You Don’t Always Need to Coat Your Metal Roof

By Cayden Wemple. 

Check out these pro tips for when you don’t need to coat your metal roof courtesy of Roof Hugger. 

More often than not, metal roofs are coated, but every once in a while, a contractor will come face to face with a roof where they must decide whether or not it needs a coating. Here’s what to look for when a roof does not need a coating: 

A few common issues 

Corrosion is a common issue for metal roofs, and if left unchecked, it can lead to severe consequences such as leaking and structural purlins corroding and creating numerous holes in the system. This can compromise the building's safety, making it dangerous for contractors to walk on the roof or add a coating. Fastener problems are another issue, as corroded fasteners can weaken the roof system, and adding fastener caps may only provide a temporary solution. A coating may hide the issue but could leave you vulnerable to liability. Additionally, penetrations from rooftop pipes and equipment can be a constant source of problems, and while a coating can help, it's essential to address the penetrations themselves to avoid future issues. 

These aren’t the only issues contractors run into while they are deciding to recoat their roofs. And when there are inevitably issues with coating, what are other alternatives to it? Retrofitting is always an option, and although there are benefits and drawbacks, it could be the better option when making a decision to coat. At the end of the day though, it is up to the contractor to do all the research they can to find the best possible solution. 

Read more pro tips and solutions to determining if a metal roof should be coated or not. 

Learn more about Roof Hugger in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.roofhugger.com.  

About Cayden   

Cayden is a reporter for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When he isn’t writing about roofs, he’s usually playing guitar or writing songs for his musical endeavors.