i'm considering purchasing a 1300 sf fannie mae foreclosure in tucson, az. the flat roof appears to need some cleanup and another coat of elastomeric at very least. theres no blistering or cracking of what appears to be 2 ply bur, but the elastomeric is peeling in some places, particularly around the pipes coming up through the roof.

would a diyer simply dump elastomeric, on the roof, a 1/2 gallon at a time, and spread or roll it with a roller until the proper coverage is achieved?

in places where there is no peeling, since the roof has been coated with elastomeric before, is one coat all thats needed?

can a garden hose with a nozzle be used to wash the roof prior to painting?





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There is no reason you cant do it yourself. Just find the right product and do as the directions say

 

While I used to work for a company that did some elastomeric roof work, I wasn't very involved in that part. Is the elastromeric peeling or is it where the tar underneath it has expanded and contracted stretching the limits of the sealant?

As long as the roof is clean and any loose material dealt with - a fresh coat of elastromeric should do fine.

 

would i need to purchase a pressure washer?

 

A pressure washer can make cleaning easier but improper use can cause damage. Too much pressure in the wrong spot can produce a leak. You could use a water hose although you might need to add detergent, an old broom and elbow grease to the mix Make sure the roof is good and dry before applying the elastromeric coating.

 

if you have a lot of mold or mildew I would pressure was but your pics don't look like there's not much

 

ok, so all i need to clean is a garden hose with nozzle, a brush, and a little soap.

and suppose i should blow the roof off with a blower end on a shop vac before washing, also?

 

A leaf blower works good - both before and after cleaning. The main thing is that all the moisture gets removed, including what gets trapped in crevices. Failure to remove all the moisture means it can leak out into the coating reducing it's effectiveness.

 

i checked with sherwin williams. they say they've got a sprayer for $100/day. that might save a lot of work, however i'm not sure if spraying is as effective at applying as rolling.

 

It takes a pretty stout airless to pump an elastromeric coating! Even with a big pump you usually have to remove the filters to keep it spraying. While a heavier coat can be applied by spray, it's still beneficial to roll. Rolling helps to push the coating into all the cracks and crevices.

 

i guess most diyers roll it. seems like it would be easier to measure volumes used/sf that way. and the coating might go on a little better.

found a lightweight 1500 psi pressure washer for $90. seems that might be the way to go, although i was reading 1800psi recommended.

 

At that price I assume it's an electric PWer. If so, make sure it's plugged into a GFI outlet.

I know some think the more pressure the better but I don't have any problems with a lower pressure unit. I have a small gas PWer [6hp honda, comet pump] that only puts out 1500 psi and have never found it to be too little pressure. I mostly used it for cleaning decks and siding prior to repaint.... it also works good for cleaning my tractor It can be easy to damage wood or force water where it doesn't belong with too much pressure so I wouldn't be obsessed with the pressure output.