Where we see metal roofs
Across Rio Rancho Estates and the edges of town, plenty of properties have metal on a shop, barn, detached garage, carport or the house itself. Most of those roofs are exposed-fastener panels — the kind held down with hundreds of screws, each with a rubber washer.
What goes wrong
- Screw washers dry out and crack, and screws back out with heat cycles
- Side laps and end laps open up
- Surface rust starts where the paint has worn or scratched
- Wind lifts panel edges and ridge caps
- The finish fades and gets chalky, and the roof runs hot
How we coat a metal roof
- Wash the roof and remove loose rust and flaking paint
- Treat rusted areas with a rust-inhibiting primer
- Tighten or replace screws and seal every fastener
- Seal laps, seams and ridge caps with reinforced sealant
- Apply a reflective elastomeric topcoat over the whole roof
When coating isn't enough
If panels are rusted through, badly bent or loose from the framing, they need to be replaced first. A coating can't hold together metal that's gone. Standing-seam roofs with concealed fasteners rarely need a full coating; spot repair is usually the answer.
Cooler shops and garages
A white coating on a metal shop roof can make a noticeable difference in summer. Bare or dark metal soaks up heat; a reflective coat sends much of it back.
Got a rusty shop or barn roof? Call (505) 448-1467 for a free look.
Common questions
Will a coating stop my metal roof from leaking?
If the leaks come from screws and seams, yes — sealing those is the main point of the job. Rusted-through panels need replacing first.
Can you coat a mobile home roof?
Yes. See mobile home roof coating.
What color can it be?
White is the coolest, but other light colors are available for visible roofs.