Metal roofs are sturdy and durable. With different styles, they give a unique outlook to your home. Moreover, they have their uses in residential and commercial buildings.
However, a major drawback is that they can rust with time if you don’t take proper care. When water combines with oxygen, it causes oxidation and forms hydrated iron oxide. This is what we see as rust.
You would have seen many metal roofs with reddish-brown stains on them. Those are of rust and they can degrade your metal roof’s outlook. If you don’t take proper care of your metal roof, this can spread and further deteriorate their condition.
This blog will guide you on how you can prevent your metal roof from rusting and increase its lifespan. But before that, let’s look at the root cause of rust on a metal roof.
What Causes Rust On A Metal Roof?
Rust is often caused by an oxidation process. A cracked protective coating exposes the inner metal surface to the environment. This speeds up the oxidation on the surface thus rusting the material.
Rust is more common in metal roofs by the seaside because of the presence of salty water and acid rain. This means you should protect your metal roof more and maintain it to avoid rust.
How To Protect Your Metal Roof From Rust
Use High-Quality Metal Panels
The quality of your metal panels can make your metal roof last longer. Ensure to install good quality metal panels during installation. It is recommended that they have a considerable amount of zinc. Zinc stops the oxidation process and prevents rust.
Coat Your Metal Roof
Coating your metal roof with elastomeric coatings can also protect it. It is a sealing system with acrylic material. It is effective against rust and corrosion.
Make sure to clean your roof before applying any coating to it. Otherwise, the material will not stay firmly on the metal surface.
Paint Your Roof
Painting your roof not only upgrades its outlook but also protects it against rust and corrosion. Select a paint according to your suitability. For more useful information on choosing a metal roof paint color, you can read this blog.
Choose a paint that has at least 80% zinc. Zinc will protect the iron from rust through the process of galvanizing. Moreover, you must apply a primer before painting so it can stay for a long time. Applying primer before seals the surface. So, your material won’t absorb the paint and give an overall better look.
Galvanize Your Roof
Galvanization is the process of applying zinc on your metal roof. Zinc acts as a barrier between the metal roof and water thus preventing the process of oxidation.
To galvanize your roof, you can either call a professional or you can do it on your own. But before that, make sure that your metal roof’s surface is clean.
Hire A Professional
Hiring a professional metal roofing company can ensure that your metal roof is properly protected against rust. The professionals will know how to install your metal roof properly while also keeping its edges clean and sharp. Any cuts on the metal roofs surface can increase its chances of rusting.
Professionals will take care of such things and also coat your roof to protect it against rusting.
Ensure Maintenance
Regular maintenance might feel difficult, but it can ensure that your metal roof lasts longer. You can either maintain your metal roof on your own or hire a metal roof company.
About Stahl Roof Systems
Stahl Roof Systems provides specialized metal roofing services for commercial, residential, and industrial purposes. We have a professional team that delivers metal roofing-related services across Alberta. Contact us to get to know about more of our services or have a look around our site.
