Bus Roof Coating

[ghanson]

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

[tekebird]

the age old product: Light colored paint preferably the type that causes cancer with proper prep will last 30 year+

[TomCat]

G,

It's not magic, but BusKote helps BIG TIME!

Jay
87 SaftLiner

[NewbeeMC9]

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

[Sojourner]

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

[tekebird]

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.

[Lin]

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.

[Sojourner]

Lin.....Which one of the coating or both?
Thanks.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[ghanson]

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?

[ghanson]

Actually, here's a better angle......

[tekebird]

I would not bother, with the Desert roof your not going to gain that much

[Dreamscape]

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

[buswarrior]

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

[Lin]

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.

[niles500]

Don't ruin your beautiful paint job - JMO