The tools of the trade

By Progressive Materials.

Learn the staple tools for any silicone roof coater’s toolbox.

The basic application process for a silicone roof is well known, even by those not specifically in the coatings sector. First, clean the surface and then wait for it to dry. Determine if it needs primer and apply if necessary. Finally, install the silicone. But some roofers and coating applicators use different tools to do this. In this article, we at Progressive Materials have taken a look at some of the different tools used on the roof and what scenarios each are best suited for.

Rollers

From profile rollers to detail applicators, rollers have been a mainstay for decades in the coatings industry. Roofers use a roller cover attached to a standard paint roller and stick and they roll out the entire roof. PM Technical and Education Coordinator Jeff Romero says most of PM’s Certified Licensed Applicators or CLAs use rollers as their No. 1 choice. There are many options in this area, depending on the customers’ needs. For example, the Rooftop Equipment website shows eight different products in its profile rollers section.

Spray rigs

Roof coating sprayers offer the fastest way to coat a roof. They can be customized to handle coatings for residential, commercial or industrial jobs. Graco systems, for example, can be used with silicone roof coatings, acrylic roof coatings and other materials.

For silicone coatings, PM – an approved Graco distributor — recommends the Graco GH 933 (gas-powered) rig with a Graco XHF gun and 0.029 – 0.035 tip size. You can reach PM’s in-house Graco expert here.

Tank spreaders

Simple cleanup and disposable or easy-to-replace parts have helped make tank spreaders more popular in recent years. These tank spreaders generally come in singlewide (14 inches wide), doublewide (27 inches) and super (40 inches). Tank spreaders are gravity-fed, easy to use and low maintenance applicators for any pourable coating or adhesive material.

Squeegees

Similar to rolling, many contractors use large squeegees to apply coating. They pour coating on the roof, then drag a large squeegee across the surface. This provides a smooth, consistent coating with minimal equipment. Romero noted that slotted squeegees are also available. These have slots that allow contractors to coat a roof at specific mils.

Others

The Roof Rabbit is another type of spray unit. It’s a spraying apparatus that allows the user to stay in an upright and ergonomically comfortable position while spraying. Additionally, the tips remain an even distance from the roof’s surface, providing a completely uniform result.

The Roof Tube is a heavy-duty plastic pipe featuring suction technology to help fill the tube with silicone or other waterproofing roof materials. The material can be pumped out along seams and penetrations by applying pressure at the end of the tube.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many answers to the question, “How are silicone roof coatings applied?” If you are doing a large or small job, there might be a time and reason to use some or all of these installation methods. You just need to find what’s best for the job at hand. It’s worth noting here that a mil gauge, when used properly, can help maintain consistency in any silicone application.

Original article and photo source: Progressive Materials