An industrial roof coating is a protective system applied over an existing roof to seal it, stop corrosion or water ingress and extend its working life, often for a fraction of the cost and disruption of a full replacement. On buildings roofed with older asbestos cement sheets, a related process called encapsulation uses a coating to seal the surface and lock the material in place, so it can be safely managed where it is rather than removed.
Both approaches let a business protect a sound roof and defer major capital work, provided the right system and the right precautions are used.
Halls Decorators carries out industrial roof and cladding coating work across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Keep reading to learn what roof coatings do, how asbestos cement encapsulation works, and the safety rules that govern any work involving asbestos.
What do industrial roof coatings do?
A roof coating restores and protects rather than replaces. On a metal roof it halts surface corrosion, reseals laps and fixings where water gets in, and lays down a fresh, weatherproof barrier. Many systems also improve the roof in other ways: reflective coatings bounce back solar heat and help keep the building below cooler, while others are formulated to resist ponding water or industrial fallout.
The appeal is largely practical. Recoating avoids the cost, noise and downtime of stripping and replacing a roof, keeps the building watertight and in use throughout, and can add many years of service to a structure that is fundamentally sound but weathered. For a facilities team weighing repair against replacement, a coating is often the sensible middle path.
What roofs can be coated?
Profiled metal and steel roofs
Metal roofs are among the most common candidates. Once cleaned and treated for any corrosion, they take a primer and protective topcoats that restore the weatherproof barrier and slow further rusting.
Asbestos cement sheeting
Many industrial and agricultural buildings put up between the 1950s and the 1980s were roofed and clad in asbestos cement. Where those sheets are still sound, coating them is often preferable to removal, and that is where encapsulation comes in.
Cladding and vertical panels
The same thinking applies to walls and panels. Recoating tired external sheeting through cladding restoration refreshes the appearance of a site and protects the panels without the expense of replacement.
What is asbestos cement encapsulation?
Asbestos cement is a bonded material, meaning the asbestos fibres are held within a solid cement matrix rather than being loose or friable. As long as it stays in good condition and undisturbed, it is relatively low risk. Problems arise when the surface weathers and begins to break down, because that is when fibres can start to be released.
Encapsulation manages that risk by applying a specialist coating over the sheeting. The coating seals the surface, binds the fibres in place and provides a fresh weatherproof layer, so the material can safely remain in service and continue doing its job as a roof or cladding. It is a recognised way of managing asbestos cement that is still structurally sound, and it avoids the greater disturbance, cost and disruption that removal involves.
Encapsulation is only appropriate where the sheeting is in reasonable condition. Badly degraded, cracked or failing asbestos cement may need a different course of action, which is why an assessment always comes first.
Is asbestos encapsulation safe and legal?
Any work that involves asbestos in the United Kingdom is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and it must be planned and carried out accordingly. Before work begins, the material has to be identified and assessed, normally through an asbestos survey, and a risk assessment and safe method of work put in place. Operatives working with asbestos must be suitably trained, and the work must be controlled to prevent fibres being released.
It is important to be clear about the distinction between managing asbestos and removing it. Encapsulating sound asbestos cement in place is a way of controlling the risk without disturbing the material. Removing and disposing of asbestos is a separate, specialist activity with its own strict legal requirements, and depending on the type and condition of the material it may be licensed work that only a licensed asbestos contractor can carry out.
If you are unsure what condition your roof is in or what your obligations are, a survey by a competent assessor is always the right starting point.
How do you know when a roof needs attention?
Rust streaks and corrosion on a metal roof, water ingress and internal staining, failing laps and fixings, and moss or general weathering all point to a roof that is losing its protective layer.
On asbestos cement, surface pitting, hairline cracking and a chalky, breaking-down finish are signs the material is weathering and would benefit from being sealed before it deteriorates further. Building these checks into scheduled planned maintenance means issues are caught while a coating is still a viable fix.
Talking through your roof options
Whether a roof is best served by a protective coating, encapsulation of sound asbestos cement, or a different approach altogether depends on its material, age and condition, and that starts with a proper look at what you have. Halls Decorators can assess an industrial roof and advise on the most appropriate and compliant way forward. To arrange a survey or simply talk through the options for your building, you can contact the team.