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The summer can be excruciatingly hot, especially if you live in the southern states. About a third of the unwanted heat that builds up in your mobile home comes through the roof. One of the most effective methods to deal with the summer heat is to give your home a cool roof coating. But what is a mobile home roof coating, and how effective is it?
Let’s dive right in!
- Why Mobile Home Roofs are Unique
- What is Roof Coating?
- The Benefits of Roof Coating
- Types of Roof Coating
- Conditions for Applying Roof Coating
- How to Apply Mobile Home Roof Coating Yourself
Why Mobile Home Roofs are Unique
There are several differences with mobile home roofs that require homeowners to take extra precautions and maintenance. Therefore mobile homes need certain types of roof coating to deal with these issues. While some products might be the same as or similar to traditional roofs, there are some key differences between mobile home roofs and traditional homes.
Mobile homes tend to have a lower-pitched roof if any at all. Flatter roofs are not as good in extreme weather conditions or even heavy rainfalls. When a roof is flat, there is no way for rain to run off, creating water pooling or leaking issues.
Mobile home roofs are also constructed from different materials than traditional homes. For example, many homes tend to have single fiberglass constructions rather than a system of joists with layers.
Due to the structure and materials used on mobile home roofs, there are issues, such as increased leaks as they age. Therefore, replacing a mobile home roof can be costly. However, while roof repair or replacement can be complicated, it isn’t that difficult to replace or apply some mobile home rubber roof coating.
What is Roof Coating?
Mobile home roof sealant protects your home from water damage and the sun’s harmful rays. They are similar to a rubberized glue rolled onto the roof, similar to that of paint. Generally, roof coatings are white. Thus, reflecting 60-85% of the sun’s harmful rays. In addition, light-colored surfaces effectively reflect most of the heat away from your home, where dull, dark-colored home exteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radiant energy from the sun that strikes the home’s surface.
Rubber roof coating for mobile homes also seals cracks on the surface to prevent water from leaking in. Do not mistake this for a solution for significant roof damage. If your roof shows signs of deterioration or needs replacement, roof coating will not resolve the issue. It is purely a method of roof maintenance. It is the most effective and cost-efficient method to extend the life of your roof.
The Benefits of Mobile Home Roof Coatings
There are multiple benefits of applying a roof coating every 2-10 years.
- Improved protection
- Mobile home roof sealant can help protect your roof from severe weather, including heavy rain. Acting as a sealant to prevent water from leaking into or damaging your roof and ceilings
- Cost Saving
- A roof coating can help maintain your roof’s longevity by reducing harmful environmental damage and overall costs of repairs.
- Roof coating requires about 30% to 40% of the price of a new roof, which can cost you thousands of dollars and extend your roof’s lifespan for up to 20 years.
- By reducing the number of harmful rays on your home’s roof, you could save 10% to 20% on air conditioning costs.
- Energy Savings
- These coatings can help reduce the amount of energy needed to cool your home. Most roof coatings have reflective properties, which will reflect ultraviolet rays that hit your home and cause it to heat up instead of absorbing the heat.
- Environmental Benefits
- By reducing the energy needed to cool your home, power plant emissions would decrease, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury productions.
- Reduced local air temperatures, also referred to as the urban heat island effect. Urban heat island refers to the significantly warmer area than surrounding rural areas due to homes re-emitting the sun’s heat more than the surrounding natural landscapes.
- Lower peak electricity demands, which can help prevent power outages for highly populated areas
Types of Mobile Home Roof Coatings
Two standards of roof coatings are available. They both have waterproof and reflective properties and being are marketed primarily for mobile homes. The type of roof coating you select for your home should depend on the carrying factors your roof will face. There are two significant types, aluminized asphalt, and elastomeric roof coatings.
Aluminized asphalt roof coating
One of the most cost-effective coatings to make your roof last is a mobile home aluminum roof coating. Aluminized asphalt roof coating is asphalt-based and contains glass fibers and aluminum particles. The most common type of roof coating, sticking to almost every surface and installing over asphalt and metal roofs. Because it has a tacky surface, it attracts dust, which reduces its reflectivity somewhat. However, asphalt roof coatings will secure your home within 24 hours after application and reduce the roof’s temperature up to 60 degrees, typically falling under the ‘cool roof’ category.
Elastomeric Roof Coating
Elastomeric mobile home roof coating is a white latex that you can apply over many common roofing materials, such as asphalt and fiberglass shingles, tar paper, and metal. The latex contains elastic properties, which means the roof’s surface can stretch without being damaged. In addition, these coatings allow for building movement and thermal expansion due to hot weather. Non-bituminous roof coatings tend to be elastomeric. A bright, white latex coating can reflect anywhere from 70%-85% of the sun’s harmful rays. A single two-coat application of elastomeric coatings could last up to 10 years of protection. However, most manufacturers offer a 5-year warranty.
Conditions for Applying Roof Coating
If you consider applying waterproof roof coating yourself, there are a few tips and tricks to consider to get the most out of your layer. It is essential to consider the condition of your roof, weather and ensure you have all the necessary materials and equipment for the job.
Roof Condition
Roof coating requires your mobile home’s roof to be in tip-top condition for it to be most effective. Common potential issues mobile home roofs may include chalking, mildew/moss/ or mold, alligatoring, badly degraded built-up roof, blistering, loose lap, and fish mouthing. Any issues with your roof must be addressed before applying a new coating to your roof. However, before you throw in the towel, remember these are issues that should be repaired anyway to preserve your roof and prevent further damage to both the external and internal of your home.
Weather Conditions
Weather can significantly affect how effective the coating applies to your roof. Don’t consider applying roof coating if you think it will rain soon or have anything more substantial than minimal winds. Instead, check the forecasts ahead of time to ensure the weather is optimal to apply the coating and seal. Remember, it will need a few hours to dry after being applied.
Mobile Home Roof Coatings Materials
It is vital to have enough roof coating and other necessary products to get the job done. Generally, a 4.7-gallon bucket of roof coating can cover one coat of 250-350 sq ft. However, most roof coatings recommend two layers to receive the best results from the coating. Therefore, when you order your roof coating, you will have enough to complete both coats to your roof. Mobile Home Part Store suggests using kool seal for mobile home roofs. It is one of the best mobile home roof sealers. We offer both Kool Seal White Elastomeric Roof Coating in both 4.7 and 0.9-gallon buckets and Aluma-Kote Aluminum Roof Coating in 4.7-gallon buckets that can be found here.
In addition to the roof coating, you will need several other necessary materials and equipment to complete the application. These materials include a broom, sandpaper ( depending on coating instructions), primer, and a brush or coating gun for application.
Apply Mobile Home Roof Coating Yourself
Start by inspecting your roof’s condition to ensure there are no repairs or damages before starting. Next, remove any dirt, debris, or blockages covering the roof by using a broom. It should be spotless. You may also consider power washing your roof to remove sir and grime settlement. If you do power wash, be sure to allow the roof to dry before continuing ultimately. If dirt and grime remain on your roof, the coating will have difficulty properly bonding.
Not all roof coatings can be applied on the top of the original layer. Check the instructions with your specific coating. If the coating requires the removal of prior coatings, you can use sandpaper to remove it.
Check once more to ensure no minor repairs your roof might need to be fixed, such as loose screws. Look around to ensure it is still watertight and secure before applying the new layer or coating. If you have mildew or other similar growth, you can use diluted bleach to remove it carefully.
After this, you need to apply the metal primer with a brush over the entire surface. Again, you will need to follow the specific instructions for the primer and coating to ensure proper application.
Once the primer has dried completely, you may begin to apply the coating. Check once more the roof is clean. Prepare the coating or stir it before application. Start with the roof’s seams and flashing before coating the central part of your roof. After applying the roof coating, please wait for it to dry for a few hours, and the job is complete!
Summary
Due to the structure and materials used on mobile home roofs, applying roof coating to your mobile home is essential for maintaining your roof and cooling your home. They can protect your home from future water damage and reduce unwanted heat that builds up from the sun’s harmful rays. Doing your prep work, researching what type of mobile home roof coating you should use, and gathering your materials ahead of time will make the job much more bearable. It is of the utmost importance that you follow the instructions listed by the manufacturer to receive the best results. If you take on the job and know you are, we will help with all your roofing coating and repair needs!
Tags: Aluma-Kote Aluminum Roof Coating, Aluminized Asphalt Roof Coating, Elastomeric Roof Coating, Kool Seal, Mobile Home Roof Coating, Roof Coating, Roof Coating Benefits
