I'm sure this topic had been beat to death in the past, but with respect to coating the roof of the bus, do any of you have wisdom to pass along? I found this:
http://www.hytechsales.com/prod2150.html
......and it seems alright to me. What is the consensus on what to use to coat the top of the bus, white, for reflectivity and all that? Thanks.....g
the age old product: Light colored paint preferably the type that causes cancer with proper prep will last 30 year+
G,
It's not magic, but BusKote helps BIG TIME!
Jay
87 SaftLiner
I've got the beads mixed in the clear cote on my roof. i tend to think it helps since i only have fiberglass insulation, would go for theirs and thier clear if i did it again. prolly go all the way down the sides. i mainly wanted shiny so it would clean up easier.
my bus only get's in he 90's sitting in the sun in the summer
More about the product:
http://www.hytechadditive.com/insulating-roof-paint.html
It look good....it might be better that Kool Seal????
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=12049-256-63-450-1&lpage=none
Thanks for your finding.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
most of these products have texture or are porous....thus attact and keep dirt.
although they will reduce the inside temp, you have a maint. issue with cleaning your roof of accumulated dirt.
I have used these kinds of coatings for a long time on several different vehicles. They are excellent sealants and because they remain somewhat flexible, protect joints that otherwise might leak. The only problem I had was when my last bus was parked in full cover under trees for a couple of years, and the roof collected some mildew which cleaned off relatively easily. Other than that, I would re-coat the roof every couple of years after swabbing it down with a solvent to aid bonding. It was also reasonable safe to walk on since it was not slippery and did not scuff.
Lin.....Which one of the coating or both?
Thanks.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
Okay folks, thanks for all the replies. I'll probably do something about this soon, but I have one more issue, and that is that there is a Saudi roof on the thing. Probably, since there is that airspace between the roof and the real roof, all I'm really looking for is reflectivity. Thoughts?
Actually, here's a better angle......
I would not bother, with the Desert roof your not going to gain that much
Very nice looking coach!
I used Kool Seal, available at HD and other places. I put it on in 2003 when I lived in California, 5 coats of it. It does help with the heat, but it is hard to clean as others have said. It has held up very well as our coach does sit outside.
I don't know in your case if I would put it on, your decision of course.
Good Luck,
Paul
Well, since you have the Saudi sun umbrella....
And that is one good looking coach in the pictures...
If you really feel the need, I might just paint the Saudi sunshield bright white and leave the rest alone. Would make a nice visual job of the colour separations that way?
The second skin will already be doing more for you than any painted-on coating.
You might not get any more benefit from putting coatings on it.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Sojourner,
I used Kool seal once, and another similar product that I got from a roofing supply place another time. I do not think there was much difference between them. These products are commonly used for mobile home roofs. As to using it on a Saudi-type roof, that is a different set of criteria. Leaks will occur only if the real roof develops some, so coating the upper layer, although it would probably help while parked, would be useful while in motion. Secondly, although there would still be some value to having the roof reflective, it will not be as dramatic. However, I still think that you might want to consider something on the roof that you feel safe walking on. I would not be comfortable walking on a roof with shinny paint. I would be too conscious of scratching it, aside from the obvious traction issues.
Don't ruin your beautiful paint job - JMO
If you dont have any leaks that need to be repaired, I would leave it alone. If at best you gained a couple degrees you are adding something that needs maintained. Your bus looks great as it is, I wouldnt touch it!
Nothing reflects sunlight as well as a good white glossy surface. Nothing! This goes double for anything silver, a popular myth. I just shake my head when i see people coating the tops of mobile homes with silver.
You can test this by laying some different colored metal panels in the sun for an hour or so.
Lay your hand on the white first, but be very careful about laying your hand on darker colors or silver. You can very easily see the difference, it is no contest.
My 4104 is covered with white vinyl. It has been trouble free since '95 but has one fault, it has a grainy texture which traps dirt. It is a pain to clean but does look good when clean. The naysayers have said it won't hold but it is still there as good as new.
I don't recommend vinyl because it has to be applied perfectly and I think a good thick tough white coat of some sort is better in the long run as long as it is smooth.
ghanson...Since you already have the Saudi roof which is much better isolation to sun heat then anything else. Providing that all tunnel passages is clear of spider's web and debris. So that air will flow while bus is in stand still as well traveling. Saudi roof greatest effectiveness is when the bus in stand still.
IR gun test will tell you that white is the coolest of all colors.
About sealant paint....only if you have a leak.
Otherwise use the good whitest paint and spray UV protect clear coat over it...it make more resistant to tree brushing or scratches as well keeping it clean and last longer.
About color offset appearance from viewing at ground level. On a bright sunny day, you have a hard time to see it being white roof as long the side skin's color to it's roof edge is 18% gray (photographic neutral) or lighter. Even if the darker color skin of your choice, you may still be satisfy.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
PS...wish my bus has your Saudi roof.
Quote from: gus on February 18, 2008, 07:50:51 PM
Nothing reflects sunlight as well as a good white glossy surface. Nothing! This goes double for anything silver...
Pardon me for nit-picking a technicality, but a silver mirror-like surface DOES reflect sunlight better that white. However, it is not the light reflectivity that matters, it is what happens with the heat absorbtion and dissipation that makes white the best color. I completely agree that white does the superior job compared to silver coatings.
By the way, I just wanted to mention also that when coating the roof with these products, I also coated the AC cowlings to help protect them from UV deterioration.
WEC,
You are correct, but there is no way to get that finish on a bus top. If that weren't true mirrors would be white??
I'm sure you know the silver I mentioned turns a dark gray in a short time and becomes a much worsel heat sink than when new - which is bad enough.
And, as you said, the heat absorbed by a mirror is considerable, much more than white.