Posted 2010-08-03 6:45 PM (#123146) Subject: Let me pick your brain!
Regular
Posts: 96 Location: MasonDixon
Colorado friend had their trailer roof painted with a product they identified as a CERAMIC product, sprayed on. Said it reduced the heat in the horse trailer 10 degrees. Picture's sent showed it all taped up and in a barn area or arena. So no heat was necessary to "set" it.
Anyone ever heard of it, done it? Can you put a name to the product?
Posted 2010-08-04 5:46 AM (#123156 - in reply to #123146) Subject: roof paint
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: Newnan, GA
has anyone done this besides the ad featured on the home page? I had a friend research doing this project for me and a few friends and he came up with about $800? worth of materials to do my trailer, plus his labor. I have a 12'sw 3 h trailer with a 26' box. It seems like a great product and I like the research numbers on the reduced heat - it just seems a bit pricey...or maybe we didn't figure it correctly?
Posted 2010-08-04 9:21 AM (#123162 - in reply to #123146) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
You're pretty accurate on the price. Another product called an "Elastomeric" coating is also very good and is similiarly priced. However, this product is mainly used when ever a roof has a chronic problem with multiple leaks, and regular caulking isn't effective.
Bare aluminum doesn't reflect heat very well, but does transmit it quickly. By applying a white painted surface to the aluminum, the trailers' inside temperatures will easily drop 10 - 15 degrees F.
If your issue is strictly one of lowering inside temperatures, painting the roof can be an option. The cost of painting a trailer roof is a fraction of the previously mentioned products. Marine paints work well and are long lasting on exposed aluminum.
Posted 2010-08-04 12:47 PM (#123171 - in reply to #123162) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Kinston, NC
Last summer, we took readings of 190 degrees on bare aluminum in the sun (approx 95 deg air temp). I thought it was inaccurate but we did the test again and I got the same reading. I found a roofing company's data that confirmed similar readings. I also found another set of data that suggested the temperature of shiny aluminum was comparable to BLACK.
Same aluminum...but painted white, had a temp of like 50 degrees less. These are outside roof surface temps and can easily translate into 15+ degrees cooler for the inside.
Posted 2010-08-04 1:57 PM (#123173 - in reply to #123146) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Member
Posts: 30
I'm going to do a test myself in the next month. I will record outside temperature, Roof temperature, and inside trailer temperature.
Later that week I will do the same test, except the inside of the trailer will be completely insulated with spray foam insulation (closed cell which forms a vapor barrier)all except for the windows.
My husband sprays it for a living and he just did a guys drink cooler at a new store he had built. The guy called yesterday and said his electric bill was lower than the bill of his 1/3 the size store with a smaller cooler. I can't wait to see how it will do inside a horse trailer. We plan on doing the roof area of the horses area also.
Posted 2010-08-04 2:59 PM (#123178 - in reply to #123173) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by Bluerose2001 on 2010-08-04 2:57 PM
. Later that week I will do the same test, except the inside of the trailer will be completely insulated with spray foam insulation
I have a friend, who, before he installed the interior panels of a DIY LQ, had his trailer spray foamed. It's remarkable how comfortable the immediate results were. Not only was it a quick and painless installation (40 mins), but the ability for the product to conform to every curve, nook and cranny made the insulation air tight. Because he had installed furring strips proud of the wall studs, even the inside ends of the aluminum studs were spray covered. This is an area often neglected by many DIYers.
Not only does the insulation make the interior cooling and heating almost immediate, but one thing you will quickly notice, is how quiet the area becomes. It's a great product and I'm surprised more people don't opt for its inclusion.
Posted 2010-08-04 3:53 PM (#123187 - in reply to #123146) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I don't know the specifics other than it was a commercial house hold product. He was able to take his trailer to a building site where a house was being insulated. At the end of the "big" job, the applicator stepped into the trailer, and using probably what was left in the hoses, finished all the exposed areas of the interior. Any critical spots and windows were already masked off. The owner was charged aprox 1/3 of the going rate, because he went to their work place, and he cut off and trimmed the excess.
He was told not to enclose the areas for 48 hours, probably as you say, to allow any gases to escape. Surprisingly there was very little odor.
Posted 2010-08-04 4:08 PM (#123188 - in reply to #123146) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Member
Posts: 30
If he had to do any trimming, he was using open cell foam that quickly expands on contact. The closed cell foam only expands just a little bit, but forms a more dense foam. The open cell expands a lot and can overfill areas. Moisture does have the ability to pass through the open cell because it is less dense, but it isn't supposed to on the closed cell.I am NOT the expert, but I overhear a lot of talk about it. I believe we even have "Bio" foam in our tanks right now so I would have a "green" trailer.
Posted 2010-08-04 8:41 PM (#123195 - in reply to #123184) Subject: RE: Let me pick your brain!
Regular
Posts: 90
I have never used the spray foam in a horse trailer, but have used it in 2 different horse barns. It is incredible! I had a 40x70 metal barn with walls and ceilings sprayed, 10 stalls...in freezing temps with all 10 stalls filled you could wear a t-shirt and be comfortable. I would love to have this in my trailer. The roof coating sounds good too! With temps over 100 for the last week...it makes you think about these things :-/
Let me pick your brain!
