Blackjack Ultra Roof 1000
Flexes to resist cracking Includes silicone for improved waterproofing and adhesion BLACK JACK® Elasto-Kool 1000 White Siliconized Elastomeric Coating is our top quality, highly flexible, white acrylic roof coating. By enhancing the product with silicone, water resistance, adhesion and life expectancy are greatly increased. WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER: Black Jack® Ultra-Roof 1000, White Siliconized Elastomeric Coating is guaranteed to form a protective coating to your roof, for a period of ten (10) years from the date of purchase. This warranty is only applicable when this product is.
We inherited a foam roof that was leaking even before we purchased the home, but didn't find out until we took down a wall (that shouldn't have been there) to find molded wood. We also discovered puddles of water underneath ceramic tile which was also removed during our kitchen renovation. (Imagine smashing tile and getting splashed with water, wondering - WTH is going on here?!!) During a 3-day rainstorm, we noticed a soaking wet vintage chair and I immediately blamed the kids ;) The following rainstorm after that, we saw where the leak was coming from and only then we had our AH-HA moment. Sorry kiddos! The roof was hardly seven years old, and the fly-by-night roofing company was long gone. We found Yelp reviews with consumers all up in arms, but oh well - that's another story.
Researching DIY Foam Roof Recoating
There wasn't too much information about recoating a spray polyurethane foam-based (SPF) roof system, so I figured I would share why I tried. Quotes were rumored in our 'hood to go for anywhere between $5,000-$10,000, so this was one of those projects I wanted to figure out. Another Eichler owner, Barry Brisco of San Mateo CA, shared his experience recoating on the boards at Eichler Network, which gave me some hope and guidance with this project. I tried to locate the Apoc 252 elastomeric product he referenced, but Pacific Supply in Oakland no longer carried it, so I then got tips from our awesome neighbor located conveniently across the street, Brian Maher, who recently DIY'd his recoat over the past month.
Materials and Tools Used for the DIY Foam Roof Recoating on Our Eichler
I went with the Lowe's sourced BLACK JACK Ultra Roof 1000 White Siliconized Elastomeric Reflective Roof Coating (10-Year Limited Warranty) and decided to spray using the Graco Magnum X7 Airless Paint Sprayer, loaned to me by a fellow DIY junkie Johannes Sjoeberg @sagamadison - thanks a ton!
At Lowe's, there were two other main options, a BLACK JACK 700 which had a 7 year warranty, and a BLACK JACK Premium Silicone Waterproofing Coating which had a 50 year warranty ($200/bucket) which seemed a bit overkill, and I wasn't all that familiar with silicone products. The 10 yr product seemed to fit the bill at $83/bucket and was acrylic based, so I knew cleanup would be manageable.
Steps for the DIY Foam Roof Recoating on Our Eichler
- Blow all the debris off the roof.
- Power wash all the dirt and grime.
- Patch cracks, joints, seams, then spray coating
DIY Foam Roof Recoating Step 1: Blowing Off Loose Debris
DIY Foam Roof Recoating Step 2: Power Washing Surface
I borrowed a power washer, also from Johannes @sagamadison which was a 2000 psi unit that I hauled up the ladder to the roof. It worked wonders and took me a few hours to complete the cleaning. The difficult part was dealing with ponding on the flat part of our roof, where the dirty water just sat there begging to be left alone. Spraying the puddles of water around seemed, at times, counterintuitive because I was just adding more water to the pool, but in the end it worked. I tried the leaf blower, but as you blew, water would evaporate and leave muddy streaks. A better system was to blast it with the power washer all the way to the gutters or off the edge, while someone also helped to push-broom it. I thought about wet-vac'ing but I wasn't in the mood to haul up yet another piece of equipment onto the roof, and dig around for a 3-way outlet extender.
DIY Foam Roof Recoating Step 3: Spraying the Coating
The coating needs to be applied to a dry surface (although a competing brand mentioned to spray a mist of water that could allow for a slower drying time if needed in high temps), so this isn't one of these projects you can start at the crack of dawn because the condensation first needs to evaporate. (Yes - I can sleep it!)
I had prepared six 5-gallon buckets of coating, but planned on only using five. I was a little nervous that the sprayer wouldn't handle it because the specs on the competing product (Apoc 252) required a 0.2-0.3 tip using 3000-4000 psi at 4 gpm, and mine had a 0.17 tip (max suggested) and put out 3000 psi but it worked just fine.
I had a long 70' hose which made it convenient because that way I wouldn't have to haul up 5 gallon buckets onto the roof (I had already almost killed myself bringing down the pressure washer).
Total Cost of One Coat of Roof Coating:
One full coat took about 5 buckets, so $85 x 5 = $425
Paint sprayer: $500-700
Power Washer: $200-400
All in you could be looking at $2,000 for two full coats and buying the tools.
Two coats should be applied. I managed to spend a few hours on Saturday cleaning the roof, and Sunday spraying, so you could tackle it in a single weekend, but I probably only put in eight hours in total for a single coat.
Good luck if you are going to tackle this project!
Looking to enhance curb appeal while protecting your asphalt driveway from traffic, sun, rain, snow and extreme temperatures? Black Jack® Ultra-Maxx™ 1000 is enhanced with a latex polymer to give maximum performance; unmatched durability and the best looking finish. Ultra-Maxx™ 1000 is also formulated with a combination of gel and fast-dry technology for fast and easy installation, plus the ability to you’re your driveway to foot traffic quicker.
3 Key Tips for Your Perfect Driveway
Extreme How To subscribers have the coolest tools and the skills to use them. You are the people who fearlessly tackle projects, big and small. You are the folks that friends and neighbors call for advice and more often than not, help. So what can we tell you that you don’t already know?
- Read the product label and/or TDS
You pride yourself on being able to get things done on your own, but why wing it when you’ve got great info at your fingertips. Reading the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or label takes about five whole minutes and those are five minutes well spent. These resources provide all kinds of great details that are specific to the particular product and brand like what temperatures and weather conditions are required for application, how many coats do we need and should the coats be thick or thin? Your reputation is on the line. You, the Extreme How To’er set the stage for DIY perfection. Any questions? If so, check out blackjackcoatings.com for tips and videos or reach out to use via the Contact Us page for additional product specific info.
Black Jack Ultra Roof 1000 White Elastomeric
- Preparation
Preparation starts with a good cleaning. You have a pressure washer and you aren’t afraid to use it! And remember, grease and grime need a little help to go away so treat it accordingly. Does anything need to be patched? Black Jack’s line of patching products covers patches up to 3” wide. Product specific preparation info is included on the TDS and label so we know exactly what’s up.
- Application
Blackjack 1000 Roof Coating Reviews
You’ve read the instructions and prepped your asphalt surface. Mother Nature is cooperating, you’re suited up with proper protective gear and clothes that you can get a little dirty. This is the fun part. Grab the squeegee or driveway brush. You’ll get that first thin coat down and marvel at how great it looks and how easy it was to apply. After it dries, you’ll apply the second coat (perpendicular to the first) and pat yourself on the back. Now your driveway looks great and has an extra layer of protection. You’ve upped the curb appeal and your neighbors are impressed. Congratulations on a job well done!
For more information visit https://blackjackcoatings.com/collections/blacktop-driveway-sealers/products/black-jack-ultra-maxx-1000