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Understanding Roof Coating Warranties

What is Overspray?

Liquasil’s metal roof coatings, Metalseal and Liquasil Lite are often applied using airless spray equipment, as this is the quickest and most cost-effective method.

Unfortunately, small gusts of wind can result in the atomised product being lifted and carried for some distance as it leaves the spray gun.

Eventually, the product will fall to the ground or onto vheicles and structures, which will look like tiny dots of paint, feeling rough to the touch when the oversprayed coating cures.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Overspray risk can be elimintaed by either moving vehicles away from the vicinity of the coating works, or considering application by brush and roller instead of airless spray.

Some contractors cover cars with polythene car covers during spraying works and this is a very good protection method.

It is possible to mitigate the risk of overspray by installing protective barriers around scaffolded areas, though this might be of limited effectiveness on windy days.

Dryfall Coatings

The problem of overspray is common to all coatings, not just ours. Some manufacturers claim that their coatings or paint systems are “dry fall” but this is often more of a marketing term because in order for overspray to be dry relies on very exact weather, temperature and distance tolerances.

Even if a product claims to be dryfall, it actually leaves the spray gun as a wet paint mist, In theory it cures before hitting another surface, but in practice, we have seen plenty of vehicles where the paint has tuck to vehicles, usually because of their proximity to the areas being sprayed.

Removing Coating Overspray From Vehicles

Professional Overspray Removal

Cured silicone roof and cladding coatings are difficult to remove from vehicles because they resist and repel water.

This means you can’t simply wash them off, as you might be able to with water based paint.

Professional car detailers have a number of products and tools that they use to quickly get vehicle finishes perfect looking, so it makes sense to use an experienced car detailer to remove overspray without ruining the paint.

The quicker you get a detailer involved, the better, because overspray will permanently bond to vehicle paintwork over the course of a week, making it more difficult to remove.

Overspray removal is labour-intensive, usually involving an initial wash of the vehicle, followed by a clay bar treatment, which is usually conducted twice to ensure that no tiny spots have been missed.

Once the clay bar treatment is complete, a good detailer will polish the vehicle’s paintwork with an orbital polisher and microfibre towels, leaving the surface as good as it was before the overspray occurred.

Source: Cardetailingplanet.

Do It Yourself Overspray Removal

If you find that your vehicle has been oversprayed and prefer to try the DIY method of removing the residue, you first have to determine the type of paint that has been oversprayed.

This is important because some coatings bond more strongly than others. Silicone and epoxies can be extremely difficult to remove.

You also need to consider how long the overspray has been present. The longer it’s been on your vehicle’s paintwork, the more difficult it is to remove.

If you can’t identify what type of paint or coating is involved, the safest way to attempt removal of the overspray is to use a clay bar detailing kit.

These are commonly available from Amazon, Halfords and other retailers.

Step 1 is the clean the affected areas and then lubricate the surface with the detailing spray from the kit.

Step 2 is to gently rub the clay bar over the areas using only light pressure. This will enable the clay to pick up the overspray without scratching the surface. It may need more than one try!

 The key thing is to avoid chemicals such as acetone or strong solvents, since they are likely to damage the vehicle’s clear coat, resulting in permanent damage.

 

Other Overspray Removal Methods – Not Recommended

WD-40

There are plenty of influencer “tutorials” and blogs suggesting that WD-40 is a good way of removing overspray.

Unfortunately, these blogs often don’t consider what product has been oversprayed. It will not work on cured silicone, so if your vehicle has been oversprayed with a Liquasil product, forget WD-40!

The other issue with WD-40 is that it leaves an oily residue on your paintwork, which becomes even more apparent when the paintwork is wet.

Rubbing Compound

Compounds like T-Cut are abrasive, so these products need to be used with extreme caution.

It’s too easy for the DIY enthusiuast to apply too much pressure and leave large areas of paintwork dull. Remember that rubbing compounds are far more abrasive than polishes.

The use of orbital polishers combined with rubbing compounds should be avoided by anybody other than a professional car detailer.

Graffiti Removers & Chemicals

Vehicle paintwork comprises a number of different layers, each designed to perform a certain task.

The chemical composition of each will be different, so a clear coat will likely differ from the colour coat and the primer. There is now a shift towards water based automotive paint which can make it less resilient to contamination.

The use of chemical cleaners should be avoided because they can affect your vehicle’s paintwork warranty and cause problems with its appearance and performance.

 

Removing Overspray From Glass

We have discussed removing overspray from vehicle paintwork, but panoramic sunroofs and large windscreens are becoming more popular.

If a glass area is affected by overspray, it will probably be more noticeable than it is on paintwork.

The good news is that glass surfaces are more resiliant than paintwork, so you have more removal options.

As well as the use of a clay bar described earlier, you can also use plastic blades or even a razor blade edge to debond the oversprayed particles on your glass, as long as you do so gently to avoid scratching.

Specific solvents can also be used if you are able to identify the source of the overspray. If you know the manufacturer of the oversprayed product, ask their advice.

If the installer of te sprayed products are still on site, ask them if they have a suitable solvent that they can use to remove the overspray from the glass surface.

White spirit, turpentine or similar products may work if the overspray hasn’t fully cured and bonded.

 

Understanding Roof Coating Warranties

Navigating Roof Coating Warranty Complexities

Understanding the Fine Print of Roof Coating Product Warranties

Explore the intricacies of roof coating warranties and learn how to make informed decisions that protect your projects and clients.

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Warranty Awareness

Understanding Roof Coating Warranties

Professional specifiers and roof coating contractors need to understand the limitations of product warranties, since they often contain exclusion clauses to reduce the manufacturer’s liability.

Although insurance-backed warranties can be purchased, their terms will mirror those of the product warranty and in any case, only provide cover in the event of installer insolvency.

We recommend that specifiers and clients obtain a workmanship warranty from their chosen contractor for a reasonable amount of time and have this backed with an insurance policy.

That’s because in 99%+ of cases, any failure of a coating will not be down to a fault with the coating itself, rather it will be due to installation issues, environmental conditions, substrate, surface preparation and other factors.

Typical Warranty Exclusions

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What are common exclusions in product warranties?

Product warranties often exclude installation errors, substrate failures and lack of maintenance. It’s crucial to read the fine print to understand these exclusions fully.

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Do insurance-backed warranties cover all issues?

No, insurance-backed warranties typically cover contractor insolvency but do not extend to product defects or misuse. They mirror the exclusions found in standard product warranties.

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How can I ensure comprehensive coverage?

Consider combining a product warranty with a workmanship guarantee and maintenance agreement with your installer. This can help address issues not covered by the warranty alone.

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Are there hidden costs in product warranties?

Yes, some warranties may require additional fees for inspections or maintenance to remain valid. Always check for any hidden costs associated with maintaining the warranty.

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What should I look for in a warranty?

Look for clear terms regarding coverage duration, exclusions, and any obligations on your part, such as regular maintenance or inspections.

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Can I negotiate warranty terms?

It is unlikely that a manufacturer will do anything that could increase their exposure to a claim. Consider an insurance product or maintenance agreement if additional cover is required.

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How do warranty claims work?

Usually, your first point of contact will be with the coating manufacturer. Be prepared to supply photographs or video of the issue. The manufacturer will then advise on the next stages.

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What is the role of a specifier in warranties?

Specifiers have a duty to protect their clients. Obtaining a workmanship warranty from the contractor and entering into a maintenance agreement is strongly recommended.

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How do warranties affect project costs?

Product warranties are free of charge but offer limited protection. Insurance-backed options might provide extra reassurance, but claiming can be problematic.

Are Insurance-Backed Warranties Worth Buying?

Insurance-backed warranties can provide peace of mind against contractor insolvency, they come with significant costs that can impact the overall budget of a project.

These warranties often require a substantial premium, which may not provide additional protection beyond what a standard product warranty offers.

Specifiers and clients must weigh these costs against the perceived benefits, considering that the primary coverage is for contractor insolvency rather than product performance.

In many cases, the high cost of these warranties does not justify the limited scope of additional protection, especially when similar exclusions apply.

It’s essential to evaluate whether the investment in an insurance-backed warranty aligns with the project’s financial and risk management goals.

Learn More About Warranties

How To Mitigate Warranty Terms

A roof coating product warranty is not a guarantee on the longevity of your roof. It’s a guarantee that the coating applied will perform as expected for the duration of the warranty period.

If you want a roof guarantee, the only way to achieve this is to have a new roof. A coat of paint is never going to be a substitute for a new roof.

It is possible to mitigate unfavourable warranty terms by ensuring that roof defects are repaired to a suitable standard before coating works commence.

Manufacturers do conduct site audits, but these cannot be relied upon for warranty purposes because of their limited scope.

If you are concerned about quality of installation, you can protect yourself by employing a clerk of works to carry out daily inspections.