Many roofers know that tar and gravel roofs pose unique challenges. They can wear unevenly due to gravel loss. They are a complete mess to tear off and replace. The gravel can hide anomalies making leak spotting difficult. They can be difficult to repair once you find leaks and many liquid applied products simply do not bond well to them.
Ecodur’s extreme adhesion allows it to bond permanently to clean tar and gravel surfaces without the need for pressure washing or spudding. Combining the adhesion with Ecodur’s hardness, strength, and ability to be applied at any thickness creates a system that saves on labor, overall installation time, and can outlast other systems.
Comparing Ecodur to other systems for tar and gravel roofs:
System A requires both spudding and pressure washing. Keep in mind that the pressure washer water should be captured and recycled because it will contain asphalt, silica, and other contaminants. Next, it requires 2-3 applications of a base coat with time between for each to fully cure. Finally, two applications of a top coat are applied for a total of 4-5 application cycles and 8-10 gallons/square.
System B is the least expensive from a materials standpoint, but also requires a lot of labor. Similar to system A, the surface needs to be spudded and pressure washed. Another consideration on pressure washing spudded surfaces is that you may have to apply some repairs in between processes to prevent water damage to your project property during pressure washing. The biggest downside to this process though is that it requires approximately 2 weeks for the emulsion to cure before it can be top coated.
System C is a common hybrid version for coating tar and gravel roofs with silicone. Like the first two, it requires spudding and pressure washing. It then requires 4.5 gallons/square of primer and base coat, followed by complete coverage with a fabric scrim. This can be difficult in windy conditions. It then calls for an additional 2 gallons/square of base coat before applying the top coat.
Unlike most competing systems, Ecodur does not require spudding or pressure washing. Preparing a tar and gravel roof is still a lot of work, but simplifying the process allows for significant labor reduction. Start by removing all the loose gravel and sweep away anything loosely embedded with a power broom. Once clean and all debris is collected, blow away any remaining small debris. Depending on the size and how embedded the remaining gravel is, apply Ecodur at a minimum of 2 gallons per square. If a top coat is required for this project, follow the instructions for the selected top coat.
By: Jef McCurdy