Paint for slate - how to choose the right composition and apply it correctly

If the appearance of the old roof leaves much to be desired, then it is not at all necessary to change the coating completely. Slate paint can transform a finish, and in this review, we'll look at how to choose the best option and apply it correctly.

Stages of work

To make it easier for you to understand the technology of painting roofing material, I will break the process into several separate stages and describe them in the order they are carried out:

• The choice of paint for slate;
• Acquisition of all necessary materials and tools;
• Surface preparation;
• Processing of material for painting;
• Roof painting.

If you understand the process well, then the work will not cause difficulties and you are guaranteed to achieve an excellent result.

Stage 1 - paint selection

To begin with, let's figure out what types of compositions are on the market, and for convenience, information about them is presented in the form of a table.

Composition type	Peculiarities
Acrylic paints	Acrylic paint is one of the most popular options today. Compositions of this type are distinguished by durability, elasticity and long-term color retention. The price per liter of the composition varies from 220 to 250 rubles. There are a lot of brands, it is better to choose products from well-known companies, for example, Eter akva - an excellent composition of Scandinavian origin
Quick drying enamels	They are made on the basis of natural or synthetic resins. They are distinguished by the creation of a smooth surface from which water rolls perfectly. The main disadvantages are low abrasion resistance and demanding surface preparation. As for the cost, it ranges from 200 to 300 rubles.
Polymer based formulations	The second name of the products of this group is liquid plastic. As for this option, it has high performance properties, but when compared with acrylic paints, it is inferior in almost all respects.The compositions are quite caustic, so you need to work with the use of protective equipment. Price per liter - 160-200 rubles

It's up to you to decide how to paint the slate roof, but personally I recommend acrylic-based formulations. They have proven themselves best both in operation and in operation.

Stage 2 - collecting the necessary materials and tools

For painting slate, in addition to the decorative coating itself, other materials are needed:

• Deep penetrating primer. It is best to choose special options for absorbent substrates. The choice is quite large, but I use Ceresit ST17, this composition has proven itself well when preparing slate for painting;

• An antiseptic is needed to treat the surface and destroy the spores of the fungus and lichens, which are often clogged in the pores of the old slate. Also, this composition will increase the resistance of the surface to the development of moss in the future. Choose hard-to-wash options suitable for outdoor use.

Now let's figure out what tool you need when doing the work yourself:

• To clean the surface, it is best to use a pressure washer, with its help you can do the job quickly and efficiently. The second option is a grinder with a wire disc, it also allows you to perform well cleaning. If there is no power tool, then you can get by with a manual brush for metal, this is the most tedious way of doing work, which takes a lot of time;

• Paint is best applied with a brush-brush. It allows you to distribute the paint evenly over the entire surface. If you have a spray gun, then you can use it;

• If you clean with a grinder, then a cloud of asbestos dust will form around. In order not to breathe this harmful substance, be sure to purchase protective equipment: a respirator and goggles;

• If the roof slopes of your house are very steep and it is unsafe to move along them, then you need to prepare a ladder for work. The easiest way is to assemble it yourself. The design is almost the same as the classic version, only in the upper part is the attachment point for the ridge. The figure below shows the design very clearly;

Stage 3 - surface preparation

When everything you need is at hand, you can start cleaning the roof from dirt and lichen. The surface of the slate is very porous, so preparation is indispensable.

Work can be done in three ways:

• The most time-consuming option is to use a manual brush on metal. In this case, you need to work out the entire surface, removing plaque and dirt from it. This is a difficult job that takes a lot of time and effort, it can take 1-2 weeks to complete the roof of an average house. I advise this type of preparation only if there is no other way out or you need to clean a small roof;

• The second option is to use a grinder or an electric drill with a metal brush. In this case, the work will be much faster, but it will still take a lot of time. In addition, a lot of dust will be generated during cleaning;
• The best solution is to use a pressure washer. With its help, you quickly and efficiently remove all plaque from the surface.. The work is very simple: you wash off everything superfluous from the surface with a jet and move along the roof as the slate is cleaned. An ordinary house will take you a day at most, and you will practically not get tired, and you will not breathe asbestos dust.

When using a mini-sink, the pressure should not exceed 250 atmospheres so as not to spoil the roofing material.

Stage 4 - preparing the surface for paint

After cleaning the surface, you need to wait for it to dry completely (if a sink was used). You should also sweep away the remaining dust, if any.

The workflow consists of the following steps:

• First of all, an antiseptic solution is prepared. The package has all the data, if you suddenly have a concentrate, then you will need to dilute it with warm water. The application is made from top to bottom, try to saturate all areas well and not miss a single centimeter. Work should be carried out only in dry weather (like all preparatory activities);

• The primer is applied with a brush or sprayer, it is also important to completely treat the surface in order to fill most of the pores and thereby strengthen the slate. If you are working with a spray gun, then apply the composition to the area so that the surface becomes wet, then move on. Due to the high absorbent properties, the consumption of the composition for the first layer can be twice the norm;

• After the first layer dries, the second layer is applied. There is one little trick here: in order to improve the quality of staining later, a pigment of the same shade as slate paint can be added to the composition. Then the surface will immediately be tinted and subsequently the appearance will be perfect.

Stage 5 - applying paint

The final layer of our finish is paint, the work is quite simple:

• First of all, the composition is prepared for use. To begin with, it must be thoroughly mixed, if the consistency is too thick, then no more than 10% pure water can be added;

Only paint from one batch should be used, this will eliminate the difference in tones on the roof. If the compositions are from different batches, then before use it is better to mix them in one container for a uniform shade.

• To check if the paint is going well, it is best to test it on a piece of slate. This will prevent unpleasant surprises later. Paint a small piece of material and leave it to dry completely;

• The paint on the slate is applied with a brush-brush or spray gun from top to bottom. The first layer must be applied so that the entire surface is covered.Usually, 2/3 of the entire paint goes to this stage, since it is absorbed quite strongly and fills all the bumps that are on the slate;

• Pay special attention to the ends of the sheets, joints and other hard-to-reach areas. It is advisable to remove the ridge and wind elements in order to process the surface and under them. This will ensure the best quality of work.;

• After about a day, you can start applying the second layer. It usually lays down much better and more evenly. This stage allows you to even out the shade and eliminate minor flaws that inevitably form during the first staining. In addition, we make the protective layer thicker.

If you decide to paint a new slate, then it is better to do it even before fixing it, in this case you will achieve the perfect quality of processing.

The service life of painted surfaces is from 10 to 20 years, so we can say that the treatment gives a second life to the roof.

Conclusion

After reading this review, you will understand which slate paint is best suited and how to properly organize the workflow for applying it. The video in this article will show the process visually and help you better understand some of the nuances. If you have any questions - write them in the comments below.

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