The choice of various roofing materials today is extremely rich. But many developers remain true to the inexpensive and proven option - slate roofing. Slate paint will help to give this gray material a more attractive look and improve the performance of the roof.
Why do homeowners choose slate for roofing when there are such beautiful materials as, for example, metal tiles or soft tiles? As a rule, the main reason for this choice is the economic aspect.
After all slate - This is an inexpensive material that allows you to create a fairly high-quality coating. In addition, there are people who do not like to break traditions, so they choose slate as a material that has a well-deserved reputation.
Advantages and disadvantages of slate
The advantages of this material include:
- Simplicity of process of installation and repair;
- Very high level of water resistance;
- Ability to withstand severe frosts;
- Low ability to conduct heat;
- Resistance to various atmospheric influences;
- Sufficiently long service life;
- Lack of ability to sustain combustion;
- Flexibility in processing.
The disadvantages of this material:
- Unattractive appearance. A gray boring roof gives aesthetic pleasure to few people.
- Loss of water resistance over time, under the influence of water, the coating begins to swell, and its edges crumble.
- On the north side of the building, the slate is often covered with moss.
- Danger from an environmental point of view. Slate emits asbestos dust, which can be harmful to health
Almost all of the listed disadvantages of this roofing material can be eliminated and compensated for by using an addition such as slate paint.
The presence of a layer of paint not only gives the roof a more attractive appearance, but also creates a protective film that increases the hydrophobic properties of the slate, increases its strength and eliminates the formation of harmful dust.
Where is slate used?
On the market there are various options for roofing material that has a wavy shape of sheets. But only asbestos-cement slabs are classic slate.
Modern manufacturers produce material in the form of plates, sheets and panels.Previously, such a type of material as slate tiles was produced, but due to the inconvenience of its use, today the release of this form has been discontinued.
Indeed, the use of large-sized material greatly facilitates slate installation and shorten its time.
Wavy and flat slate today is used not only for roofing, but also for other purposes, for example:
- For exterior decoration of buildings;
- Creation of balcony railings;
- For various small buildings in the garden - aviaries, composters, fences, toilets, etc.
To increase the service life of these buildings and make them more attractive externally, slate paint is used. Staining helps to solve the problem of "dusting" of slate, as a result of which particles of harmful substances enter the air.
What paints are suitable for slate?
Materials for painting slate are produced by both foreign and domestic manufacturers. Construction stores offer a fairly large assortment of special paints, so the problem of how to paint slate can be solved quickly enough.
Among the most popular imported paints:
- Kilpi (Finland) - acrylic paint, which can be used to paint not only slate, but also other roofing materials.
- Eter Akva (Finnish-Swedish co-production). Alkali-resistant, water-soluble paint based on modified acrylate. Recommended for painting slate and concrete.
- Polifarb - Akrofarb (made in Poland). . The paint based on acrylic dispersion has a short drying time.
- Dachbeschichtung (produced in Germany). The paint is suitable for painting natural tiles and slates. It has a high degree of adhesion and allows you to create durable coatings.
And how can you paint slate if you choose products manufactured in the CIS countries?
- Acrylama-Slate (production Ukraine) - acrylic water-dispersion paint for slate coatings.
- Butanite (Production "Mostermosteklo"). Paint based on a composition of latexes with mineral and silicon additives. The coating created with this paint is resistant to frost and weathering.
- "Unisal" (paint produced in the city of Belgorod using Slovenian technologies). The basis of this material is acrylic aqueous dispersions and high-quality pigments. Coatings are highly resistant to UV and weathering.
- Polifan (production of Kolomna). The paint is intended for painting brick, concrete and slate. Differs in resistance to external influences and is capable to keep color for a long time.
Of course, when deciding what paint to paint the slate with, one has to take into account the economic aspect. So, the most expensive paint from the list above is the Finnish Kilpi, the cost of paint to cover one meter of slate will be approximately $ 7.7.
When using Eter Akva paint, the costs will be reduced by almost two and a half times, and when choosing domestic products, the costs will be even less.
Therefore, covering the roof with slate followed by painting is one of the most profitable options for arranging the roof.
How to paint a slate roof?
So, the question of what paint to paint the slate is resolved and the material for painting is purchased. How should work be done? What is the best way to paint a roof? Let's try to figure it out.
If you plan to make repairs to the roof, then it is more convenient to paint the slate on the ground.And cover the roof with already painted sheets. It is more difficult if slate is already on the roof - we decided on what to paint, but we will have to do the work in "field" conditions.
Unpainted slate after several years of operation, it becomes covered with a darkish coating, which is formed by lichens and fungi. If you do not pay attention to this plaque, over time, the roof will be covered with black-green stains.
Moss not only spoils the appearance of the roof, but also accumulates a lot of moisture, which increases the load on the roof support structures. Therefore, the procedure during which slate paint will be applied will precede the process of cleaning and disinfection.
How can you clean the roof from plaque? There are several options here:
- On a dry surface with a conventional brush with metal bristles.
- On a moistened surface with the same brush.
- Using a drill or grinder with a nozzle in the form of a metal brush.
- Use of compact high pressure car washes.
The first three options are quite laborious, although using a drill simplifies the process somewhat. The most effective cleaning method is with a pressure washer, especially if you can use professional models of sinks.
Before slate paint is used, it is advisable to treat the roof with an antiseptic solution. This will prevent the re-colonization of fungi and lichens.
Antiseptics are sold already ready for application, as well as in the form of concentrates, which require dilution with water. Apply antiseptic with a sprayer, roller or brush.
In order for the slate paint to lay down more evenly, a primer is used that penetrates deep into the pores of the material, strengthens its surface and increases the level of adhesion of the paint to the surface.
In addition, the use of a primer reduces the amount of paint required for a quality roof covering.
As a rule, paint for painting slate is applied in two layers. The starting layer is applied after the primer has completely dried, it is the main one and at least two-thirds of the paint norm is spent on it.
After the first layer has dried, it will be possible to start applying the second layer, which is the finishing one, so it must be applied evenly. The paint can be applied with a brush or paint sprayer.
conclusions
Thus, slate paint allows not only to improve the appearance of the roof, but to create a coating that performs a protective function, increasing the life of the material.
In addition, the paint layer prevents the formation of harmful dust with asbestos particles on the roof surface.
Did the article help you?