Coating a metal roof with Graco Ultra 495 XT – a practical example

What does professional metal roof coating look like in practice with the airless technique? A Finnish customer recently redid the coating of a sheet metal roof with an airless gun and gave us an insight into his project – from preparation to the choice of device and tip, through to the finish. The result shows what really matters in this application: careful preparation, the right tip and controlled paint application.

The result: standing seam metal roof coated evenly in anthracite. Graco Ultra 495 XT, LP 515 tip.

Careful preparation as the foundation

Before applying the coating, thorough cleaning was necessary. The metal surfaces were freed of dirt, deposits and loose particles using a Kränzle high-pressure cleaner fitted with a turbo nozzle (rotary nozzle). This step is particularly decisive for a metal roof: the coating only adheres durably on a clean, sound surface – this is the foundation of effective anti-corrosion protection.

Cleaning with a Kränzle high-pressure cleaner – the foundation for a coating that adheres durably.

Airless rather than brush and roller

On large continuous sheet metal surfaces, the airless technique reveals all its strengths compared to a brush and roller: significantly higher surface output, a more even paint film and noticeably reduced physical effort. Wind and sun made the work demanding – but with the right equipment, the roof could be coated quickly and with consistent quality.

The equipment used for the roof

The central piece of equipment was a Graco Ultra 495 XT HiBoy on cart – a powerful piston airless station that, thanks to its cart, moves easily around the job site. For a small metal roof like this one, the Ultra 495 XT is perfectly sized. For larger roof surfaces, however, it is preferable to turn to a more powerful model such as the Graco Ultra 795 XT or the Ultra 1095 XT, which offer higher flow rate and reserves for a high material output.

For the roof surface, the Graco RAC X LP 515 tip (0.015 inch, 50°) was used. The RAC X LP range operates at reduced pressure – which reduces spray mist (overspray) and guarantees a consistent spray pattern. The wide spray of the 515 is ideal for continuous surfaces. The setup was completed with:

• the Graco CleanShot anti-drip valve – a clean cutoff, with no dripping;
• the Graco 75 cm extension – more reach across the surface, without having to overextend;
• the Graco 90 cm whip hose – a flexible connection directly to the gun for less tiring work.

For masking, the Airless Discounter protective film with Gold adhesive tape as well as Gold adhesive tape in two widths were used.

A clean, fully covering finish right up to the chimney and penetration points. Graco Ultra 495 XT, LP 515 tip.

Maintenance and useful accessories

With a few additional accessories, it is possible to increase the working radius and keep the device operational for the long term – here are the suitable products available in our store:

• Graco BlueMax II hose 1/4″ x 15 m (240794) – extends the working radius up to 30 meters, allowing distant roof and facade areas to be reached without moving the device.
• Graco fitting 1/4″ x 1/4″ (156971) – adapter allowing two hoses to be connected together.
• Brush kit for cleaning airless spraying devices – cleaning brushes for thorough maintenance of the device.
• FARBMAX “Sablier” tip cleaner 200 ml – dissolves dried paint residue on tips and filters.
• FARBMAX airless maintenance fluid 1 liter – a preservation product that protects the pump and seals from drying out during storage and transport.

This concrete example shows how a metal roof can be coated professionally and efficiently with the Graco Ultra 495 XT – provided the preparation, the choice of device and tip, as well as the coat thickness are correct. The result speaks for itself, and we thank our customer for sharing this experience about his project.

Are you planning a roof coating project? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We provide detailed advice on the choice of device and accessories, so that you too achieve a perfect result on your roof.