Silicone Roof Coating Primers Klaus Schlimm, Marketing Director, Progressive Materials Silicone Roof Coatings One of the main benefits of silicone roof coatings is that, in most cases, primers are not necessary. This benefit is a major time and money saver for any contractor. It has helped propel silicone into the spotlight as one of the fastest-growing roofing technologies in the industry. Although rare, there are times when a primer is actually necessary. In this article, we will be looking into the following substrates and whether or not a primer is necessary for each: ■ metal roofs ■ spray foam ■ single-ply (TPO / Hypalon / PVC / campers) ■ mod bit / aged asphalt / gravel BUR ■ EPDM.
Primers and Metal Roofing
Metal roofs are great substrates for silicone roof coating restorations. If in good shape, your metal roof will require no primer at all. This is not always the case, however. In cases where rust is affecting the roof, rust inhibitive primer (RIP) is recommended. By applying 1 gallon per 200 square feet, you can almost entirely
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FLORIDA ROOFING | August 2020
stop rust. Although, there’s nothing that can completely stop rust, RIP slows it to a degree that it is no longer considered a threat to the roof. RIP can be sprayed or rolled on and, once dry, it adheres to your silicone coating. It’s a safe and easy way to make sure rust doesn’t take over a metal roof. Of course, if rust damage has created major holes or gaps in a roof, some panel replacement may be necessary. In most cases, however, RIP offers enough protection to keep the metal roof’s rust at bay. The only other time a PM primer may be necessary on a metal roof is if Kynar roofing is used. In rare cases, we have seen poor adhesion on Kynar. Thankfully, there is a solution for that as well. Single-ply primer (mostly used on single-ply substrates) will coat over Kynar and offer tremendous adhesion for the silicone coating.
Primers and Spray Foam Roofing
As with most substrates, primer is seldom required on spray foam. There are, however, times when you’ll want it handy. As you know, exposed spray foam can be damaged quickly if left in direct sunlight. Fortunately, night seal primer (NSP) has been developed to help with this issue. Here are a couple instances in which NSP is necessary: ■ Prior to coating on top of foam, be sure that the foam is not exposed to the sun for longer than a day. If you will be working on a foam roof for multiple days, you will want to make sure you prime the foam to maintain its integrity. NSP goes on easily while holding the foam’s integrity, allowing you the time you need to finish the job. ■ You may also want to consider NSP in your tie-in lines. Foam does not adhere to silicone, but it will adhere to NSP. The NSP coat will allow the new foam to adhere to the previously installed silicone, allowing you to finish the job the right way.
