant is not essential, it may extend the life of the roof and reduce your need to restore or repair the roofing material. Finally, proper care of your EPDM roof includes parking it in an area where the roof is protected as much as possible. Don’t park around fruit trees. The citric acid can deteriorate the material in between cleanings.