Preferred method for applying coatings to metal roofs

Typically, four steps are needed to properly coat a metal roof:

1. All loose coatings, heavy rust, debris, and fresh roof cement must be removed, and the existing roof system must be repaired — such as replacing missing or loose fasteners and metal panels as needed. Then the roof is power-washed at 2000 psi with a cleaner, using an airless spray rig.
2. Prime the roof with a metal roof primer using an airless spray gun followed by a wet film gauge to determine the proper mil thickness has been applied.
3. Flash fasteners, penetrations, seams, and lap joints with a flashing grade sealant that can be brushed, rolled or extruded.
4. Apply the finish coating (using the airless spray gun), followed by the wet film gauge to ensure proper mil thickness. A typical dry mil thickness for the finish coating is 18-25 dry mils, achieved in 2-3 coats. The finished coating system serves as the top layer of the roofing system. This is quite different from a paint film thickness (approximately 3 dry mils).

Seams, penetrations, and fasteners are typically treated manually, using a combination of coating, caulking, and reinforcement. Application of the roof coating is then generally accomplished by spray, due to efficiency and uniformity issues. Single-package and longer potlife products may be applied by brush, roller, or a combination of spraying and back-rolling but usually only on projects of limited size, or where special considerations or limitations restrict the installation method.

Spray applications methods are best for metal roofs because of the irregular shapes and joints that must be covered, although coatings can be applied using brushes or rollers.

Help your customers save money by installing profitable cool roof systems
Integrating Conklin's roofing and coatings systems into your business is a win-win for the customer, the community in which you live and work, and for your roofing company:

1. The customer gets a less expensive, sustainable roofing system that helps them save on their energy costs
2. White roofs contribute to the reduction of landfill waste and your community's urban heat island
3. Conklin roofing and coatings systems are more profitable to install than other roof systems

Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business installing Conklin roofing and coating systems, please contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman ofThe Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email atinfo@TheContractorsAlliance.com.

Why are coatings applied to metal roofs?

Metal roofing systems with original factory-applied coatings will experience coatings degradation due to weathering and are recoated with an appropriate maintenance coating to restore and extend the life of the roof. Uncoated metal roofing systems experience galvanic corrosion and are also candidates for roof lifecycle extension by being coated with a corrosion-inhibiting coating system. White reflective coatings have the added benefit of a “cool roof” for energy savings.

When applied to metal roofing, coatings can perform several important functions, ranging from aesthetic to weatherproofing. They offer a choice of color, protection against moisture intrusion, potential energy savings, and structural enhancement, all at a reasonable cost. And they provide a sustainable, long-term option to the eventual replacement of leaky, corroded metal panels that may be covering expensive buildings and their contents.

Metal thermally expands and contracts. This movement can cause the screw holes to elongate. A metal roof coating system can be used to address this problem for retrofit and repair. Metal roofs typically have a good coating when new, but this original coating can wear out over time, exposing the roof to rusting.

Coatings can prevent deterioration by providing a “sacrificial” layer to take the punishment that the elements and the environment dole out. Depending on the geographical location and building configuration, coatings can reduce energy consumption and improve building occupant comfort. Reducing hot building temperatures has been shown to improve productivity. Coatings can waterproof a leaky roof and also protect the integrity of a metal roof by reducing thermal-shock roof damage. A cool roof coating moderates the excessive thermal expansion and contraction that otherwise could lead to fastener and seal failures.

Help your customers save money by installing profitable cool roof systems
Integrating Conklin's roofing and coatings systems into your business is a win-win for the customer, the community in which you live and work, and for your roofing company:

1. The customer gets a less expensive, sustainable roofing system that helps them save on their energy costs
2. White roofs contribute to the reduction of landfill waste and your community's urban heat island
3. Conklin roofing and coatings systems are more profitable to install than other roof systems

Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business installing Conklin roofing and coating systems, please contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman of The Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com.

 

Cool down buildings and save money with white roofs

New research has found that residential and commercial buildings can generate significant energy savings and save on cooling costs for owners from white roofs, which reflect heat away from the building on hot days rather than absorbing it. On commercial buildings, this can result in energy savings of around 3%.

Not only are these savings financially beneficial for building occupants, but they also benefit the city users more broadly by reducing the urban heat island and improving the health of city users. Dr. Dominique Hes, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne in sustainable architecture says if the roofs of all lettable commercial space in Melbourne’s central business district were coated that the city could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.25 million kilowatt-hours per year.

White roofs are a low cost solution in making buildings more sustainable, particularly for older buildings. And if air conditioners are not working as hard, there are financial benefits for buildings owners as well. “There has been a lot of talk about the energy consumption benefits of white roofs and we commissioned the University of Melbourne to undertake this research so we could get a local perspective on how white roofs can work in our city,” Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says.

Research launched by the City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne has examined the benefits of white roofs in an effort to help building owners determine whether or not such an option is appropriate for their building. The research team monitored the temperatures of 5 test buildings at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus for their performance both with and without white coatings. They found that buildings with white roofs experienced significantly cooler temperatures than those without, both on the exterior and interior of the building.

Help your customers save money by installing profitable cool roof systems

Integrating Conklin's roofing and coatings systems into your business is a win-win for the customer, the community in which you live and work, and for your roofing company:

1. The customer gets a less expensive, sustainable roofing system that helps them save on their energy costs
2. White roofs contribute to the reduction of landfill waste and your community's urban heat island
3. Conklin roofing and coatings systems are more profitable to install than other roof systems

Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business installing Conklin roofing and coating systems, please contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman of The Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com.

What factors are influencing current demand for metal roof coatings?

Energy shortages are driving the need for energy savings, and the building industry is also experiencing a greater sensitivity to environmental concerns. These two issues are influencing demand for field-applied roof coatings that deliver cool roofs for energy savings as well as sustainability. Three industry programs are leading this trend – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, Energy Star, and California Title 24.


Most recently, the trend toward “cool roofing” has favored the selection of highly reflective (resistant to absorption of solar energy) and emissive (capable of releasing absorbed energy) coatings for use over metal. Architects, engineers, and owners have become aware of their value in reducing air conditioning requirements while providing a highly effective front line of defense against the elements.


Demand is up, because metal roofs typically last 10-15 years before issues develop. Metal roofing is typically factory coated, so most aftermarket metal roof coatings are applied for roof repair. Many of the metal roofs applied in the 1990s are now in need of repair. Older types of metal roofs typically have more need of repair and can benefit from metal roof coatings. Demand for metal coatings is also being driven by their cost fix the line effectiveness and greater interest in reflectivity.


There are a variety of coatings in the marketplace for metal roofs. Which one is best for any application depends on the desired performance, budget, and code requirements. Metal roof coatings include acrylic, aluminum coatings, rubberized aluminum, SBS or SEBS white coatings, polyurethane coatings, soy-based polymer roof coatings, and other polymer-based roof coatings.


Restoration coating systems greatly extend the life of an existing metal roof at a fraction of the cost of replacement. They form a strong, protective barrier to prevent rust from forming on steel surfaces. Even where rust has a strong foothold, special anti-corrosion contents act to inhibit further spread of the oxidation process, and heat stress is reduced with the high reflectivity of the coating material.


Because they reflect up to 80% of the sun's ultra-violet rays, metal roof restoration coatings help reduce roof expansion and contraction, and prevent premature deterioration by providing a sacrificial layer to the elements, which helps to increase the servicable life of the metal roof. During summer months the high reflectivity helps to lower cooling costs, and during winter months reduces the amount of heat emitted at night, ultimately reducing heating costs.


Since little or no roof membrane is removed during restoration, interruption of building activity is minimized and the reuse of the existing roof not only saves tear-off and disposal costs, but contributes to the reduction of roofing-related landfill waste, which is estimated to be 25% of all landfill content in the United States.


Metal roof restoration coating systems are highly desirable by building owners nationwide, so incorporating them into your service offerings would be a smart business decision.


Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business installing Conklin metal restoration coatings, single-ply, fabric-reinforced, restoration, recoating, or spray polyurethane roofing systems, please contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman of The Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com.

Installing Conklin’s Single Ply Systems in a Minnesota Winter

Over the last thirty years, single-ply membranes have been gaining market share in the United States. The industry’s concern for the environment and an emphasis on energy conservation has become paramount.
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Single-ply membranes offer a solution – a very cool one. Light-colored, reflective roof surfaces offer building occupants a significant reduction in energy use, and points toward a U.S. Green Building Council LEED™ building certification. Additionally, single-ply membranes offer a lightweight solution that not only accommodates unconventional roof designs, but its durable membrane can be installed year round, even in the harshest climates.
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Project: New Construction: Minnesota Nissan Dealership
Square feet: 27,000 square feet
Time of Year: March – temperatures 33-40 degrees and sunny
Roof System: Conklin Flexion 60 mil Single Ply System, an Elvaloy®-reinforced PVC
Reflectance Value: 84%
Installation System: 3.5” of Atlas II ISO Board stock (R24)
Skylights: Eleven (11) skylights installed on 2 x 12 curbs
Stacks: Sixty-plus (60+)
Drains: Twelve (12)
HVAC Units: Ten (10)
Crew: 7 man crew
Time-Frame: 13 days
Manufacturer: 20 Year Materials Warranty
Contractor: 10 Year Workmanship Warranty
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March in Minnesota can be unpredictable especially when installing a single ply system. We were very fortunate to have sunny, yet cool weather for the majority of the installation. By keeping the materials warm, the installation ran smoothly with organization and proper timing.
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The roof deck on the new construction was a 24 gauge steel V deck. Three and one half (3.5”) inches of Atlas II ISO Board stock (R24) was mechanically fastened to the steel decking. The insulation was staggered for energy efficiency. Conklin’s Flexion 60 mil Single Ply System was mechanically fastened to the steel deck in a fastening pattern that conforms to UL I-90 wind uplift requirements. The membrane was attached to all vertical surfaces using Conklin’s Contact Adhesive. A combination of automatic and hand welders were used to weld all membrane seams. Skylight curbs, stacks, HVAC units, and drains were individually detailed to the new roof surface using factory accessories including pre-fabricated boots, stack covers and corners.
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BENEFITS: Conklin’s FLEXION Single-Ply Roofing Systems will deliver unmatched protection from wind, hail and fire. It is highly resistant to a broad range of chemicals, helping to extend the life of the roof. Like all Conklin Roofing Systems, Flexion is ENERGY STAR-rated and offers outstanding reflectivity and energy efficiency.
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Conklin’s Flexion Single-Ply Roof System will deliver all these benefits for years to come:
• Stops leaks with superior waterproofing.
• Offers superior protection from wind and hail.
• Offers fire and chemical resistance.
• Increases energy efficiency and lowers utility expense.
• Performs in all climates.
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Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business installing Conklin single-ply, fabric-reinforced, restoration, recoating, or spray polyurethane roofing systems, please contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman at The Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com.
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Small roofs can bring big profits too!

Conklin’s Single-Ply Restoration System is a cost effective, proactive maintenance process designed to give new life to a functioning single-ply roof. By repairing the defects and upgrading the performance of the existing roof system, the cost of restoration is far less than replacement with a comparable roof. Restoration can dramatically extend the service life of a single ply roof and delay replacement for many years.
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Especially in today’s economy, you should think twice before you walk away from the seemingly small roofing jobs. For many contractors of all sizes, these can be the bread-and-butter that helps build or keep a business alive.
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Case Study: Residential property with multiple EPDM roofs tied into ceramic tiles
200 square feet completed in 3 hours over a 2-day period with a single contractor.
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Challenge:

• Existing roof system was showing advanced signs of deterioration and shrinkage.
• The caulk in the system’s seams were dried and cracked
• Multi-million dollar home (high visibility)

Solution: Conklin’s Single Ply Restoration System

• No tear-off required, saving on labor, time and dumpster/disposal costs
• Minimal disturbance to the property or the owner
• Restoration extends the life of the existing roof system
• Clean, neat, low odor, and sustainable

Project Specifications:

• WAC II cleaner applied at full strength to the approved Single Ply membrane at a rate of 400-500 square feet per gallon using a portable sprayer equipped with a .019 to .022 spray tip.
• The cleaner remained on the roof surface for 20 minutes prior to rinsing with water (high-pressure spray).
• All residue was removed and the roof surface was left to dry thoroughly prior to the application of a primer.
• Conklin Tack Coat primer was applied at a rate of 250-300 square feet per gallon and back rolled with a thick nap roller. The application took approximately 4 hours to dry (primer dry time is approximately 2-8 hours, depending on temperature and humidity).
• A 4” strip of Conklin Spunflex Roof fabric was embedded into Conklin’s Rapid Roof III base coat at a rate of 1.5 gallons per square and applied to the seams of the prepared roof surface. The fabric is relaxed, flat and wrinkle-free when it is applied by a roller starting from the center and out at 45° angles over the seams
• Once the coating and fabric application is dried completely, Conklin’s Rapid Roof® III top coat was applied over the entire field of the roof at rate of 1.9 gallons per square*. The top coat dry mil thickness was approximately 12 dry mils (24 wet mils).

Reflectivity Value

• The reflectivity for this project is 82%.

Benefits for the customer:

• Low cost
• Energy savings
• Easy to maintain
• Low VOC
• Stops leaks with superior waterproofing
• Increases energy efficiency, lowering utility expenses with its cool, white reflective surface

Benefits to the Contractor:

• Low liabiity
• Easy application
• Minimal equipment investment (ladder, thick nap roller, pressure washer, and a good pair of scissors)
• Profit margin of 35-45%
• 1-2 man crew
• No tear-off required

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Improve and extend the life of your customer's existing single-ply roof
As TPO and other single-ply membranes become weathered, rooftops can crack, leak and pick up dirt, diminishing their effectiveness and energy-saving properties. Conklin’s Energy Star-rated elastomeric coatings provide cost-effective roof restoration for approved single-ply substrates, resulting in improved energy savings, and years of new life for an old roof.

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Join the Conklin Team
For more information on how to start or enhance your existing business using Conklin’s complete liquid-applied protective coating system for aged modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, PVC, and CSPE roofs, contact Conklin Master Contractor Stan Volkman at The Contractor's Alliance at (612) 750-6639 or via email at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com.

Why Conklin Company?

A commercial roofing industry pioneer and leader, Conklin is recognized for its quality products and one-stop-shopping, which offers value to both newcomers and seasoned roofers. The Conklin Company can deliver components that compliment all of Conklin’s roofing and coating systems in order to get your project completed:

• insulation board
• spray urethane foam
• fasteners
• primers
• roof fabrics & butyl tape
• sealants
• elastomeric coatings
• single ply systems

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There is no middle man involved – you purchase the highest quality products directly from the manufacturer at wholesale prices.

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Conklin’s spray-applied, seamless coatings are integrated into systems approved for:

• metal roof restoration
• low-sloped or flat surfaces
• new construction
• aged and weathered Modified Bitumen, EPDM, TPO, PVC, and CSPE roof restorations

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As a Conklin Independent Business Owner and warranty trained applicator, your business will realize higher profit margins, low liability, lower overhead costs and lower labor costs on Conklin restoration projects. Depending on the size, most roof projects can be completed with a 2-3 man crew. In addition, volume & training discounts are available as your business grows.

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When you purchase Conklin’s renewable roof systems, not only are you getting superior products, but you will receive the best support and training available:

• National training programs provided at the corporate level
• Instruction and support from the nation's leading team of field experts
• Regional and field training that include product application & techniques, available bidding program & training, marketing & selling techniques, and warranty overviews for product, joint application and full system application

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Please contact us!
For more information about the Conklin Roofing Systems business opportunity or to become a warranty trained applicator, please visit TheContractorsAlliance.com, email us at info@TheContractorsAlliance.com or call Stan Volkman at (612) 750-6639.