Roofing/Roof Coating

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Expert: Bruce A. Ryan II, RRO - 7/2/2009


Question
I have a flat rubber roof about 500 s.f.
I had a company put on a Silver Coating.
What concerns me is the company sent 2 men.
They carried up some old looking buckets & mops.
They were done in lees than 1 hour.
Could they have done a proper coating in this amount of time & have had enough material to cover the roof in those open buckets.
I need to know before i pay the bill.

Answer
I have no experience with EPDM (rubber) roof membranes being coated with aluminum (silver coating).  Coatings generally do not want to adhere to EPDM and it usually requires an elastomeric or Hypalon coating that has similar flexural qualities of the rubber.

After that, I would suggest that the likelihood of any coating adhering to anything is quite remote if the surface of the membrane is not pressure washed and cleaned.  It would be typical after that to prime the surface (once dried) and then apply the coating.

Go on the roof, go to the dirtiest location and try to peel the coating off.  You will know what to do after that.  EPDM (rubber) does not need to be coated to make it last longer and if it was leaking, coating will not fix it.  Install coatings for a color change or to make the roof cooler.  You should not pay the bill without inspecting the job.

Bruce Ryan II, RRO
Professional Roof Consultants, Inc.

Roofing

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Bruce A. Ryan II, RRO

Expertise

I offer solid knowlege of all types of Commercial and Residential Roofing, Waterproofing, and, Building Envelope systems. Experience ranges across low slope and steep slope roof systems. I am also well versed in matters regarding condensation and ventilation. I enjoy donating some of my time and knowledge to the betterment of others.

Experience

Bruce Ryan has 13 years of roofing, waterproofing, and building envelope consulting experience with PRC, with 5 years of commercial roofing experience prior to joining the firm. He became Vice President of the company in 1998. Bruce Ryan plays a key role in the development of practical, long-term roofing and waterproofing solutions, along with implementation of on-site forensic studies. Bruce also has a high level of experience with regard to the impacts of roofing materials and construction for demanding clients with heavily occupied structures.

Organizations
Oregon Construction Contractors Board Construction Specifiers Institute National Roofing Contractors Association The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing, & Building Envelope Professionals Oregon Board of Investigators Installation Masters

Education/Credentials
University of Maryland BS Business & Administration Registered Roof Observer - RCI Private Investigator Certified EIFS inspector - Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau Certified InstallationMaster™ - The Installation Masters™ Training and Certification Program (developed by American Architectural Manufacturers Association)

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