How to paint slate on the roof of the house with your own
In the old days in Russia more than half of private houses are covered with slate roofs. He maintained his hegemony for a long time, until the construction market opened for new materials with a more spectacular appearance, a variety of mounting methods and better performance characteristics. Now the share of slate roofs has decreased significantly, however, experienced builders advise not to discard this practical material from the accounts, because it gives odds to the most modern types of roofing on cheapness, durability and reliability. The only problem that forces you to abandon this finishing option is an inexpressive appearance. Fortunately, there is a simple and not expensive solution - painting slate with a special compound.
Coloring tasks
Flat and wavy slate is a fairly common roofing material, the gray color of which eventually becomes boring to homeowners. Skilled craftsmen do not see the reason to refuse installation, if the reason is only in a colorless color, because slate paint easily solves this problem. Paint the slate roof is, because:
- The paint layer is an additional binder for asbestos dust, which is considered harmful to human health. With it, you can make slate safer material for finishing roofs and facades.
- Paint on slate when applied fills micro cracks and pores on the slate surface, enhancing the waterproofing of the roof covering.
- Painting slate solves the problem of overgrowing roof slopes with moss, faced by everyone who decided on a slate roof. With its help, you can eliminate the fungus and pests that live on the porous surface of this material.
- Painted slate looks much more spectacular than ordinary gray. With the help of painting you can make a roof of any color that matches the color of the house. Moreover, paint for slate makes this material more glossy, shiny.
Important! The best time to give the roof the color to cover which was used flat or wavy slate, the desired color - before installation. However, this in real life is extremely rare. Most homeowners think about how to improve or update the roof in 5-7 years after construction.
Preparing for staining
The preparatory stage of staining is perhaps the most important in the whole process. How the surface is prepared depends on the durability and quality of the coating. Therefore, the preparation of slate should be treated with attention, carefully observing the technology. Before you paint the slate, if it is in use, you need to take care of cleaning its surface. This task can be performed in three ways:
- Clean the slate roof with a metal brush. To remove dust, dirt, and moss from the surface, you should work with your hands thoroughly, cleaning off all that is unnecessary. These manipulations will be performed only in dry weather, so as not to damage the roof, which, when wet, becomes more fragile. This method of surface preparation takes a lot of time and effort, but is good because it does not require a special tool.
- You can use for cleaning the surface of the slate grinder with a special grinding nozzle. The difficulty of this method is to work without strong pressure, so as not to damage the roof. The use of the grinder does not speed up the preparation process, but cleans the roof covering more qualitatively and thoroughly.
- The fastest and easiest way to remove pollution is to use a sink, a jet of water under high pressure. For work, you can take devices that produce water at a pressure of 200-250 atmospheres. The pressure of a smaller force will not clear the slate, and the greater will break the sheets. The roof area of 100 square meters with a powerful car wash can be processed in 1-2 days.
Important! All work on cleaning the slate is carried out in protective ammunition, since asbestos dust released in the process is dangerous to the respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Be sure to use wet respirators, protective masks on the eyes and clothing. To reduce dusting, you can moisten with water from a spray bottle and do work outdoors.
Protective covering
After removing the top layer of slate during cleaning, the surface of the slate looks clean. But in the rough structure of this material live parasites and fungus, eventually destroying it. Therefore, before dyeing slate, you should create a protective coating that prolongs the life of the roofing material:
- First of all, the surface of the slate is treated with an antiseptic composition of deep penetration. They are necessary to stop the expansion of fungus and pests. The treatment is carried out with a wide brush, roller or sprinkler. If necessary, several layers of antiseptic are applied to the slate to provide better protection. After completion of the work, the composition is given time to soak and dry.
- The following measures to protect the roof - applying a water-repellent composition. The fact is that for the porous structure of slate is no more dangerous enemy than moisture. That it is the most likely cause of premature damage to the material of the roof.
- After the antiseptic and water-repellent coating dries, a primer is applied to the flat or wavy slate. Deep penetrating primer evens the surface, smoothes roughness, fills microcracks. With the help of a primer it is easier to paint slate with your own hands, the paint falls more evenly and consumes more slowly.
Note! Do-it-yourself painting of slate, starting with a high-quality surface preparation, gives an unsurpassed result. Measures for cleaning, disinfecting and priming the roof will make the coating saturated, uniform and durable. In the process of applying do not forget to handle cuts and edges of the material.
Used paints
Whether the paint for slate does it yourself for the benefit of the roofing depends on the correct composition. Experienced craftsmen advise to use paint products that are resistant to temperature extremes, moisture and ultraviolet rays. The most successful options include:
- Polymer enamel. Enamel paints dry quickly, are well absorbed, form a glossy film on the slate. It is applied in 2 layers, while the average consumption is 190-200 grams per square meter of roofing. Enamel is inexpensive, but is inferior in frost resistance to acrylic analogues and ignites.
- Acrylic paint. Acrylic coatings used for painting the slate roof, applied in 2-3 layers, they have a high degree of adhesion, dry for an hour. Paint based on acrylic does not burn, does not emit an unpleasant smell when applied, its consumption is 200-300 grams per square meter. The complexity of the work is that it has a liquid consistency, which is why you can get it done on painted stains.
- Rubber paint. The coating on a bitumen base is elastic, durable, resistant to temperature extremes. It dries quickly enough, it takes 1-2 hours. Rubber paint does not burn, it is harmless to people and plants. Builders recommend using this type of paint for materials that require enhanced protection against moisture. With it, the roof becomes more frost-resistant, wear-resistant.
Important! In order to obtain a durable coating, work on its application is carried out in the warm season, at a temperature of +5 - +20 degrees, in dry weather. The main condition for the quality of painting is to meet the deadlines for drying and the recommended number of paint layers.
With a little effort, with minimal financial investment can turn a gray, dull roof into an architectural masterpiece. Properly chosen color and dyeing of slate work wonders, making it an ideal material for blood.