Energy Matters Forums

[Johnny]

Hi guys, I'm new here and like a few of the idea's that I have read, like the bubble wrap insulation. I like it, it is something I can do, when I can afford it.

I was also looking around for other ideas I can do to my home, and stumbled on a little news articles web site and found under Eco Green section Heat Reflective Roof Paint. Has anyone heard of it or used it? I know it claim up to 30% reduction in heat. But I’m a little skeptic about it.

I’ll try and find the link to show you what I mean.

[Johnny]

This is the article i read - http://conservation.newsarticles.net.au/Eco-Green/Heat-Reflective-Roof-Paint-for-Climate-Change-Now-Wholesale.htm.
What do you think?

[Gordon-Loomberah]

Dont know the price, but I'd suspect its an expensive white paint. Good quality white paint does wonders for keeping things cool in the sun, so it would have a cooling effect when compared with a dark coloured roof.

I deliberately used light coloured Colourbond on my roof to keep the house cooler in summer, most of the new housing estates I see are full of houses with dark tile roofing... ridiculous in a climate with long hot summers.

[bpratt]

I've got some of my roof gone rusty where the palm trees used to hang over the roof, and the plan is to replace them with white colourbond sheets, rather than just replace them with the same old zincalume.

Sure, it'll look a bit unusual with only some of the sheets replaced with white colourbond where most of it is plain old zincalume, but nothing to stop me from painting the others.

[bradley.jarvis]

Sure, it'll look a bit unusual with only some of the sheets replaced with white colourbond where most of it is plain old zincalume, but nothing to stop me from painting the others.

From experience if you are going to paint it yourself use a spray gun, you get a much better finish, although there is some loss from spray drift, I think this would be countered by the fact you get a more even thinner coat.

Regards, Brad

[bpratt]

Sure, it'll look a bit unusual with only some of the sheets replaced with white colourbond where most of it is plain old zincalume, but nothing to stop me from painting the others.

From experience if you are going to paint it yourself use a spray gun, you get a much better finish, although there is some loss from spray drift, I think this would be countered by the fact you get a more even thinner coat.

Regards, Brad

Was actually seriously considering using a spray gun to do it with, although it'd mean a lot of stop start as I've only got a small paint pot with my spray gun.

I certainly didn't want to leave it looking like it was painted with a brush.

The hard part is the actual cleaning of the roof sheeting, as we're on tank water here, and don't want to contaminate the water going in to the tank, so I've have to divert the water off the roof, and give it a bloody good hosing down after I scrub the roof clean with sugar soap.

[themaestro102]

Hi guys
check out http://www.cocoon.net.au/index.html They are a Melbourne based business specialising in commercial reflective paint application. I saw them at the master builders home show over the weekend and was very impressed with the results they achieve. I believe they are entering the residential market this year, definitely worth a look.

[bradley.jarvis]

Was actually seriously considering using a spray gun to do it with, although it'd mean a lot of stop start as I've only got a small paint pot with my spray gun.

I certainly didn't want to leave it looking like it was painted with a brush.

The hard part is the actual cleaning of the roof sheeting, as we're on tank water here, and don't want to contaminate the water going in to the tank, so I've have to divert the water off the roof, and give it a bloody good hosing down after I scrub the roof clean with sugar soap.

Hehe, yep that is what I did. The gun I used was an electric one with 800ml pot. On a ~4.5m roof I got about ~6 corrugations painted per pot (going from memory). And then left the tank disconnected until it had rained a few times to minimise contamination of drinking water. The cleaning of the roof is definitely the hard part though. I used a corrugated roller for part of it and it looks crap (not too bad from a distance though). The sprayed section also looks like it has bonded to the roof better because it is a nice even coat. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.

Interesting thing is I had painted part of it and was able to feel the non-painted zinc and white painted part and the difference in temperature with the sun shining on it was absolutely astounding. Dark corrugated iron should be banned or at least air conditioning on houses with dark roofs(this is probably a bit extreme, I don't really like telling anyone what they should do), I know that will never happen but to do something that makes such a difference just for looks is criminal (especially considering the 5 star energy rating is there to reduce energy use). At the very least house designers should know better and advise people when designing a house.

Regards Brad

[MCHesus]

We painted in Insulpaint and cann say YES it works!

[Red]

The hard part is the actual cleaning of the roof sheeting, as we're on tank water here, and don't want to contaminate the water going in to the tank, so I've have to divert the water off the roof, and give it a bloody good hosing down after I scrub the roof clean with sugar soap.

I use Earth Choice Wool Wash to clean Buses on weekends. I prefer it over anything they use which includes industrial degreaser. Its better for me and it cleans everything in there including human body parts.

If you use sugar soap on zinc it will go black and oxidize. Sugar soap has sodium hydroxide in it which will eat your roof in minutes.

I would recommend you go to a hardware shop, find a good soft broom with as much bristle as you can, grab a pump pack pray bottle and mix up about 1 - 20 wool wash in cold water, shake well.

When you are done to rinse off go to coles and grab a bottle of lemon squeeze. Mix this strictly to 1 part to 40. All it has to do is tag the sodium and sulphate parts of the wool wash. I am using it to tag the hydrogen atoms on the soap and bind it into a ph neutral solution so no acid from the lemon and no alkaline from the soap. You can do this process with heavy duty soaps too, if you get degreaser on your skin wash it in vinegar, soap gone and totally neutralised.

This will keep your metal safe and also where it gets in under your fixers and grommets. Any alumina fittings will be preserved. This process will prevent metals and soaps entering your water supply keeping it safe.

Use a high pressure pack to scrub with and try not to use abrasives. If you have to hire a kartcher for a day and go crazy with it.

The ceramic insulating paint works. White is great at reflecting heat but the ceramic particles act like a barrier to penetration of the material. Combine this with sarking and ceiling insulation of 3.5 batts and you are on a winner. Remember to seal doors and windows, double glaze or cover for extreme weather and insulate walls and floors with at least 1.5.

Prevent cold air pooling around the house, prevent heat conduction through concrete etc to the house and use plants and vines to shade the hot northern and north west walls. A simple grape vine will save you a heat gain of 9000kw a day.

Buy yourself a compressor (because collecting tools is a mans job) and grab yourself a sub $150 spray pack. Its cheaper than hire!

Air compressors are so handy to have, remember to fill the oil and drain the tank dry while running. do that and it wall last you forever..