Paint Color Archives | ABC Metal Roofing

Selecting & Applying Metal Roofing Touch-Up Paint

Posted on September 15, 2020May 31, 2023 by Martin Thompson

Our metal roofing panels are designed for durability, featuring a baked-on paint finish that covers the Galvalume®-coated steel surface. This helps to preserve the look and functionality of your metal roofing panels for decades with minimal maintenance. Over the life of your metal roofing panels, however, it is possible that the baked-on paint finish can be damaged. For minor scratches, you are able to use touch-up paint to preserve the aesthetic appeal of your metal roof. Learn more about selecting and applying metal roofing touch-up paint.

What Causes Scratches & Dents?

Metal roofing panels are most commonly damaged during the installation process. To avoid scratching or denting your metal roofing panels, it’s important to store them properly and use caution when unpacking and installing them. Store them at a slight angle in a dry location that is out of the way of foot traffic and ongoing construction. Avoid dragging panels across each other when unbundling to prevent damage to the paint coating.

After metal roofing panels have been installed and before the installer leaves, walk around the building to look for scratches and dents within normal view. Address these issues with your installer.

After the installation process is complete, there are additional considerations to protect your metal roof from damage. Keep trees trimmed to prevent overgrown branches from scratching your metal roof panels. Additionally, use caution when walking on the roof or using tools as these activities could damage the paint coating. Check your roof for damage at least once a year as part of your annual maintenance routine to keep it in good condition.

Assess the Damage

If you find a scratch during routine maintenance or a post-installation check, start by assessing the damage. How noticeable is the scratch? Is the panel scratched down to the bare metal? These are important questions to ask when deciding whether to use touch-up paint or replace the panel altogether.

Use touch-up paint for light scratches that only affect the paint coating or for hairline scratches down to the bare metal. touch-up paint fades more quickly than the baked-on paint coating, especially with bright or dark colors. As a result, covering a sizable area with touch-up paint could create more of a problem as the touch-up paint begins to fade over the next couple of years which would be more noticeable than leaving it alone. If your panel has large scratches or gouges that go down to the bare metal, consider replacing it instead.

Choosing Touch-Up Paint

When choosing touch-up paint for your metal roof, it’s important to make sure that it’s compatible with the existing paint coating. The best way to do this is by purchasing touch-up paint from your metal roof panel manufacturer. Most manufacturers offer small containers of high-quality paint that are designed to match the color of your existing roof panels.

How to Apply Touch-Up Paint to Metal Roofing

When applying touch-up paint, make sure to read the specific instructions provided by your manufacturer.

In general, you will complete the following steps to apply touch-up paint:

Make sure the surface temperature of your roof is 50 F.
Clean the area by wiping it down with isopropyl alcohol. Make sure the surface is dry and free from contaminants before moving on.
If the bare metal of the panel is showing, apply acrylic primer.
Apply touch-up paint to the area using the dobber (or a small artist brush). Multiple coats may be likely to achieve the desired film thickness.
Touch-up paint should be tack free within 30-45 minutes.
It should dry completely within 24-48 hours.

For more information on how to touch-up your metal roofing panels, contact your local ABC sales representative.

What Makes a Metal Building Green?

Posted on February 19, 2020March 24, 2023 by Greg Hekman

Longevity, reduced material consumption and decreased energy usage are what determine if a structure is sustainable. A design-build contractor or builder should understand the metal building owner’s sustainability goals from the onset of the design phase.

In addition to protecting the environment, designing a sustainable building can save your company money through reduced energy costs and garner recognition through several certification programs including LEED®, Green Globes and the Living Building Challenge.

Metal buildings are a sustainable, or “green”, option from fabrication through the end of their lifespan. Here are some of the features of steel buildings that make them green:

Durability

One benefit of metal buildings is the exceptional durability of the building components including metal siding, roofing and framing . Compared to traditional building materials like lumber or shingles, steel is resistant to damage from the elements including severe weather, insects and even fire.

Rice Lumber’s retail store utilizes CF Flute insulated metal panels in slate gray. For the warhouse, PBR in 26-gauge slate gray were used for the wall and soffit panel, while and 7.2 Panel was selected under deck for the rubber roof.

This longevity means that there’s no need to consume additional resources to repair or replace your metal building for decades, contributing to its overall sustainability.

Reduced Impact at the Building Site

The benefits of metal buildings extend beyond the materials used. Since metal buildings are fabricated off site, there’s less disruption of the area surrounding the building. They can be erected quickly with less waste.

Decreased Temperatures in Urban Areas

Additionally, buildings featuring cool metal roofing panels can help reduce the heat-island effect. The heat-island effect refers to the increase in temperature created when dark and heat absorbing roofing materials are used. These roofing materials can raise the temperature of surrounding areas by as much as seven degrees. This excess heat can be detrimental to plants, trees and people in urban areas. Since cool metal roofing reflects heat instead of absorbing it, less heat is transmitted to the surrounding areas. This helps plants retain water and people remain more comfortable. This also translates to decreased energy usage and decreased greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity used for cooling buildings.

Improved Energy Efficiency

Metal buildings can also be designed for improved energy efficiency. Combine a variety of components such as insulated metal roof and wall panels and high-performance windows and doors to create an energy efficient building envelope. These components work together to create an effective thermal and vapor barrier, ultimately reducing energy consumption.

Further improve the energy efficiency of your metal building by choosing cool metal roofing. Since these panels reflect the sun’s rays, less heat is absorbed into the building itself. This helps to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Metal roofing panels are the perfect substrate for the installation of solar panels. Solar panels can be attached to a variety of metal panel styles. For standing seam metal roofing, solar panels can be clipped to the roof panel to avoid penetrating the substrate. This renewable energy source will help reduce your building’s carbon footprint and lower electricity costs.

Responsible Material Usage

When selecting sustainable materials for your building project, metal should be at the top of your list. Steel products contain a significant percentage of recycled material and are 100% recyclable at the end of the building’s life.

Since most metal buildings are prefabricated in shops, there’s less overall waste both at the job site and during fabrication. Any scrap materials that are created during fabrication can be recycled and reused.

Indoor Environmental Quality

One important component of sustainability is the interior performance of your building. This is achieved when the well-being of the building’s occupants is protected. Since metal building components are pre-finished off-site during fabrication, there are less harmful, volatile organic compounds released into the building.

Additionally, metal buildings offer flexibility of design, allowing for the incorporation of windows, doors and skylights throughout in order to provide natural light and exterior views. This has been shown to benefit building users.

Metal Panel Color Selection—What to Consider

Posted on May 31, 2018May 31, 2023 by Candy McNamee

Choosing a metal panel color can feel daunting these days. With the number of available metal building colors having expanded from the usual white, tan and Galvalume to more than a couple of dozen options, where do you begin? What factors should influence your decision? Read on for recommendations on key questions to ask to help you make the best decision for both the desired aesthetic as well as longevity, durability and energy efficiency of your metal project.

What colors are metal products available in?

This is the most obvious consideration and can be answered with a simple search of the metal product manufacturer’s website. Authorized dealers also often have physical metal panel color charts, samples or chips from metal product manufacturers for in-person review. While metal panel color options used to be limited to standard stock colors like white, tan and Galvalume, today, many manufacturers are able to offer many more color options outright as well as additional custom colors. These new metal panel color options now include metallic paints, as well as ones with metal flecks that add sheen and sparkle, giving the panel color more depth and durability.

How can I be sure I’m getting the exact metal panel color I think I’m getting?

Upon request, most metal panel manufacturers are more than happy to provide actual color chips so you can see the exact color in person. While the chips on color charts are a close facsimile, getting color chips from the plant is ideal to ensure a perfect match. Additionally, you can view images of completed projects on the manufacturer’s website as seen in ABC’s Project Gallery. This section not only shows you photos of real-life building projects using our metal products so you can see how colors look in different combination and on different building types, but it also provides details on the products and colors used with additional resources to help you make your selection.

In addition, ABC’s Color Visualizer helps you envision your actual project before you even order your metal panels. You can upload your own photo or choose from our sample project photos to pick your ideal panel type and color. While it’s useful to review the manufacturer’s website and color visualization for project images and ideas, keep in mind that colors may look a bit different on your computer than they do in real life.

How to select the right color for optimal energy efficiency?

Cool metal roofs have been shown to be among the most sustainable and energy-efficient choices out there. They are designed to reflect more of the sun’s energy (and heat) back into the atmosphere to keep your building cooler and reduce your air-conditioning bills. (Read more about cool metal roofs in our blog post.)While lighter colors are generally the best option to optimize cooling effects, it should be stated that improved energy performance is a result of much more than just the roof’s color. The Cool Roof rating of paints and coating systems used by metal panel manufacturers are generally listed with the color choices on the manufacturer’s website. For detailed information, a great resource is the Cool Roof Rating Council, which maintains a products directory that lists solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity values for many roofing brands.

ABC offers the most sophisticated silicone polyester coating paint system in the industry. It offers optimum exterior protection and superior resistance to chemical corrosion and ultraviolet radiation, and most of our paint coatings are ENERGY STAR^® qualified.

Can I paint over my metal panels?

If you’re considering painting your metal panels, trim or accessories, you should first check with the metal product manufacturer to ensure you won’t be voiding any warranties. You can also ask the manufacturer about touch-up paint and the correct way to apply it if small corrections need to be made. If you do decide to completely re-paint your panels, it’s best to get the panel manufacturer’s recommendation on the best paint and application products/methods to use to ensure you don’t damage the steel underneath the paint.

What if my paint isn’t performing the way I expect it to?

Most manufacturers offer a limited warranty on their paint systems. Before you buy, be sure you understand the limits of the warranty. If you think your situation warrants a claim, take pictures of the product and send them to the manufacturer to start the process. Do not attempt to correct or cover any issues as this will likely void your warranty. The manufacturer will likely send someone out to look at your material and will keep you informed throughout the process.

Armed with the right questions, resources and, hopefully, color charts and samples, choosing a color for your new metal roof can be an exciting part of the process. Your job is to take the time to review the options to make the most practical and aesthetically appropriate decision. ABC representatives are always ready with the resources and information you need, so feel free to contact one of our team members with your questions.

Metal Product Distributors: quote and order metal building products anytime, anywhere and from any device using our online ordering tool. If you don’t already have an account, register for access today!

Decoding Your Warranty: Paint Chalking

Posted on April 29, 2016April 29, 2024 by Heather Hollis

The third and final element of our “Decoding Your Warranty” blog series covers paint chalking. As with fading, chalking is an expected occurrence with any paint system that is subjected to outdoor exposure, and while it may be preferable to other issues such as cracking or peeling, it is still important to the metal roofing industry and its customers. As a result, similar questions should be asked about how this is addressed in paint system warranties to ensure chalking isn’t the cause of premature damage to your metal roof system.

What is paint chalking?

Also referred to as “powdering”, chalking happens when the resin (binder) of the paint system is compromised. The resin is the substance that holds the paint pigment together. It also ensures the color is evenly distributed and provides glossiness, durability and flexibility. In addition, resin has the very important job of adhering the pigment to the metal surface it’s applied to and protecting the finish against damage.

When the resin at the surface of the paint finish deteriorates, most often as a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, the embedded pigment particles lose their adhesion to the paint film (resulting in color fading) and the resin particles take on a white (chalky) appearance that is easy to wipe off of the surface. In addition, chalking can erode the film resulting in a loss of substrate protection and run down onto the underlying structure, further degrading the appearance of your structure.

How can you protect against paint chalking?

Climates that are exposed to more intense UV rays for longer periods of time will experience chalking sooner as the environment plays a big role in how painted metal will perform. While you may not be able to control how much UV or moisture exposure your roof gets, you can choose a paint system that is not over-thinned or over-spread and that uses high quality components. ABC’s Signature® 200 system incorporates a 30 percent SMP Resin—one of the strongest in the marketplace—to help reduce the amount of chalking experienced.

Similar to the fading section of the warranty, paint system warranties allow for an acceptable amount of chalking. Chalking is measured in accordance with the standard procedures as defined by the “Standard Methods of Evaluating Degree of Chalking of Exterior Paints”, ASTM D4214. ABC guarantees the level of chalk on vertical panel applications will not chalk in excess of a numerical rating of eight (the higher the numerical rating, the better) for 30 years for our Premium paint system colors and 25 years for our Select40 paint system colors. For non-vertical panel applications, ABC guarantees a rating of 6 for 30 years for our Premium paint system and 25 years for our Select40 paint system. Consumers should be aware of these numbers, and expect them to be expressed in sample warranties.

Check out ABC’s metal color resources and warranty information to learn more!

Missed parts one and two of the “Decoding Your Warranty” blog series? Start reading now!