An advanced tile roofing system

Press, 26 August 1980, Page 9

An advanced tile roofing system

It’s tough at the top with the advanced new Decrabond roofing system. After five years of research and development, and expenditure on a new plant in excess of SIM adthis technically — advanced protected metal tile roofing system is now available in Christchurch through J. B. Ferguson and Co. Ltd, The stone chip; tile is built to last. Decrabond is weatherproof and provides protection from leaks,' while requiring only minimal maintenance.

It is rust-proof, because

of pre-priming, a lasting acrylic base coat and a decorative chip surface, and can be installed over your existing iron roof in just two days. The tiling system develops from a pressed galvanised steel module and it is from this point that modern technology takes over.

The pressed tile module passes through a booth which applies a ' primer coat to the top side of the tile. This coating is styrene acrylic polymer heavily extended with bitumen — a mixture of two substances, each with good features.

When mixed together a primer of excellent adhesion is produced, impervious to water — preventing underfilm corrosion — and with elasticity similar to that of the steel, which expands and contracts along with the

steel base, when subjected to temperature change. The primer coat helps the tile to stay flexible, so it will not harden and become brittle. Therefore it cannot crack-or split from the steel base, which would otherwise allow moisture and corrosive pollutants contact with the galvanised steel.

The tile then passes through a second booth where the second coating is applied. The coating, 100 per cent opaque acrylic, binds the chip to the tile surface and also blocks out the sun’s ultra-violet rays, one of the world’s most destructive forces, from damaging the primer coat. These two coatings are applied wet on wet, so that in effect they are welded together. The chips are applied through a “double-drop” system, which ensures total coverage of the bind-

er coat — a further ultraviolet light block. A lighter weight chip granule is used in • the coating, which means that when dropped on to the tile surface, they will not penetrate the previous two coatings and touch the steel base. This results in water being unable- to reach the. steel. The fourth process, in this new roofing system, is the clear acrylic overr glaze. Each coating, except the chips, combines additives toxic to fungal and lichen growths for added protection in all weathers and climates. ■ Finally, , the freshly coated tile passes through a massive oven, designed and built in New Zealand. Stretching over 100 m long, the oven incorporates three temperature zones with controlled heat, humidity and wind velocity in each zone to ensure

maximum product quality known as Decrabond. This lightweight roofing system is available in six colours and buyers are given up to five years to Pay. Decrabond is only installed by trained, qualified roofing experts and is backed by the resources of Alex Harvey Industries.. Decrabond roofing tiles have received a Building Research Association of New Zealand appraisal certificate, as well as a; Designmark from the Design Council. Many home owners and buyers accept that in today’s economic, climate it is more difficult to build new houses, therefore the need for home improvement is increasing.

Decrabond tiles protect your property investment while adding to its