How-To Flat and Mobile Home Roof Coatings:

What Coating Should Be Used?

Many people are familiar with silver coat liquid metal roof coating for mobile home roof overs. This material is hard to work with, messy, and has a tendency to crack after a few changes of season. Today there is a much better product to use on your trailer roof that provides a long-lasting and money saving solution for that leaking mobile home roof. Elastomeric acrylic coating is a very flexible product and does not crack like silver coatings. With its white color, you also benefit from its reflectivity that helps to save money during the summer months.

If you are the do-it-yourself mobile home repair type person and do this work yourself, you can complete most mobile home roofs for under $500.00, depending on what brand you choose to use.

Tools Needed

One of the best reasons to use elastomeric cool coating for mobile home roof overs is that you don’t need any special tools, other than the pressure washer that you can rent for little cost in most areas. This is what you will need to apply this roof coating:

1. Garden Hose
2. Pressure Washer
3. 4″ Paint Brush
4. 1/2 Nap Roller
5. Utility Knife

That’s all you need, so let’s get started!

Cleaning The Roof

The first and most important step in the process is to thoroughly clean the roof. The best way to do this is to use a pressure washer if you are able to rent one. If you do not have access to a pressure washer you can simply use a garden hose if you also use a stiff bristle push-broom to scrub the roof. In either case, do not use soaps or other cleaning solvents, as they could leave a film that will prevent the roof coating from adhering. Simply use plane water. After the roof has been thoroughly cleaned, allow plenty of drying time before moving on.

Apply Flashing Grade Coating

After the roof has completely dried you are ready for the next step. Some brands of Elastomeric acrylic coating offer different grades of material for different purposes. Mule-hide sells the best coating and offers several options in material, including a standing water grade for ponding areas, and a premium flashing grade. Most brands that are sold at local home centers do not offer flashing grade, and the ones that do, are not of the quality of Mule-Hide.

All you have to do to apply the flashing grade is take your 4″ paint brush and apply a generous coat of material along all the roof seams, along the roof gutter that runs around the edge of the mobile home roof, and, around all stacks and vents.This can be accomplished in under two hours on most mobile homes.

Once completed, it is best to allow a full day for the material to dry before moving on. On a hot summer day however, the coating will dry much faster and you may be able to move on to the next step on the same day.

Apply First Coat

If you have ever used a roller to paint, you will have no problem applying this roof coating. It’s just like regular painting only you’re painting your roof! Be sure not to apply too much product as this will result in bubbling and peeling. A nice even coat will be just fine for the first coat.

Repeat Flashing Grade

For best results I recommend applying another coat of flashing grade on all the seams and stacks. These are the problem areas on a mobile home roof, so taking the time to give these areas another coat is well worth it.

Final Coating

Once all the seams are dry just break out your roller one more time and apply another coat to the entire roof area. With two coats you are sure to enjoy years of dry mobile home living!

A few Reasons why I recommend Mule-Hide professional grade coatings:

* Applicators trust Mule-Hide professional grade coatings for long-term performance and ease of application without the use of fabrics.
* Easy step-by-step application process lets crews finish jobs in record time, water based for simple cleanup.
* VOC compliant with excellent reflectivity and emissivity.
* Truly “elastomeric” – many products (paints, aluminum coatings) are being sold as elastomerics even though they don’t actually have the properties of a high performance elastomeric coating.
* Standard System Warranties and Membrane-Only Material Warranties.

Video: Elastomeric Roof Coating featured on This Old House

Flat Roof Coatings

For roof repair in south west Chicago, skylight leak repair, chimney leak repair. Chicago roof repair specialist.

Out of sight out of mind

Question: “My roof is only seven to ten years old and has a twenty year warranty. It’s not leaking, so why not leave it alone until I have to do something?”

Few people would purchase a new car and not change the oil until the motor starts clacking. Unfortunately, because the roof is “out of sight,” we tend not to give it much thought until there is a problem. Many of the roofs that I repair are under three years old, and leaking because of the extreme weather conditions in Chicago, combined with less than professional workmanship. Few homeowners ever see their flat roof. A full roof inspection that includes photographs, combined with proper upkeep and repairs, solves the mystery and saves you money.

Flat Roofing Systems

Most low slope or flat roofing systems in the Chicago area should receive maintenance at least every other year for several reasons. First, in most cases, this is a requirement for extended 10 and 20 year manufacture warranties. Second, you save money over the long term by extending the life of the roofing system to its maximum potential. Third, by preforming regular roof maintenance you prevent unnecessary and more costly repairs in the future (such as the expense of repairs to the interior of the home caused by water damage), not to mention the general aggravation and displeased tenants.

If your flat roof is more than five years old, it’s a good idea to have an inspection and appropriate degree of restoration performed.

A few of the most common flat and low sloped roofing problems:

1. Ice dam at roof end caused by frozen gutters causing back flow down the interior wall

2. Cracks along the transition from roof deck to parapet wall, especially in corners

3. Leaking around vent stacks and penetrations caused by worn boots, excessive cracks in roof membrane, and/or faulty seams

4. Loose or displaced chimney and/or wall flashing

5. Fishmouths, buckles, holes, tears and or cracks in roof membrane

6. Open seams

7. Skylight leaks

Don’t let this happen to you!

Chicago shingle roofing systems

The same applies for residential shingle roofing systems. By performing regular maintenance you can extend the life of your roof. In these tough economic times, repair and maintenance can put off the expense of complete replacement until better economic times.

These are some of the most common shingle roofing problems:

1. Dormer and other wall flashing failure

2. Valley leaks

3. Leaking around stacks, other penetrations and vents

4. Skylight flashing failure (normally caused by improper installation)

5. Chimney flashing failure

6. Deteriorated shingles

Contact me for all the details on my maintenance programs, repair services, and roof inspections.

Flat Roof Repair: Mule-Hide Elastomeric Acrylic “Cool Coating” Review

One of the best ways to protect and extend the life of your flat roof is to apply a coating every five to eight years. You can purchase elastomeric coatings at many home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot for under $100.00 for a five gallon bucket.

When I was repairing flat roofs I would use Mule-Hide Elastomeric Acrylic Coating even though it was more expensive than the brands for sale at local home centers. Mule-Hide coating has the elasticity and durability to stand up to Chicago’s weather.

If you place each product side by side, you will see the difference in the thickness between other brands, and Mule-Hide right away. Spending a little money on flat roof maintenance will help in extending the life of your roof, and will actually save money in the long run.

Elastomeric Coating provides a fantastic roofing solution for strapped budgets. This is a “go green” friendly roofing system and cuts cooling costs in the summer – thus saving you money on cooling bills, and helping the environment.

Mule-Hide Elastomeric Acrylic Flat Roof Coating Can Be Purchased at Your Local ABC Supply
A few reasons to consider using this roofing system:

• Extend the life of a low-slope roof 2 to 8 years
  If you’re looking for an Energy Star “Cool Roof” solution
  Less weight than other roof-over materials
  Lower installation and material cost
  Save on cooling bills

Here I’m quoted in the Chicago Tribune:

Rooftop snow poses danger

Chuck Jines, a former Chicago roofer, said the problems from snow damage have worsened over the years because so many recent homes have improperly built roofs. The vast majority of new roofs, flat or otherwise, are not sealed the right way, he said, creating small crevices allowing water to seep in. When it freezes, he said, it expands and breaks the seams.

In the worst-case scenario, “the water pours into these people’s houses and they need to get it rebuilt,” Jines said.

Chuck,
Please share this letter as a testimonial to anyone looking for a dependable, professional roofing specialist.
Chuck Jines is my “go to” guy. The first one I call, and the only one I’ll ever work with again. Over the past 20 years I’ve owned a number of single family homes in different communities around Chicago, so I’ve evaluated and worked with a number of roofers from large, long-standing & well-known firms to the “little guys.” Chuck is head and shoulders above any person or firm I’ve ever worked with before.
Knowledgeable, ethical, professional, trustworthy, courteous, and affordable. What more can I say? He’s diagnosed and solved roof and chimney leak problems on my current home that 2 other renowned professional firms overlooked. The repair costs were a fraction of what the other company’s suggested solutions were. In each repair, he goes the extra mile to solve the problem creatively and in a timely fashion. In one case, he even consulted with me on how to work with a previous contractor to correct warranty work, making calls and doing research and sharing his knowledge for no charge. In another, he drove to pick up my custom paint color, took lumber home to get pre-cut it and paint it — to speed up the repair and get a jump on the weather. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Lydia W., Lombard, IL
Southwest Chicago Chimney, skylight, and roof leak repair

For roof repair in south west Chicago, skylight leak repair, chimney leak repair. Chicago roof repair specialist. Call today at 708-574-8052, 0r email @ jinesroofing@gmail.com

I offer total flashing system replacement on chimneys and skylights. Chimneys are a problem area that often require new flashing rather than just a tar patch to provide a long-lasting solution to chimney leaks.

My flashing systems are of the highest quality. All chimney, skylight and wall flashing systems are custom made on site with several choices of metal and color. I offer chimney leak repair including tuck pointing, as well as skylight and other flashing repair.