We've recently learned of a new and interesting roof covering material that is especially well suited to flat and low-pitched roofs. It is made from raw materials some of which are so safe you can actually eat them.
We don't recommend that you devour the stuff, however, even though the manufacturer claims that the roofing is safe enough to do so. The base for the product is salt water, and it contains no hazardous chemicals.
It's made in Arizona by a firm named Innovative Formulations Corporation and it's called MirrorSeal Superior Roofing System.
We think this roof covering may be a do-it-yourselfer's dream-come-true, mainly because it is so easy to apply.
Here's how:
First, clean up the old roof. The manufacturer claims that MirrorSeal will stick to almost everything that is clean and free of debris and oil. If there is loose gravel on the roof it must be removed. There are commercial vacuums that are available for rent that can be used to make this part of the job easy, but a chipping bar and a broom will do just as well if you don't mind applying some elbow grease.
After the loose debris and oil have been removed from the existing roof covering, the next step is to patch cracks and gouges. This is done with a patching compound that the MirrorSeal people call Mucky-Puck.
The next step is to apply the base coat. Open the can and use a brush or roller to apply the paint-like liquid to the roof surface.
Then apply a lightweight polyester fabric called MirrorFab while the base coat is still wet.
Finally, a top coat is applied and left to dry. And the job is done.
The material comes in white and off-white, but the manufacturer can custom mix any color you want.
Rolled roofs, tar roofs and tar and gravel roofs always have been the domain of the roofing contractor. But now you can actually purchase your own materials over the counter and do the job yourself. We think that makes MirrorSeal an unusual product, with large potential savings.
If you want to find out more about MirrorSeal or locate a MirrorSeal dealer in your neck of the woods, simply contact Innovative Formulations Corporation in Tucson, Arizona, by calling 1-800-346-7265.
