Common Questions
Asked by homeowners, park managers, and the contractors who work on these roofs.
Will It Work on My Roof?
Can it go over the silver aluminum coating that is already up there?
Usually yes, after the loose material comes off. Anything peeling, blistered, or lifting has to be scraped back to something solid — the new membrane bonds to what it touches, so if that layer is on its way off the roof, so is your new roof. Over the sound remainder, 7001 Primer bonds to it and blocks the asphalt oils from bleeding up into the new membrane. On roofs with ten or fifteen years of built-up coating, expect more scraping.
What if there is already tar or roof cement patched all over it?
Very common, and manageable. Soft, gooey, or cracked patches get removed. Hard, well-stuck patches can generally stay and get primed over. The real question underneath is why they were put there — a patch marks a spot that was leaking, and if the cause was a backed-out fastener or a split seam it should be repaired properly before anything is sprayed.
How do I know if my roof is too far gone to coat?
Three tests. Does the roof feel soft or spongy when someone walks it? Is the ceiling inside sagging, stained in multiple places, or damp to the touch? Can you push a screwdriver through the metal anywhere? A yes to any of those means structural repair first. A membrane over a rotten deck seals the water in and makes it worse — and you will pay for the repair anyway, plus the wasted coating.
My roof does not leak yet. Is it worth doing anyway?
It is the best time to do it, honestly. A sound roof needs less scraping, less repair, and less material, so the job is cheaper. And the interior damage from a leak — ceiling panels, insulation, framing — routinely costs more than sealing the roof would have. If your home is fifteen years old and the seams have never been touched, you are in the window.
Cost & Doing the Work
Can I apply this myself?
No, and we would rather say so plainly than sell you something that will not work. Polyurea requires a plural-component proportioner with a heated hose that meters two chemicals at exact ratio, pressure, and temperature. Off-ratio material never develops its strength or its stretch, and there is no way to correct it after it is on the roof. Tell us your city and we will connect you with an applicator.
What does it cost compared to a new roof-over?
A roof-over — building a whole second roof structure above the existing one — is a much larger project involving framing, new metal, and often permits. Coating is a fraction of that and takes a day or two instead of a week. Against re-coating with aluminum every couple of years, polyurea costs more once and then stops costing. Send us the home size and roof type and we will give you a real number.
How long does the job take and do I need to move out?
A typical single-wide is one day. Double-wides and homes with add-ons run one to two. You do not need to leave — the work is entirely on the roof, and the material is tack-free within a minute of being sprayed. Expect noise from the equipment and some odor during application, and plan to keep windows closed that day.
Do you sell the material to contractors?
Yes. We ship Alasta Seal, OR-80SLM, 7001 Primer, and Super Orange Cleaner nationwide, and contractors and distributors get wholesale pricing. If you are a homeowner with a contractor already lined up, have them contact us directly — we will spec the job with them and ship to their shop.
Living With It Afterward
Will I have to recoat it every year like the aluminum coating?
No. That is the main reason to do this. Fibered aluminum and asphalt emulsion products are maintenance coatings — they are designed around a recoat cycle. Polyurea is a membrane at real thickness with 2,500 PSI tensile strength. Once it is on and properly bonded, the annual trip up the ladder with a pail is finished.
Will it make the home cooler in summer?
A light-colored membrane reflects rather than absorbs, which lowers the roof surface temperature noticeably. On a manufactured home that translates directly to the interior, because there is not much insulation between the roof and your ceiling. It is not a substitute for insulation, but it is a real and immediately noticeable difference on hot afternoons.
What happens if a branch gouges it?
It is repairable, and easily. An applicator abrades the damaged area, primes it, and sprays a patch of the same material — which bonds chemically to the original rather than sitting on top of it as a patch. Compared to repairing a torn rubber roof or a punctured metal panel, this is a straightforward fix.
Does the color fade over time?
Aromatic polyurea chalks and lightens gradually in direct sun. It is purely cosmetic — the waterproofing and the flexibility are unaffected. If long-term appearance matters to you, ask about an aliphatic topcoat that holds its color; on most manufactured home roofs, which nobody looks at from the ground, homeowners skip it.
Something Else on Your Mind?
Ask it plainly and you will get a plain answer, including "your roof needs repair before it needs coating" if that is the truth.
Ask a QuestionGet My Roof Sealed
Tell us about your project and we will follow up with product details, technical data sheets, and pricing.