Colorful Insights

Roof coatings are a major component of our business here at Custom Coatings inc.  At times people have a hard time grasping how a painting company can fix a roof and provide a water tight warranty, but when you take time to think about roof coatings and how they work it becomes clear! 

First, you have to know that the roof can be coated.  We can generally coat any type of roof except one that has gravel on it.  The simple fact is that you cannot get them clean enough to coat.  Another factor to make sure of is that they are not too far gone.  While coating roofs can help to extend the life of a good roof indefinitely, there is no cure for a roof that is already saturated or just plain bad.  Over the many years of coating roofs we have become quite adept at inspecting roofs and before we coat we also have an infrared test performed.  Proper testing is the only way to make sure a roof can be coated.  For instance performing an adhesion test is incredibly important – you want to make sure that the coating you are going to apply is going to stick and not peel off in big sheet!

The other reason we are so good at installing roof coatings is because our crews understand coatings and how they work.  Our crews know the ins and outs of applying liquid coatings (paint) because it is what they do every day.  So if they know how to properly apply coatings on a 100’ tall building how much easier do you think it might be to apply coatings at your feet?  Much more simple if you already have the proper knowledge and understanding of how coatings work! 

Take a look at the full article on adhesion testing below and check out the videos of an actual adhesion pull test.  And contact Custom Coatings for all your Roof Coating Needs!

http://bloggingpainters.com/adhesion-test-coating-epdm-roof/

http://youtu.be/JuZPfX0urnk

http://youtu.be/5Y_Ix_RgM1I

Why Caulking Is Important

Caulking provides two beneficial purposes.  The first is to cosmetically enhance the appearance of a project by closing gaps and creating a smoother transition;  The second (and most important) is to provide a seal between two areas or surfaces to keep water from getting into the building or house.

Painters generally use caulking for aesthetic reasons. Uncaulked gaps between: exterior surfaces, between two surfaces, along the top of baseboards, in wood trim, along cabinets and counter-tops - will look unsightly and unprofessional. Caulking eliminates the gaps.

Water intrusion into a home or building can have devastating effects on the property. The water can rot wood, freeze inside masonry and cause defects or potentially create mildew. Caulking is just one basic step to help keep these and other problems from happening.

Like any skill, proper caulking requires practice.  Here are some helpful hints to help with your next caulking project…

-          Read the labels and buy the correct caulking for the job. When using caulking on the exterior of your home, be sure not to apply it in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

-          Buy a good caulking gun that comes with a built-in cutting tool and wire attachment for piercing the tube's inner seal.

-          Cut the tip at an angle and at the smallest opening you think you will need. Be sure to apply enough caulking to cover the entire gap properly so that the edges of the caulking can adhere to the surface and the caulk is thick enough to fill the gap. Most errors installing caulking are due to not installing a large enough bead in the gap. However, too much is not good either. It does take practice.

-          Use a damp rag, usually followed by a wipe with your finger, to smooth out the bead of caulking. Do this right away, or it will start to skin over quickly and will get lumpy and hard to work with.

Our answer to that question is “absolutely!”  This issue is what separates the real companies from the “fly by night” outfits that many people are scared of.

The fact is, many companies either do not carry insurance, or they don’t carry the right amount of coverage limits. 

You don’t want to be liable for any injuries or damages to any property that happens during your project. That is why working with a fully insured contractor is so important. It protects both you and the contractor to ensure that if something does go wrong, you are both covered.

There are varying levels of coverage, but two of the important types of insurance that your contractor should have are Comprehensive Liability and Worker’s Compensation. If your contractor is properly insured it let you know that they are legitimate and are invested in getting the job done correctly and safely.

Comprehensive Liability Insurance

Comprehensive Liability insurance protects you and your contractor against claims of bodily injury, physical injury, or damage to the property. You don’t want to be held responsible for paying all the damages that can occur in an accident, no matters whose fault it is.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Worker’s Compensation insurance gives medical care for employees who are injured in the course of employment, in exchange for relinquishing the right to sue his or her employer for negligence. This offers not only another layer of protection for you to avoid legislation, but also makes sure there is money available for any medical or rehabilitative services needed for anyone injured on your project. Again, though no one thinks these accidents will happen, it is best to be prepared when working in the construction field.

Completed Operations Insurance

At Custom Coatings are always searching for new ways to help our commercial clients protect their building investments and save money on energy.  One way we do this is with a revolutionary way to help do both. Coating roofs with “Cool roof” coatings can reduce cooling bills substantially while stopping leaks and protecting the environment by eliminating roof tear offs and keeping that material out of the landfills.  

This advanced technology is called a “Cool Roof”.  

In the world of industrial and commercial buildings, a Cool Roof is a roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (the ability to radiate absorbed or non-reflected solar energy). Most cool roofs are white or other light colors.

Cool roof coatings are typically applied to metal, rubber, asphalt and modified roofing substrates by a spray application process. Once in place and cured these coatings systems employ a high solar reflectance and high emissivity to keep the roof cool.

On a sunny summer day, a typical roof surface can reach temperatures that are 50 to 100°F above the ambient temperature.  A cool roof, by contrast, stays at or near the ambient temperature due to the characteristics of its outer layer. Cool roofs by definition do not get hot like metal, asphalt and black rubber roofs do.

Cool Roofs enhance roof durability and reduce both building cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.  Cool Roofs are also an effective alternative to roof replacement and environmentally friendly.

Cool Roofs can reduce the roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby reducing the heat transferred into the building below. This helps to reduce energy costs (by keeping interior structures cooler), improve occupant comfort (production), cut maintenance costs, increase the life cycle of the roof, and reduce urban heat islands along with associated smog.

If you would like to learn more about how the many benefits of installing a Cool Roof on your building can save you money, give our Custom Coatings Professionals a call at 828-326-0953.  We’ll be happy to come to your business and provide you with a free estimate tailored for your situation.