If you decided to renovate your home and started from roof coating then you need to know at least the basics of this issue in order to choose and apply the coating correctly. Below we prepared a little guide for newbies that aims to explain the basic types and rules of roof coating application.
ACRYLIC COATINGS
In general water borne acrylic roof coatings have different possibilities of applying including brushes, rollers, squeegees and sprays, though experts say that the most cost and time efficient are the airless spray coatings. In this case the coating is pumped from the container right to a pump. In the latter part it is pressurized to several thousand pounds per square inch. A person uses a gun with a small orifice to spray the coating. Owing to the simple physics, when the pressurized coating is spayed out of the gun it atomizes into small discrete droplets.
Experts characterize spray units by their spray rate and pressure.
If you need to successfully coat the roof, professionals say that you need a unit with a delivery rate at 1 ½ gallon per minute. If you take larger units, you will get longer hose runs. The latter option is very helpful for large jobs where you might need to keep the coating and the airless spray unit on the ground and take only the hose and gun on the roof.
Airless spraying systems are generally powered in two main ways: an electric motor or a gasoline engine. As a rule, electric motors prove to be less prone to the complexities that are usually associated with gasoline engines, but if using them you should be ready to prepare a plug in place and a very long extension cord. At the same time you should be aware that there is usually an appreciable electrical current drop in case of using the long extension cords. It means that the efficiency of the motor may drop. At the same time the gasoline airless sprayers are fully self contained. So think about the conditions you will use spray coating equipment and choose the option that work better for your case.
ASPHALT EMULSION
Asphalt emulsions are usually applied, with scrim-free or strand reinforcement, and as a rule at a much higher rate if compared to acrylic spray coatings. Experts say that sometimes as high as 4,5 gallons per Square per coat. In such a case the asphalt emulsion will basically act as the waterproofer. The high film thickness which is a common for asphalt emulsion builds slope and fills in alligator cracks, it also helps cover gravel ballast. In the later case professionals advise to use much larger volume equipment and apply only polyurethane spray for such needs. Manufacturers generally make two sizes of volume units for this type of application. The bigger options in general work with both the asphalt emulsion and acrylic top coating. The smaller ones supply coating at a higher rate.
For more info pls check:
Bolair Fluid Handling Systems
17 Units 1 & 2, Brownridge Road,
Halton Hills,
ON
L7G 0C6,
Canada
(905) 564-2231
