The roof of your home is one of the first lines of defense against the elements. Keeping your roof in great condition is essential to your home’s overall safety and appearance.
If you own a home with metal roofing, then you know how detrimental rust can be to your home’s aesthetics and protection. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent metal roofing rust.
Here’s a simple list of 3 basic ways to prevent metal roofing rust and perform basic roof maintenance.
1. Galvanize Your Metal Roof
Galvanizing your metal roof is one of the best ways to not only prevent rusting but to enhance your metal roof’s durability. When you galvanize your roof, it adds a layer of protection against rain and weather that could potentially seep into your home and eventually cause rust.
Galvanizing is done when you apply a layer of liquified zinc to the metal of your roof. For best results and to ensure a complete job, hire a professional.
Professional roofers have more experience covering a metal roof with liquified zinc, so you’re sure not to have any areas left uncovered and exposed to potential rusting.
Not to mention, with the popularity of the farmhouse design, galvanized anything is “in.”
2. Use an Elastomeric Coating
In its most basic form, elastomeric coatings are simply acrylic seals that can be applied to metal roofs. They form an additional barrier between the metal and weather that helps protect your roof from wear and rust.
One of the perks of elastomeric coatings is they come in various colors, so you can match your roof to the exterior of your home.
A single layer or coat of elastomeric coating to your metal roof can protect your home from rust for up to 5 years. This makes elastomeric coating not only effective but also one of the more cost-efficient ways of protecting your metal roof from rusting.
3. Paint Your Metal Roof
If your roof has already developed any amount of rust, use a wire brush, power-hose, and detergent to clear all rust and debris from your roof before applying paint. Once the rust is gone and the roof is cleaned, apply a layer of paint that contains a high zinc content.
Again, zinc works well at protecting the metal from weather and moisture that can cause rusting. Adding a layer of paint to your roof is a great way to keep it from rusting and a fun way to update the exterior of your home.
Metal Roofing Rust: More Ways to Protect Your Roof
At the end of the day, the best way to prevent metal roofing rust is to hire a professional roofer to do the job for you. Whichever method you choose, be it painting, galvanizing, or using an elastomeric coating, hiring a professional means you can rest assured that your entire roof is thoroughly protected and the job is done correctly.
For more roofing tips and help understanding how professional roof repairs work, read our post on DIY versus professional roofing repairs.