Corrosive coastal conditions can take a toll on building roofs. The City of Tacoma’s general aviation operation at Puget Sound is a perfect example. A layer of elastomeric latex had been applied to some areas of the building’s metal R-panel roof previously, but weathering and UV degradation had worn it down to almost nothing. Although some patching had been done as a stop-gap measure, much better overall protection was needed against the salty sea air and humidity — so the city turned to Inland Coatings for a SEBS solution.
Crews power-washed the roof, paying extra attention around areas with previous coating, repairs or patches. Fasteners were added to bring the gable trim flashing up to standard, and all fasteners were encapsulated with caulk. In addition, all vertical seams were sprayed and back-brushed with Inland’s RC-2250, and all horizontal seams and penetrations were addressed with RC-2200 Rubber Roof Coating and RPM 400 polyester mesh. An initial field coat of RC-2000 was then applied and allowed to set overnight, followed by a finish coat of white RC-2000 the next day.
Just a few weeks after the project was completed, the Seattle area set a one-day record for recorded rainfall. Rich Mueller, Tacoma Narrows airport manager, commented that while the large “Inland” building had “nary a drop,” other buildings on the field had “interior lakes.” He also said he intended to address any buildings not protected with Inland’s metal roof coating in the spring.