Does anyone have any suggestions on maintaining a terne/metal roof on my two porches? Total of about 300 sq ft, low pitch, old (maybe original to the 1896 house?) metal roof with slight surface rusting and small amounts of the painted-on tar left on it that I think I can get off. I think it is a soldered metal roof. The previous owner had the roofs painted with the silver tar stuff that’s often put on porch and mobile home roofs. Is that any good?
I have looked into the water based elastomeric paint-on roofing material, but am now thinking, isn’t there something like rustoleum primer or one of the rust passivators to stop the rusting, and then just a good metal paint I can put on it? The roofs do not leak, but there are three screw size holes near the front edge that I will fill (with what, solder, caulk?), that look like they are from old gutter attachments. I thought that maybe the elastomeric would be a problem for the next time it needs work, what a mess that would be to get to a solid surface. At least the tar is kind of removable/reversible.
The weather is starting to turn cold in NH, and I’m running out of time to get it done before the snow flies, but it should only take a day or two, if I can figure out what’s the best, long term way to maintain it.
Thanks in advance for any insight and solutions.
Replies
I grew up in a house that had its terne roof replaced in the 1970's. The roofer told my parents that tar-based compounds were the kiss of death to terne roofs. There is a paint made specifically for these roofs, and it is a solvent based oil paint, dull red in color, not unlike red primer in appearance.
It is important to keep the roof painted. The paint protects the tin coating, which protects the steel underneath. My mom just had the roof repainted after 35 years. Ten years ago when I inspected it, the paint was still mostly intact. Roof pitch is 1:12, so nothing is visible from the ground.
Properly maintained terne roofing lasts a very long time. The first roof lasted over a century on mom's house.
Bill
Thanks for the help Bill. I believe in keeping roofs that last a century as well. One roofer suggested putting a membrane roof on, which is fine, if the metal roof wasn't fine as it is now.
Do you happen to know what the name of the paint is, or who the mfg is?
Being porch roofs, these are only seen from the upstairs windows, so a dull red is fine. Actually better than the elastomeric that I was looking at which is white. Great for lowering heat loads, but in NH, there isn't much heat load any time of year anyway!
SAL.
Sal,I don't know the paint name, but the metal is made by Follansbee (sp?). If you can find them, you can probably find the paint, too. If they don't sell it, it is in their interest to direct you to it.BillEdit: Apparently their improved "Terne 2" metal takes different paint. Here is a link to their site: http://www.follansbeeroofing.com/products/TerneII.aspxEdit: It looks like you'll need to call them to learn about paint for their older products.Edited 11/10/2006 2:34 pm by BillBrennen
Edited 11/10/2006 2:38 pm by BillBrennen