What Kind of Paint do You Use on a Metal Roof?

What Kind of Paint do You Use on a Metal Roof? PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating from Nationwide Coatings

If you're looking to give your metal roof a new lease on life, you might want to consider PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating from Nationwide Coatings. This advanced roof coating offers a range of benefits that can extend the life of your roof and enhance its performance. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the features and advantages of PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating, and answer the common question: what kind of paint or coating should you use on a metal roof?

What is PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating?

PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating is a high-performance, elastomeric coating designed to provide superior protection and durability for metal roofs. The term "elastomeric" refers to its ability to stretch and flex, which is crucial for withstanding the natural movements of your metal roof. This type of roof coating is particularly well-suited for metal roofs that experience significant temperature fluctuations, expansion, and contraction throughout the day and year.

Key Features of PERMAGARD® The Best Elastomeric Roof Coating

1. Superior Flexibility: The roof coating’s elastomeric nature allows it to expand and contract with the roof, reducing the risk of cracks and leaks. This flexibility helps the coating endure the wear and tear of changing weather conditions.
2. Enhanced Durability: PERMAGARD® offers exceptional resistance to UV rays, which helps protect your roof from sun damage and prolong its lifespan. This can be especially beneficial in areas with high sun exposure.
3. Energy Efficiency: By reflecting sunlight and reducing heat absorption, PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating can help keep your building cooler. This not only improves comfort but also can lower cooling costs.
4. Waterproofing: The coating creates a seamless, waterproofing barrier that helps protect against leaks and water damage. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of your metal roof and avoiding costly repairs.
5. Ease of Application: PERMAGARD® is a water based acrylic roof coating designed for straightforward application. It can be applied with a brush, roller, or airless spray gun, making it accessible for both DIY enthusiasts and professional roofers. Soap and Water Cleanup at the end of the day!
6. Low Maintenance: Once applied, this metal roof coating requires minimal upkeep. Regular inspections and cleanings are usually sufficient to keep it in good condition for the next few decades.

 Advantages Over Traditional Roof Paints

While traditional roof paints can offer some protection, elastomeric roof coatings such as PERMAGARD® provide superior performance. Here’s why:

• Elasticity: Unlike standard paints, elastomeric coatings can stretch and return to their original shape. This elasticity helps them handle the natural movement of the roof without peeling or cracking.
• Thicker Application: Elastomeric roof coatings are generally thicker than standard paints, minimum 20 mils dry film thickness, thus providing a more robust protective layer.
• Longer Lifespan: Due to their durability and flexibility, elastomeric roof coatings last longer than traditional paints, reducing the frequency of reapplications.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on a Metal Roof?

For metal roofs, choosing the right type of paint or elastomeric roof coating is crucial to ensure long-lasting protection and aesthetic appeal. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Acrylic Paints: Acrylic paints are a common choice for metal roofs because they are the most inexpensive. Due to limited elasticity and flexibility, the duration and lifetime is short and requires more frequent repaints every couple years.
2. Elastomeric Roof Coatings: As mentioned, the best elastomeric roof coatings like PERMAGARD® are highly effective for metal roofs and last decades. They provide exceptional flexibility, waterproofing, energy efficiency, reflectivity and UV resistance, which makes them ideal for metal surfaces that experience significant temperature changes year-round.
3. Epoxy Paints: Epoxy paints are known for their strong adhesion and durability. However, they do not expand and contract with the roof and have no flexibility. 
4. Oil-Based Paints: While less common for modern applications, oil-based paints can be used on metal roofs. They provide a hard, durable finish but are difficult to work with, hazardous, may require more maintenance and can be prone to making a mess by peeling over time as they do not have elasticity to expand and contract with the roof.

PERMAGARD® Elastomeric Roof Coating from Nationwide Coatings offers a comprehensive solution for extending the life of your metal roof. Its flexibility, durability, and energy efficiency make it a superior choice compared to traditional roof paints. For metal roofs, elastomeric coatings like PERMAGARD® provide the ideal combination of protection and longevity. Check out an application video here on an aging rusty metal roof  and what an elastomeric roof coating like PERMAGARD® can do!