i recently painted my aluminum roof on my pup with Elastomeric paint. I’m noticing that it gets dirty very easily. It has a dull finish to it so nothing sheds off of it. I basically barely touched it with not crazy dirty hands but it left a very clear hand print. When I tried to clean it off it did not clean up well at all. Am I missing something here. Am I supposed to put yet another coating on it like a finish or am I stuck with this? Btw it is rustolium 67% Elastomeric roof coating. Any others here experience the same?
I notice the same thing with Henry's Elastometric coating. Some yellowish stuff leaches out over a few week after painting as well. Never considered putting a glossier top coat. I'm going to research that. I keep a cover on my pup so it doesn't get too dirty.
I went ahead and painted the roof with an oil based enamel. Well I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it performs come spring. It’s getting covered for the winter after tomorrow. In the meantime it looks great and if a not a smudge on it... Yet!
I'm just looking into painting my roof to seal possible non-visible pin holes. I was looking at Henry's Dura Brite 587 Elastomeric roof coating 100% Acrylic. Is this what you used? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Henry-0...e-Elastomeric-Roof-Coating-HE587146/202091035 PIA to need to re-coat to give the roof a decent cleanable surface. Anyone use the Silicone based roof paints (Henry Tropi-Cool or Black Jack Elasto-Kool 1000)? Did they have a better cleanable surface that the OP's experience? Anyone use the Kool-Seal Elastomeric KST063-600 Acrylic? How is that surface for 'attracting and holding dirt'?
Would an Acrylic paint over the elastomeric expand and contract plenty (or better than oil based paint)?
Yes, oil tends to dry really hard and cracks more easily. Latex would flex and expand and contract more with the roof. The oil based might work if you prime well. Good luck!
The elastomeric house paint I used years ago did seem to have more of a flat finish than the regular paint I used on the north and east (less sun baked) sides of the house. But it has a green/gray hue. It'd not white and getting washed. ;o) I'd hope to find a coating that does not have the 'get dirty and not wash clean effect'. But if that is the nature of the beast and a coat of white acrylic latex gives it a cleanable semi gloss finish, that's OK. As long as it is sealed and protected.
1+year Update. So far so good with the topcoat I chose. (Rust-Oleum protective enamel. Oil based. no visible cracks and cleans up very easily. Popped up under a sapper and it came right off. (Not so easy to clean off the vinyl tops of the bunks.) It sits outside with a tarp covering it but threw 2 winters now and all looking great. A definite success as of now. (Fingers crossed )
Good news. My Henry's Tropicool (silicone based) has a glossy rubbery feeling finish that I like. The down-side is that "Silicone coated roofs can be a magnet for air-borne dust and dirt." Mine certainly does attract dirt. My guess is an electrostatic attraction, but just a guess. The dirt does not rinse right off with just water like on a dusty car. But with soap and a normal wash, it come back to it's bright white shiny appearance. Just now reading that silicone roof paint is not as strong in resisting abrasion like latex or oil based paints. I chose it more for it's rubbery sealing ability that would not crack from sun and weather. If I make any scratches or scrapes that break through, I'd need to re-coat that area. If you do not know, once you cover with Silicone based paint, that is THE ONLY paint that will stick to it going forward, so you cannot change your mind and re-coat with normal paint. ;o) You'd need to remove absolutely ALL the silicone paint to go back to normal paint. That is why so many avoid silicone paint. After having to redo my ceiling from previous owner's neglect of this Filon roof, I wanted a paint that would seal any very small holes I did not see (and fill with Dicor sealant). I am happy with how it turned out and is holding up. It has been ≈ 6 months.