Eliminating Rust on Your Roof

Corrugated iron is distinctly Australian. We associate it with “the  New South Welshman”, the shearing shed, the woolshed, the outdoor dunny, and the water tank. It remains in our blood.

However regrettably our corrugated iron is very susceptible to rust. If you have metal roofs that are more than 15 years of ages, you might discover that small amounts of rust and deterioration have started to appear. It’s one of the greatest opponents of metal.

Rust takes place when the metal comes into contact with moisture in the air, triggering a chemical reaction. The longer the metal is exposed, the larger the rust patch will grow.

Most corrugated iron is treated with deterioration protectant, or galvanised, which is a process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron. However in time and in extreme environments, safeguarding layers can wear off and corrosion can begin to take hold.

If you’re positioned in an extremely corrosive environment, ie, seaside or heavy industrial, you ought to try to wash your roof with safe and clean water on a regular basis, the same way you would with your automobile. This is particularly important for parts that are protected from rain or sun.

However if you’ve currently seen rust, what can you do about it?

There are several alternatives for combatting rust:

There are mechanical techniques like sanding and wire brushing, which can be done by hand however it’s far easier to attempt with a power tool.

You ought to only try to wash the metal with an abrasive cleaner when it’s already rusty. If you do this for basic cleaning, you will scrub away the protective patina on the surface of the metal and actually make it more prone to rust.

There is also rust getting rid of chemicals, which can strip the rust from the iron to prepare the surface prior to painting with a deterioration resistant paint.

Products like Chemtech Rust-Off can assist with small areas, however remember to be careful when using any hazardous substances.

If your corrugated iron is rather old and the deterioration is more widespread, then it might be challenging and dangerous to remove yourself. In these cases, it’s finest to get a professional for a roof restoration or replacement.

Sydney Wide Roofing Roofing can bring back Galvanised, Zincalume, Colorbond, Aluminium and even metal tiles.

If you find you need to change your metal roof, then Colorbond is among your best choices. It’s tested in extreme conditions all over Australia and has 5 layers of rust resistant finish.