Dulux Acratex Roof Membrane User Guide
- June 2, 2024
- Dulux
Table of Contents
Dulux Acratex Roof Membrane
Congratulations on coating your roof with Dulux® Acratex® Roof Membrane. We would like to offer a few tips on caring for your roof to help extend its life and assist in maintaining its optimal appearance.
How to maintain the optimal appearance of your roof
Regular Cleaning
It is recommended to have your roof washed every 12 months depending on your
surrounding environment. Coastal areas tend to have more build-up of salt
contamination, and so it is recommended to wash more frequently in those
areas. Regular washing of your roof helps to remove environmental fallout such
as, salt residue, dirt, dust, chalkiness, mould, algae, and lichen that can
deposit on a roof causing aesthetic changes. Regular cleaning and maintenance
will help to preserve your Dulux Acratex Roof Membrane and keep your roof
looking great for longer.
Regular Inspections
Checking for cracked tiles, joints, flashings, loose or missing pointing, and
sealant should be a part of the regular maintenance cleaning to ensure no
deterioration is evident to allow water ingress. Pay close attention to areas
which are cold and dark such as heavy overhanging foliage which are prone to
mould and algae growth and may cause your roof membrane coating to deteriorate
quickly if not regularly cleaned. If your roof has deteriorated or damaged
tiles and substrate, it’s important to get them replaced as soon
as possible by your local licensed roofer.
Recommended Cleaning Directions
The roof membrane system can be cleaned with a low-pressure water blast (less
than 450psi) using a fan-jet of cold water at a
45 degree angle from the surface (not perpendicular). Specialised roof
cleaning products can be used during the cleaning process to assist in
stubborn stains or contaminates. The fan of the water blaster should be kept a
minimum of 30cm from the surface of the roof to avoid damage. Alternatively,
we recommend regular low pressure cleaning with a soft broom and a low
foaming, biodegradable, general purpose cleaning agent. Under no circumstances
should heavy staining be removed using a high-pressure water blaster
or harsh chemicals.
Note: Some chemicals used to treat mould, such as bleach (dilute hypochlorite solutions) or sugar soap, may damage a membrane film. Be sure to disconnect any downpipes to rainwater tanks before you commence cleaning and rinse the roof thoroughly with potable water before reconnecting.You can obtain further advice about chemical and non-chemical treatments for cleaning roofs from your local licensed roofer.
Safety First! Working at heights is dangerous. Take safety precautions to keep yourself safe. Know your limits and use appropriate safety equipment!
- Does your roof appear faded or dull? Environmental fallout such as salt residue, dirt or dust deposits can cause this aesthetic change.
- Cleaning your roof helps remove the environmental fallout.
- Keeping your roof looking great for longer.
Colour Durability
- Dulux Acratex Roof Membrane has been formulated to withstand the harshest conditions under the Australian sun – and roofs really do provide the most extreme exposure conditions for coatings and pigments.
- The Dulux Acratex manufacturing facilities, located in Adelaide, have achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 Quality and Environmental Management certification and the Roof Membrane products have been developed for the hash Australian exterior environment, in a modern ISO 17025 (Nata) accredited laboratory.
- Colour change is a natural process that happens slowly over time and some fading is expected with weathering. Chalking, or the breakdown of the acrylic binder under harsh sunlight to expose some of the coating pigments on the surface, is one reason why roof membranes can fade or lose their colour intensity over time. Regular washing of a roof surface will help to remove chalkiness and other materials that can deposit on a roof and cause it to fade.
How to prevent algae, mould and lichen growth
As with all maintenance, prevention is better than cure. Regular washing of a
roof surface will help to remove materials that
adhere to the roof and promote algae, mould and lichen growth.
Choosing a pastel or darker colour may also help raise the temperature of the
roof to promote faster drying, which discourages mould and algae growth, and
help hide any minor discoloration. Listed below are a few additional
suggestions that may help maintain your roof membrane and help reduce algae
and mould growth:
- Allow more sunlight hours to reach the roof by trimming back shady trees and surrounding foliage.
- Avoid blowing leaf litter to minimise levels of dust and organic matter in the air.
- Remove near-by nesting or roosting sites for possums, bats and birds (subject to council approval).
- Ensure that gutters are kept clean and the roof drains quickly following rain.
- Discourage mould growth with early intervention and consider using a specialised roofing agent for its removal.
Algae
Are typically brown to greenish primitive organisms that can form a thin slimy
layer on surfaces. They can grow on roofs when the local environment is moist,
slow drying, shaded, nutrient rich, low sloped, slow draining or unevenly
ventilated.
Mould
Is typically a coating or discoloration caused by various fungi that develop
in a damp atmosphere on various types of nutrient rich surfaces.
Lichen
Is a composite organism consisting of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner
growing together in a symbiotic relationship.
Remember
Algae, mould and lichen growth on roof surfaces is largely due to
environmental factors, colour choice and the accumulation of dirt and
pollution over time. A regular maintenance program to remove deposits that
encourage these growths will help keep your roof looking great for longer.
Common exterior problems and why…
What is blistering?
“Blistering” is the formation of bubbles in the exterior decorative paint
film, resulting from localised loss of adhesion and subsequent lifting of the
existing paint film from the underlying surface. It may be that one paint
layer has lost adhesion to the one beneath or it may be that all the paint
layers collectively have lost adhesion to the underlying substrate. The loss
of adhesion and blistering can quickly lead to paint flaking and peeling.
Two main types of blistering
- Those caused by moisture entrapment within the substrate beneath the paint film, which converts from a liquid into a vapour when the surface is heated by the sun and expands but cannot escape (evaporate) through the paint film.
- Those caused by solvent entrapment beneath the paint film during application, where the solvent cannot escape when the surface is heated up, due to re-coating before the recommended time between coats.
If blistering occurs on your roof please contact your licensed roofer.
If you have any concerns with your roof’s appearance, please contact your licensed roofer.
What is chalking?
“Chalking” is defined in AS/NZS 2310:2002 “Glossary of paint and painting
terms” as… “The appearance of a loosely adherent fine powder on the surface of
a paint film, arising from the degradation of one or more of its
constituents”.
If the coating itself is breaking down due to ultra violet (UV) degradation,
there will be some evidence of a white or coloured powdery “chalking” residue
on the wipe-cloth. Some chalking is to be expected as all paints will be
affected by UV radiation to some degree, over time.
The rate of this degradation will vary depending on the topcoat colour,
environmental conditions and the type of paint used
(ie. the particular resin system used in a given paint product).
Why does it occur?
Chalking occurs due to ultra violet (UV) radiation from sunlight interacting
with the constituents within the paint film. Over time UV degradation of the
binder or resin within the paint film will allow the exposed pigment particles
to become more loosely bound to the surface resulting in a powdery surface.
When attempting to diagnose the issue, there are several important factors
that will need to be considered closely:
- Dirt pick- up – When the surface is wiped down with a damp cloth, the cloth will indicate varying levels of surface contamination however it should be noted that the residue on the cloth may simply be dirt, dust, grime, industrial pollution, salt deposits or other extraneous materials that have no relation to the paint coating.
- Fading – The colour change or fading that may have occurred due to exposure to UV which could be present in conjunction with chalking.
Solution
Unfortunately, degradation due to the “chalking” is irreversible once it
begins to occur and the appearance can often become quite irregular or patchy
in appearance.
To eliminate the effect completely, the entire surface will need to be
pressure washed with cleaning agent to remove all surface contaminants and
chalking prior to repainting with an approved UV resistant coating system.
A 15 year material warranty is issued on product performance when the Dulux
Acratex Roof Membrane coating system has been applied by a roofing applicator,
according to the product specification, spreading rates and surface
preparation details outlined in the Dulux Acratex Specification Manual or
relevant DuSpec specification. System warranties cover film integrity, peeling
and cracking.
®Dulux and Acratex are registered trademarks of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd
© 2022.