What Is The Cost Of A Metal Roof Coating?

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 the Costs of Metal Roof Coatings

The most frequently asked question about our metal roof coating systems is “What is the cost?”

We have designed this article to cover the main elements that impact the cost of metal roof coating installations in the UK, ensuring your project is both efficient and cost-effective.

Whether you are a professional specifier, contractor or industrial building landlord, we know that cost is important to you.

Others might hide their prices, Liquasil is transparent. Call us today with details and sizes of your roof coating project and we’ll provide you with a materials cost over the phone.

Why Budgeting Matters

The Importance of Planning Your Roof Coating Budget

If you are professional specifier, you know how important it it is to get an accurate budget cost before you invite roof coating contractors to tender for your works.

Because Liquasil’s team all come from a building surveying background, they are better placed to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your roof coating projects.

Before you even prepare your roof coating specification document, Liquasil can help you understand the extent of any enabling and repair works that you might need to consider alongside the actual coating works.

Miss these and your budget could be blown before roof coating works even commence.

Key Cost Drivers

Metal roof coating cost influencers

Several factors influence the cost of metal roof coating installations.

Your choice of materials can affect the budget and luckily, Liquasil has two metal roof coating systems to choose from:

Labour costs will vary depending on the complexity, size and condition of the roof and the extent of any repair works that need to be undertaken as part of the project.

Image showing a metal roof coated with Liquasil's BBA Approved Metalseal system

Typical Installed Costs

Other Cost Considerations

Repair Options

Metal roof coatings are not classed as being waterproofing solutions. They are protective coatings.

Whilst Metalseal and Liquasil Lite are both extremely water repellent, water may still enter a building at vulnerable points.

Therefore, consideration should be given to roof lights, fixings, profile fillers at eaves and ridges, existing penetrations for flues and ducts and gutters etc., since these are the most common sources of water ingress on a metal roof.

All of these items need to be examined and included for repair or replacement in your roof coating or roof refurbishment project and of course, they will impact on the cost of your project.

Weather

Weather is one of the most important considerations for roof coating projects in the UK.

During the winter months, project timescales are often extended because of the shorter daylight hours, lower temperatures, dew and ice.

In the summer, very high temperatures can result in reduced working hours. If the ambient temperature is 30+°c, the surface temperature of a metal roof can easily hit 45-50°c which can lead to premature curing of coatings which in turn leads to adhesion failure.

Roof Complexity

Access and roof safety is a significant driver of cost in roof coating works.

Whilst some roofs can be accessed quite safely from access towers and mobile elevated work platforms, others might require a full scaffold and internal netting to keep roof workers and building occupiers safe.

Key Takeaways

Conclusion: Budgeting for Success

Understanding the various costs associated with industrial metal roof coating installations is crucial for effective budgeting.

From materials to safe access and labour, each element plays a significant role in the overall expense.

By planning carefully and considering all potential costs, specifiers and contractors can ensure their roof coating projects are completed efficiently and within budget.

Call Liquasil on 0121 709 5352 and speak to one our qualified team.

Both our BBA Approved Metalseal and budget friendly Liquasil Lite systems provide cost-effective refurbishment options for the long-term protection of industrial metal roofs.

The Liquasil team can provide specifiers, building owners, tenants and contractors with impartial and unbiased guidance with roof coating projects.

No other roof coating manufacturer is more qualified that Liquasil to help professionals make the right choice.

We’ll even tell you if a roof should not be coated.

Get Your Free Consultation Today

Ready to protect your investment with a high-quality metal roof coating?

Contact Liquasil today for a personal consultation or a detailed materials quotation tailored to your specific needs.

Our qualified team is here to guide you through the process and ensure your metal roof coating project is a success.