Metal roof rusting is a nightmare, but one that you can possibly reverse and improve for any Denver CO home. Despite the best care of reliable and service-oriented Denver CO roofing professionals during regular maintenance, your metal roof might still oxidize and undergo corrosion without your knowledge. However, it doesn't mean you need to replace your roof completely once this happens.
When you experience metal roof rusting, you have a roof that has had direct contact with water. Water contains oxygen. In turn, it oxidizes the metal roof material and causes rusting. However, moist air has a role in introducing metal roof rusting too. Thought Co has a great explanation on how metal rusting happens.
The Chemical Reaction That Forms Rust
Although rust is considered the result of an oxidation reaction, it's worth noting not all iron oxides are rust. Rust forms when oxygen reacts with iron but simply putting iron and oxygen together isn't sufficient. Although about 20 percent of air consists of oxygen, rusting doesn't occur in dry air. It occurs in moist air and in water. Rust requires three chemicals to form: iron, oxygen, and water.iron + water + oxygen → hydrated iron(III) oxide
This is an example of an electrochemical reaction and corrosion. Two distinct electrochemical reactions occur: (Continued)
This technical issue is something Denver CO homeowners will always face. However, ways to prevent or slow down the accelerated rusting do exist. Some of them are quite expensive while some of them are just your typical regular monthly maintenance.
Galvanized and galvalumed steel dips rust-prone steel into melted zinc (galvanized) or aluminum (galvalumed). These two melted metals have high corrosion resistance compared to other roofing materials but can be quite expensive to use solely as metal roofs. Metal Supermarkets have listed the best ways homeowners can reduce metal roof rusting below.
How to Prevent Rust?
Exposure to outdoor conditions will increase the risk of rust, especially if the climate is rainy or humid. The best ways to prevent rust include:
- Using rust resistant alloys
- Design considerations
- Galvanization
- Bluing
- Organic coating
- Powder coating
- Regular maintenance
- Using Rust Resistant Alloys
The most popular rust resistant alloys are stainless steel and weathering steel.Stainless steel contains a minimum of 11% chromium. This allows the formation of a protective film of chromium oxide which acts as a shield against rust. The protective film will re-form if damaged. Corrosion resistance can be further enhanced with the addition of nickel.
Weathering steel, also known as “COR-TEN” steel, contains up to 21% of alloying elements such as chromium, copper, nickel and phosphorous. The alloys form a protective rust patina which reduces the corrosion rate with time. COR TEN steel tends to be cheaper than stainless steel. (Continued)
But what if your roof has already gone and rusted up beyond your belief? What can you do to a roof that has already corroded and seems beyond repair? An alternative to replacing your entire roof is to have it painted with revitalizing metal roof coating. However, you'll need to hire professionals to smoothen the rust out of your old roof and painters that can coat your roof with elastomeric or acrylic coating to help revitalize it.
You can definitely do DIY on both of these tasks. However, you may need to invest multiple weekends to accomplish it. Networx's post discusses how you can keep the rust from returning to your metal roofs below.
Keep the Rust from Returning
Of course, you will probably just have a rusty metal roof again in a few months if you don’t coat the metal. Again, you have the option of painting the roof yourself or having a contractor paint the roof or add a specialized coating.
If you opt for a DIY paint job, wash and rinse the roof thoroughly and let it dry. Start painting with a zinc primer, which can help prevent metal roof rust. Specialized metal roof paints are available for the top coat. Still, you may need to repaint the roof every few years to prevent the revenge of the metal roof rust.
The other option is an acrylic coating. Most of these coatings leave a metallic finish, but they will successfully block out metal roof rust for up to 10 years. (Continued)
Remember, metal roof coatings can only extend your roof lifespan for so long. In case smoothening the rust has decreased your metal roof's density and integrity, it may be the right time to have proper roof replacement.
You won't need to spend so much when you're working with Roper Roofing. We can give you a quote as soon as you call us to help you budget early. You can then decide to make use of our professional services once you've had a firm grasp on the figures you'll need. Contact us today to know more.
