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Removing Organic Growth from Prepainted Metal Roofing

A rolling stone gathers no moss……but your roof sure does, in addition to any number of other growing things.  Organic growth on a prepainted metal roof is an aesthetic problem that may become a more serious problem if not addressed. This blog offers a simple approach to dealing with the problem.

A roof can look like this…

…or this

These biological growths thrive on moisture and organic debris. The more water and the more debris, the greater the chance of growth. Another critical factor is the amount of shade your roof receives. A well-shaded roof prevents the evaporation of moisture, creating excellent growing conditions.

But what is this stuff? It is usually some combination of moss, algae, and lichen. Sometimes there is dark buildup that may look like dirt, but it is more likely algae growth called gloeocapsa magma, also known as blue-green algae. A similar material in the same family is cyanobacteria. The “cyano” in this bacteria refers to its blue-green color. This growth can turn very dark in color over time. Algae is an airborne plant, so it spreads relatively easily. It thrives in humid conditions because it needs heat, moisture, and nutrients to grow. 

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What is a Coil Coating Print?

Coil-coated prints are the buzzworthy shortcuts of sophisticated metal product design. From delicate veining to enchanting shimmer, this coating technique takes color and effects to new heights and depths.

We live in a colorful world filled with pattern, texture, sheen, and shimmer; with architecture and design at the forefront of social media, television, and magazines, visual inspiration is everywhere. Innovations in coil coatings have made it possible to attain almost any aesthetic on prepainted metal. Woodgrain? No problem. Brick? It’s been done. Marble? Yep, it’s viable too! Thanks to the process of coil-coated printing, all of these designs are possible.

The Look

Coil-coated printing involves layered inking to create a distinctive pattern or design, such as stone, patina, brushed metal — the list goes on. Commonly used for wall panels, roofing, and garage doors, coil-coated prints are most famously known for their building and architectural applications, but they’re also used for appliances and specialty applications like entry doors, pool liners, and metal storage shacks. As a popular alternative to substrates such as wood, stone, and natural metals, they can achieve a combination of desired aesthetics and exceptional durability.

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Pine straw build-up on prepainted metal roofing

Pine trees are ubiquitous in the U.S. They are fast-growing, adaptable to many climates, and mark the Christmas season with their beauty and the smell of pine. But there is an aggressive streak that lies within!

An issue, prevalent in but not limited to the U.S. Pacific Northwest, is the accumulation of pine needles (also called “pine straw”) on prepainted metal roofing. Although metal roofing is better than asphalt shingles when it comes to shedding leaves, twigs, pine straw, and other debris, there will be occasions when build-up occurs. See an example below:

Source: Steelscape
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Prepainted Metal Coatings: Aesthetic and Functional Properties

Prepainted metal not only offers an impeccable finish and endless color and design options, but it also offers an abundance of functional properties. Coil coated metal can be made weatherproof, corrosion resistant, UV resistant, antibacterial, and even smog-eating. It’s more than just steel or aluminum coated with paint. It is the result of multiple layers of state-of-the-art coatings chemistry plus an application process that provides durability and unique properties not possible with traditional coating methods. The following are some of the key properties of prepainted metal:

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My Plant Has a Paint Line. Is There a Better Solution?

Telltale Signs You Need to Consider Prepainted Metal

If you are a manufacturer who post-paints articles in-house, you may be wondering if there’s a better way to get the painting job done. If you are reading this as a member of the coil coating industry, and you will surely encounter manufacturers that are post-painting, for whom you wish to introduce the concept of prepainted metal, this article is also for you. Read on to learn why.

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Three Reasons Why Coil Lines Are Not Just for Painting

Manufacturers have long benefitted from the speed, precision, and non-polluting aspects of using coil coating lines to make prepainted metal panels. Some manufacturers, however, utilize a coil coater’s capability beyond the painting process. Here are three ways manufacturers benefit from using coil lines as an effective first-step operation beyond prepainting.

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Color Evaluation in the Coil Coating Industry

Quantifying the color of an object, and then measuring color difference between the object’s color and a color standard, is an important factor in assuring color consistency and acceptance. Assembling parts from various lots and production runs requires that parts have minimal—or no—color difference, so a typical observer sees nothing objectionable.

Typically, a color instrument will deliver color values represented by three color coordinates:

  • “L” value, which describes the lightness or darkness of a sample
  • “a” value, which describes the redness or greenness of a sample
  • “b” value, which describes the yellowness or blueness of a sample
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Prepainted Metal: Today’s Innovations Bring Beautiful Advantages

The old saying, “As exciting as watching paint dry” could not be further from the truth when it comes to coil coatings. First, the paint that is applied to a metal coil during the coil coating process dries (bakes, really) in just 15 to 30 seconds. A lot takes place in that short period of time: 1) the solvents evaporate (they are captured and destroyed in this environmentally friendly process), 2) the coating flows to produce a smooth surface, and 3) a chemical reaction takes place to create a cured, hard, scratch-resistant yet flexible coating. To the chemists who create this magic, it’s exciting stuff, but it’s difficult for the consumer to appreciate since the process takes place in a factory setting. What consumers can appreciate is what they see when the product reaches the marketplace. So … let’s see what’s innovative these days!

First, let’s talk about beetles. Yes, beetles. Especially the ones that have that cool iridescence. They create that effect by … well, it’s complicated!

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Can’t Take the Heat? “Cool Walls” Can Reduce Energy Costs, Pollution

A nationwide study by Berkeley Lab details benefits of lighter-colored, solar-reflective walls

As you likely know, NCCA members and their customers along the prepainted metal value chain have been supporters of “cool roofs” for 20 years. Without question, this technology effectively reduces energy consumption during the hot months of the year. So, what’s next?

“Cool walls”! Wait, what? Cool walls? Cool-roof technology is intuitive; roofs face the sun, but walls are vertical structures. How much solar energy can they possibly be exposed to? Well, you’ve come to the right place to find the answer.[i]

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