The roof is an integral part of your house. It performs a vital function by keeping the elements out of the home’s interior and protecting everything inside. Being constantly exposed to harsh weather, your Orange County roofing will deteriorate in time and need repairs or replacement. Detecting early signs of roof going bad will enable you to fix it, prevent further damage and spending more money.

Here are the most common signs of a problematic Orange County roofing:

1. Uneven or Damaged Shingles

Conduct a visual inspection and look at the shingles on your roof. Do they look flat or uneven? If they look like the latter, it may indicate damaged shingles that need to be replaced. Inspecting your roof after a storm or severe weather condition is advisable. Shingles may be damaged from strong winds, snow or hail. Delaying the repair of your roof could lead to serious damage later and cost you more.

2. Higher Electric Bills

We use power to cool our homes during the hot summer months and to heat them during the cold winter months. A good roofing system helps insulate your home against drastic temperature fluctuations by maintaining relatively uniform temperatures inside. If you suddenly find your monthly electric bills going up without your having bought or use new appliances or equipment that could explain the increase in power consumption, you might be losing cold or heat through your roof.

3. Spots on Ceilings and Walls

Water leak on the roof is the usual culprit when you see spots on these areas. Molds grow on damp places and indicate the something is wrong with your roof. Mold may also be caused by poor ventilation or damaged shingles. A professional is the best person to determine the problem.

4. Cracked or Peeled Paint

Paint is a good indicator of the roof’s condition. A cracked or peeled paint on the exterior or underside may indicate rust or other issues with the roof. An inadequate or impaired attic ventilation is one of the common causes of peeling paint.

5. Old Roofs

Roofs are built to last for decades depending on the material type used for the roof. Metal roofs generally last longer but cost more. If your roof has been protecting your home for years and has reached its estimated service life, it may be time to consider making a replacement. A proactive approach to roof maintenance means checking your roof and replacing parts before a real problem arises. Proactive maintenance could save you money in the long run.

These early warning signs of a roof going bad should alert you to take remedial actions to prevent further roof deterioration.

The roof is one of the most important components of your house. It does not only protect your home against the weather but also contributes to its physical appeal. Choosing the right roof color goes a long way towards enhancing the beauty of your house and improving its resale value in case you decide to sell it.

Below are the things you have to consider in choosing the right color for your roof paint:

Color Harmony. Choose roof colors that harmonize with the colors of other components of your house, including the wooden siding, bricks and stone. A gray or blue house looks great with a black or dark gray roof. A brown or tan house goes great with brown or a mixed cream and brown roof shingles. A white house works well with dark gray or black shingles. Other compatible colors could also be matched up.

Purposes. Use neutral colors if you want to keep your house in style for years. Neutral colors include grays, blacks, brows, creams, tans and clays. Using neutral colors help maintain a good resale value for your house. Choosing several tones of brown or mixing grays, blacks and blues make a trendier style.

Enhancing the Style. Look at other houses having the same architectural style and color scheme as yours to get an idea of the right color combination for your home. Some architectural styles—such as a Spanish-themed one—look good with specific color-combination but not with other color scheme.

Complementing Rules. Use a roof color that conforms to the local neighborhood rules, if any, about roof color. Pick colors that do not clash with the color standards observed in the neighborhood. Avoid using colors that reproduce those of your neighbors, unless they are the norm in the area.

Climate. In cold climates, using dark shingles can keep your home stay warm because they absorb heat. They also melt ice and snow on the roof. In hot climates, light or white shingles help lower the temperature because they reflect sunlight. Light-colored roofs can lower the temperature in attics by 20 to 40 degrees.

Creating Illusions. Lighter-colored roofs tend to make houses look bigger while dark colors give an illusion of a smaller house.

Consult with Experts. Obtain actual samples of permanent colors in your house and bring them to your local supply store. Discuss with an expert your color choices for your roof before buying any material.

Acrylic is widely-used in the roofing industry today. In the 1970s, latex paint accounted for 30% to 35% of all paint sales. Today latex paint represents 80% of all coatings sold. There are concrete reasons why people prefer this type of coating to other paints. Among these are:

Desirable Qualities of Acrylic

• It is easy to apply because it flows off through the brush or roller unlike oil-based paints that are sticky.
• It emits practically no odor.
• It can also be painted over a damp surface and preferred by people living in damp places.
• Unlike oil-based paints, latex allows moisture to escape, therefore, eliminating the common problem of peeling and cracking associated with oil-based coatings when moisture escapes or attempts to escape from the surface.

Other positive qualities of acrylic coating includes:

• It is usually white in color and possesses reflective properties.
• It costs less than solvent-based paints.
• Acrylic latex paint has less tendency to fade or become yellowish compared to oil-based paint. The latter loses part of its color from chalking, which is not present with acrylic paints.
• Latex paint retains flexibility through time.
• Acrylic is preferred as coating for plaster and cement because it is not sensitive to alkali.
• Less harmful impact on the environment and is not treated as hazardous paint.
• It dries easily and has therefore reduced curing time. You can apply a second coating after only about four hours.

If you live in Atlanta, however, you have to consider other factors before using acrylic paint. Atlanta has a humid climate and abundant rainfall throughout the year. If you plan to apply acrylic paint to your Atlanta roofing, you may face minor issues with your choice of paint. Consider these:

Downsides in Using Acrylic

• The paint could run if it rains before the coating has fully dried. It cannot be applied in the rain or when precipitation is expected.
• It takes a very long time to dry under extremely high relative humidity.
• It cannot be applied in extremely cold weather because water freezes. Thus, acrylic paint cannot be used throughout the year.
• The temperature at night must be considered by the contractor and not only during the daytime. Cold temperature at night might present problems because of freezing of the coating.
• The roof temperature must also be considered and not only ambient temperature.
• It has shorter lifespan because of relatively-poorer bonding with the surface unlike oil-based paints.
• It has less resistance to abrasion.
• It requires more surface preparation and does not stick to dirty or more weathered surfaces unlike oil-based paints.

Different types of coatings are available that you can use for roof painting or restoration. Each type has its own advantages and qualities based on the type of roof that you have and its condition. When choosing a coating, select the right coating based on the roof material and conditions. Using the correct paint will extend the lifespan of your roof and provide you with long-term protection.

Conditions to Select the Right Coating

Below are some of the things that you have to consider when selecting the right type of paint or coating to apply:

• Location
• Slope
• Chemical exposure
• Roof condition
• Slope
• Ponding water
• UV exposure
• Extreme heat exposure

Acrylic Paint

One of the most common roof coatings in the market today is acrylic paint. It was first used in the 1980s over different roof materials. The coating lasts for decades, and many still exist today. Owners and managers now realize the long-term benefits of acrylic elastomeric roof coatings, which significantly prolongs the service life of the roof.

Concrete Benefits in Using Acrylic Roof Paint

These are the distinct benefits from using acrylic coatings:

• They are relatively inexpensive and generally water-based.
• Water-based acrylic paints are environmentally-friendly and easy to apply.
• They are commonly-used for cool roofs since they tend to cool down the roof because of their reflectivity or ability to reflect sunlight back instead of absorbing the heat.
• Cost-effective since they reduce energy costs because of the coating’s cooling effect.
• Prolong the lifespan of your roof because they protect it against Ultraviolet exposure.
• They have elastomeric properties and can withstand fluctuations in temperatures without the coating being negatively affected.
• The coating creates a seamless and uniform surface that retains flexibility even at abnormally low temperatures. It contracts in cold weather and expands in hot weather, thereby protecting the roof from the elements under different weather conditions.
• The adhesive elements allow the acrylic coating to adhere to the roof surface even in unusually windy and wet conditions.
• Its dirt-resistant technology ensures the coating’s preservation of energy-saving and reflective qualities and fresh, clean appearance.
• It does not result to additional weight or dead load to the roof when applied to existing structures.
• It is based on standards specified by laws that require a proper level of quality. The standards were determined based on actual performance data of acrylic roof paints gathered from several manufacturers over different types of roof materials for the past 20 years.

As with any construction work, preparation is an important step before scheduling any roof paint session. Preparation will make the job easier and safer for everyone involved.

Good Weather Condition

Weather conditions play a vital part in applying roof paint. Roof painters must not only consider the material preparation but also the time when application of coating should be made. To maximize the result of coating, weather forecasts must be fully considered.

Most paint manufacturers recommend a temperature of at least 40 degrees at the time of paint application. They also suggest that paint products be stored in a warm, dry place with room temperature prior to application.

Painting on the roof is best done during spring or fall when the weather is not too cold or very hot. Latex paint could dry quickly and result to brush marks when applied in hot weather, while painting in cold weather could result to failure of the paint to stick well to the surface.

Two-Day Clear Weather

To give the paint sufficient time to cure, a clear weather forecast or no expectation of rain within 24 to 48 hours from coating is recommended. Problems may arise if the surface temperature of the roof is greater than the ambient temperature at the time of application.

Roofers must take into consideration these factors before applying paints—curing time, water ponding and the weather during and after application. Giving the coating sufficient time to cure is important, especially for the base product that is applied on top of the primer.

People generally disregard the cold weather when applying paints. They look at the high temperature for the day but not the actual temperature at the time of application or the substrate’s temperature. They should also take into consideration the low temperature the night before the application is made, as well as the maximum temperature during the day the coating is to be applied.

Time of the Season

Aside from the immediate weather condition, the time of the season when the coating is to be applied must also be considered. This observation is important when selecting the type of coating to be applied. Water-based paints demand longer curing or drying time. During fall and winter, you have reduced time to apply water-based paints because the sun comes out later and sets earlier than at other times of the year.

As to wind factor, this is taken into consideration only during the actual application when the probability of paint particles being carried by the wind to neighboring places is higher.

While you cannot spray-paint coatings at any time of the year, the paint will generally perform well under different conditions—heat, snow, hail or rain—when it was applied properly and left to cure at the appropriate curing time.

We outlined in very simple steps the process of painting your San Diego roofing to make the job easier and more convenient.

Step 1—Choosing Your Paint

Various roofing materials require different types of paint. You can select from a wide variety of paints depending on your roof and budget. Water-based paint is suited for cement tiled roofs while the oil-based paint is great for metal roofs. Calculate the area of your roof and buy enough paint to apply at least two coats.

Step 2—Cleaning the Roof

Never immediately paint a roof without first cleaning it thoroughly. Paints do not strongly stick to the surface when the latter is ridden with dirt and grime. You will only be wasting precious time and money in repainting a poorly-done painting job.

An easy and relatively-fast way to clean the roof is through the use of a high-pressure water blaster. You must have the equipment to be able to use pressurized-water to clean the roof surface. You can borrow from friends or neighbors if you do not have one, or rent one from your local supply store.

You can also use a broom and a hose to clean the roof. You need to vigorously scrub hardened dirt on the surface or use commercially-available chemicals to soften and remove them. You can use ordinary household detergent to wash off grime and grease. Broom and water hose are good especially for roofs with smooth and flat surfaces. However, roofs with irregular shapes and designs are better cleaned off with high-pressure blaster since the water could get into all nooks and crannies that would otherwise be hard to reach with the use of a broom.

Step 3—Preparing to Paint

After cleaning the roof of dirt, you should now be looking for damaged or broken portion of the roof. For metal roofs, look for worn or rusty areas. Use wire brush to remove and loosen the rust. Next use an electric sander with coarse grade sandpaper and go over the brushed areas. For tiles and shingles, look for any cracked materials and replace them with new ones.

Step 4—Panting the Roof

Airless spraying is a relatively easy way to paint roofs. Do one section at a time. Spray paint an area about a meter wide and work your way down. You can use markings on the roof as guides. Once you finished down a particular section, go to the next one starting from the top. You can also use rollers and brush in painting your roof but it will take you a longer time to finish painting.

Roofs are integral components of every house. They not only protect the integrity of the whole structure but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the house. Many owners, however, fail to notice them until a problem crops up such as leaks.

The traditional reasons people choose a particular roof are its durability, affordability and appearance. However, in some areas a fourth element should also be considered in choosing roof paint color—the attraction of pests.

Pests can negatively impinge the way you use and enjoy your property. They may also affect the integrity of your house. While different kinds of roofing materials are available in the market, the colors that you choose for your roof could deter any potential pest infestation. Of course, since each insect has its own unique behavior and affinity to colors and shades, you have to adjust your roof colors depending on your local pest problem.

Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps are by nature attracted to brightly-colored flowers. The brighter the flower, the more bees and wasps are attracted to them. However, they tend to ignore light colors and pale shades. A research in China on a specific wasp species shows that yellow or green traps are the most effective. This study confirms earlier thinking that bright colors attract bees and wasps. If you are having bees and wasps problems at home, change your roof color to light or pale shades.

Whiteflies, Aphids and Scales

Whiteflies, aphids, scales and other insects locate plants through visual cues, including colors. They gravitate toward any source, such as plants, giving off the brightest light. Yellow is a major component of light reflected from plants. Studies reveal that objects reflecting light in the 500 to 600 nm range are attractive to insects. If you find your home attracting these types of pests, simply remove the yellow color of your roof for some other colors.

House Flies

House flies are attracted to near-ultraviolet light and blue light. On the other hand, UV-reflecting surfaces or those with green-yellow reflectivity repel them. If your pest problem consists of house flies, paint your roof green-yellow to repel them or coat them with UV-reflecting materials. Unfortunately, while yellow repels house flies, bees and wasps are attracted to it.

Experienced hikers believe biting insects are attracted to dark colors such as black and blue. This confirms tests that wasps and bees interpret dark colors as natural predators and are more inclined to attack. Painting your roof black does not appear to be a good idea insofar as repelling pests is concerned.

To maximize protection of walls and other outer surfaces of structures, owners usually use elastomeric paint as their first coating option. There are distinct advantages in using elastomeric coatings. However, improper use and application of this versatile protective product may produce inferior protection against the elements.

Consider these advantages and disadvantages when using elastomeric paint:

Advantages

1. Waterproof

They are among the best coatings used for stucco, poured concrete and masonry surfaces because of their waterproofing properties. You are assured that your house is protected from the rain and water damage from properly-applied elastomeric coatings.

2. Thickness

Elastomeric paint is at least 10 times thicker than conventional paints. It attains greater dry film thickness (DFT) than ordinary paints at 10 to 20 mils per coat against 2 to 3 mils for paints. The extra thickness translates to added protection to wall surfaces.

3. Flexible

Elastomerics can stretch and fill small gaps in the wall. They are also very tolerant to small substrate movements. They can serve as flexible coatings between cracks. They can also adopt to expansion and contraction of walls during cold and warm weathers.

4. Durable

A single attractive feature of this product is its durability. Manufacturers, in fact, give up to 10-year warranty for elastomeric coatings compared to the usual 2-year warranty for ordinary paints.

5. Watertight

Its waterproof quality is another reason why owners use this product for their buildings. A direct and positive effect of this is the prevention of shortened and expensive reroofing.

Disadvantages

1. May Produce Lumps

Wrong application will result to lumpy and ugly texture. To remedy, apply multiple coatings instead of just one.

2. Vague Product Description

Some products do not specify the required coatings. A good description must specify the dry film thickness (DFT) and the number of coats required.

3. Requires Experience

Viscosity of elastomeric coatings is different from conventional paints. Inexperienced painters may inadvertently thin and weaken the coating. Water thinning is not recommended because it is difficult to gauge compared to a solvent. Ratio should be 60 to 100 square feet coverage per gallon to achieve ideal thickness.

4. Higher Cost

They are more expensive than ordinary paints.

5. Non-Penetrating

Elastomerics do not penetrate the substrate surface. Larger cracks must be repaired before application of the coating. Be sure to remove dust and dirt before application otherwise adhesion may be affected.

6. Need for Backroll

Backrolling is required after spray coating and before the next application of elastomerics. Most painters do not do this unless specified in the project.