Color-Gard+

Color-Gard+ is an architectural acrylic roof coating system from American WeatherStar for metal roofs. It is a commercial roof coating system used for commercial roof restoration, and metal is its only listed substrate. The system is built on the Met-A-Gard+ system with the addition of a High-Gloss Acrylic 215 top coat, which gives a high-gloss finish with color fade protection.

The system is designed for architectural-style metal roof panels that show moderate levels of rust and corrosion and that have positive drainage. It seals, waterproofs and coats aged metal surfaces exposed to sun, wind and rain, and it cures to a watertight membrane.

The assembly is numbered in the brochure from the metal substrate upward:

1. Metal roof substrate, pressure washed to remove dirt, dust and debris.
2. Optional step 1A: Red Oxide Rust Prime 912, used in some cases where rust is present.
3. Terminator 622 on all seams and flashing details.
4. High-Tensile Acrylic 211 base coat, in a custom color.
5. High-Gloss Acrylic 215 top coat.

High-Gloss Acrylic 215 is applied over High-Tensile Acrylic 211 of a matching tint. An adhesion test of the High-Tensile Acrylic 211 base coat on the metal substrate is recommended before application.

Three build-ups exist for metal. Dry film thickness (DFT) is theoretical, rounded to the nearest mil.

• 10-year term: High-Tensile Acrylic 211 base coat, then two coats of High-Gloss Acrylic 215. Total DFT: 15.
• 15-year term: High-Tensile Acrylic 211 base coat, a second coat of High-Tensile Acrylic 211, then two coats of High-Gloss Acrylic 215. Total DFT: 25.
• 20-year term: the same four coats as the 15-year term. Total DFT: 30.

The Color-Gard+ System carries a 10-year color fade warranty.

High-Tensile Acrylic 211 is a high-solids acrylic elastomeric formulated for high tensile strength and elongation. Its published data in the system:

• Solids by volume: 55 percent plus or minus 2
• Elongation: 600 percent plus or minus 50
• Tensile strength: 500 plus or minus 50 psi
• Initial reflectivity: 0.82, and 0.81 after three years
• Emissivity: 0.90
• Viscosity: 4,500 plus or minus 500 cps
• VOC: below 50 g/liter

The coating is thixotropic and builds uniformly on rough, textured or vertical surfaces without pin-holing or sagging. It is water-based, cleans up with water and comes in 5 gallon and 55 gallon packaging. Standard colors are white, gray and tan, with custom colors available.

High-Gloss Acrylic 215 is a single-component, water-based, flexible PVDF coating for spray application. It is a low-build coating applied over primed or unprimed substrates. Published data:

• Solids by volume: 40 percent plus or minus 2 (ASTM D-1653)
• Elongation: 300 percent plus or minus 50 (ASTM D-2370)
• Tensile strength: 1,000 plus or minus 50 psi (ASTM D-2370)
• Reflectivity: 88 percent (ASTM C-1549)
• Emissivity: 0.89 (ASTM C-1371)
• SRI: 110, calculated
• Gloss at 60 degrees: 69 percent
• VOC: 49 g/liter (EPA Method 24)
• Weight: 10.4 lbs per gallon
• Dry time: 2 to 6 hours
• Service temperature: -40 to 200 degrees F
• Shelf life: 24 months unopened at 40 to 70 degrees F

The standard color is white, and custom colors are available.

Red Oxide Rust Prime 912 is a red, water-based acrylic primer for metal. It bonds to rusted and unstable metal and inhibits oxidizing of the substrate, and it serves as an adhesion bonding primer before roof coatings. It is 40 percent solids by volume, has a viscosity of 600 to 800 cps and dries in 2 to 3 hours. It is ready to use and is not thinned. It is sprayed with an airless unit of 1/2 gpm capacity and a #017 tip, or applied by brush or short nap roller.

Terminator 622 is a 100 percent solids, one-component, moisture-cure siliconized urethane sealant in white or gray. It has 500 percent elongation and 200 psi tensile strength, cures to a hardness of 25 after five days, and can be applied down to 32 degrees F on damp surfaces. It comes in a 10.3 oz tube and a 2-gallon pail. In this system it is the rubber-like mastic used on seams and flashings to accommodate expansion and contraction.

Acrylic Skylight Sealer 230 is a translucent gloss coating used with the metal roof coating system to seal and recondition skylights. It covers 1/2 to 1 gallon per 100 square feet. A cracked skylight needs replacement.

The Color-Gard+ palette comprises white, light gray, medium gray, dark gray, tan, Federal Brown (6083), Forest Green (6461), Terracotta (2803), Dark Blue (6510), Safety Yellow (6907), Brick Red (6328), Light Blue (6507) and Olive Green (6402), plus custom colors. Custom colors carry a 45 gallon minimum order.

• Cleaning uses pressure washing; EcoCleaner 925, a 0 g/liter VOC cleaner diluted 5:1 and applied at 1 gallon per 150 square feet, is followed by washing at a minimum of 3,000 psi.
• Acrylic coatings are applied between 50 and 110 degrees F ambient and 50 and 130 degrees F surface temperature, with temperatures rising during application.
• Coating is not applied when the dew point is within 5 degrees F of ambient, when precipitation, fog or dew is imminent before cure, or when freezing is expected before cure.

The pre-inspection list for the roof covers HVAC flashing, water leakage, drainage, seams, terminations and reglets, penetrations, coping and flashing, sign or display anchorage, and sleepers and pitch pockets. Each job is approved by American WeatherStar before it starts, and the work is applied by a contractor approved by American WeatherStar.

Metal roofs restored with acrylic systems are covered under metal roof coating work.