Technical Article

When specifying a roof refurbishment project, it's easy to focus on cost, warranty length or what's been specified before.

But when it comes to metal roof coatings, choosing the wrong technology can have significant consequences for performance, longevity and project success.

The reality is that not all metal roof coatings are created equal.

Both polyurethane and MS polymer coatings can provide excellent protection for industrial roofs, but they have very different characteristics and are suited to different applications. A specification copied from a previous project may not deliver the outcome your client expects on the next one.

The risk of making assumptions

For example:
    •   Does the project require rapid curing to minimise weather risk?
    •   Is future re-coatability important?
    •   Will the coating be exposed to high levels of abrasion?
    •   Is odour sensitivity a concern?
    •   Could rain occur shortly after application?

Failing to ask these questions can result in premature coating failure, avoidable maintenance costs and unnecessary professional risk.

MS Polymer or Polyurethane?

MS Polymer coatings offer significant installation advantages. They are solvent-free, odourless and moisture tolerant, making them less vulnerable if rain arrives shortly after application. They can also be applied in a single coat, helping to reduce labour requirements.

However, they typically have a longer cure time, much lower abrasion resistance than polyurethane systems and can retain slight surface tackiness, making them more prone to attracting dirt and lichen growth.

Polyurethane coatings, on the other hand, offer exceptional durability, high abrasion resistance and fast curing, with some systems curing in as little as two hours. They can also be recoated more easily in the future and do not suffer from residual tackiness, making them suitable for applications where long-term appearance is important.

The specification should fit the roof

The question isn't which technology is better.

The question is: Which technology is right for this roof?

The best specifications are driven by a detailed understanding of the roof asset, environmental conditions and the client's long-term objectives, not by habit or a copy-and-paste approach.

Need help selecting the right coating?

At Rooflock, we help specifiers and building surveyors evaluate roof condition, assess project requirements and select the most appropriate coating technology for every project.

Because the biggest risk isn't choosing MS Polymer or Polyurethane.

It's specifying the wrong one.

Talk to the Rooflock technical team today.