When you buy a new metal roof, the panels come already finished with a factory coating. The paint or coating on a metal roof is important because it affects how your roof looks and how well the metal is protected. Here are some things a quality coating can do for your metal roofing.
Provide Color
You can buy metal roof panels in nearly any color you choose. However, if you choose a bright color, you may need to be more careful about the type of coating the panels have so the color pigments don't fade. Your metal roofing contractor can help you choose the right coating when you're picking out the metal roof you want to have installed.
Some types of coatings hold up better with bright colors than other types of coatings. Fading might be more of an issue with blue or red roofs than it is with brown or white roofs if you choose a lower quality finish for your panels.
Protect Against Rust
One of the main jobs of metal roof coating is to protect against rust. Different types of coatings and paint have different levels of corrosive protection. You might want the highest quality anti-corrosive coating on your metal panels for extra protection against rust.
As long as you check your roof regularly and repair rust as soon as you see it, rust shouldn't be too much of an issue, but since rust eats holes through metal, you might want the best protection you can afford.
Improve Energy Efficiency
The color you choose for your roof helps determine how energy efficient the roof is. For instance, a lighter color, such as white, reflects the sun and keeps your home cool, while a dark color such as brown absorbs heat and makes your home warmer.
You can also improve energy efficiency in your home by choosing a coating that has reflective pigments. Reflective pigments can make a dark-colored roof more efficient at keeping your home cooler in the summer.
Keep Your Roof Cleaner
A clean roof may not seem all that important, but if you've ever seen a roof with ugly dark streaks, you know how dirt and algae can ruin the look of your home. If algae or mildew is a problem on your property, you might want a coating that wards off growths and dirt accumulation.
Some coatings can keep algae away and dirt from accumulating longer than other coatings. This might keep you from having to clean the roof as often. However, cleaning metal roofing is usually fairly simple since it can be cleaned with a pressure washer more easily than asphalt shingles.
For more information, contact a roofing company like Berwald Roofing Inc.
