FAQs

PVDF refers to the resin Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) applied to Aluzinc or Hot-Dip coated steel. PVDF coating uses premium quality pigmentations and consists of carbon-fluorine, one of the strongest bonds known. This makes it highly durable and superior to traditional Polyester roof finishes. Apart from its excellent resistance against the ill effects of UV light and environmental pollutants, PVDF coated steel also protects against corrosion.  It is ideally suited to roofs, wall cladding and panels, because of its superior colour fastness and gloss retention. Additionally, with a PVDF roof you won’t need to re-paint as often and there is a wide selection of colours from which to choose.

As a homeowner this is question of great importance as a solid roof is vital to the integrity of your home. Having a trusted, professional roofer do the job will go a long way in making sure your roof lasts for many years. Once it has been properly installed, and the recommended building specifications have been followed, a well-maintained roof should last about 20 years. Apart from the quality of the materials used, here are some additional factors that have an impact on the lifespan of your roof:

• Quality of the workmanship at installation – poor quality workmanship can reduce its lifespan.
• Environmental Conditions - exposure to sea blast as well as industrial conditions, high winds, extreme temperatures, and falling debris can decrease the life of your roof.
• Debris and overhanging trees – overhanging trees can promote the growth of moss and fungus on your roof. It can also cause dents, scratches, or other damage. These issues, if unchecked can lead to corrosion and other problems that will diminish the lifespan of your roof. Be sure to trim or cut trees regularly to prevent possible damage.
• Maintenance and inspections - we recommend regular roof maintenance. Inspections by a roofing contractor will also allow problems to be detected early so necessary repairs can be made as soon as possible.

You should have your roof inspected at least once a year by a roofing contractor. It is a good idea to do so before the wet season begins.

Washing off the painted surface with clean water from a garden hose or when rain falls will remove most of the dirt or debris that has accumulated. We do however recommend you clean your roof at least once a year or more often depending on environmental conditions. For instance, if you live on the coast where there are high levels of sea spray, or in areas where industrial fallout is high your roof will need more regular cleaning.

When cleaning, we do not recommend you use pressure washers with a high psi. This can potentially remove the finish on your roof exposing the metal which will lead to corrosion. You can however use low psi pressure washers, standard window brushes that have a soft bristle to prevent scratching, or a well-soaked soft cloth/sponge to help remove build up without scraping your roof.

Before starting to clean your roof test a small unobtrusive area for colour fastness. Begin cleaning from the top of the panel and move downwards as this avoids streaking. The application should be gentle. We know mildew and fungal growth can be stubborn, so you can use a mild detergent containing bleach. Never use abrasive cleaners or industrial solvents, these will damage the paint’s finish. And remember thoroughly rinse the area with clean water so that all traces of detergent are removed. Most importantly always practice appropriate safety measures when working from heights. If you have any doubts or concerns about safety, we highly recommend you contact a professional to clean your roof.

We also recommend you trim tree branches and brushes regularly as this can cause damage to metal roofs. If you have guttering, it is important you clean it at the same time as your roof as debris there will obstruct the flow of water. Water that stays in the guttering will lead to corrosion.

Colour fading on metal roofs occurs overtime because the pigmentation of the paint breaks down from excessive exposure to the sun. Sometimes this takes years to become noticeable; but this it is a natural occurrence for all types of paint finishes.  While UV rays contribute to fading, other factors can also have an impact such as moisture, salty air, chemicals in the atmosphere and pollution. Your roof will also not fade evenly if one side receives greater exposure to the sun than the other. The side that is often in the shade will look more vibrant than the side that is in the sun.

Some paint finishes are more resistant to fading than others. So, when you’re choosing the colour of your roof consider the following:

• PVDF vs. Polyester coating - PVDF coatings use the highest quality pigmentations and consist of one of the strongest bonds known, called the carbon-fluorine bond. This chemical structure gives PVDF the ability to resist absorbing UV radiation, which is the main cause of fading. On the other hand, Polyester paint is made from polyester and silicone. While the silicone improves the gloss retention and weather resistance of the coatings, the polyester absorbs the UV radiation which breaks the paint apart. Every type of Polyester paint finish has different levels of polyester and silicone in it. To avoid fading, more silicone and less polyester is better.
• Inorganic colours such as browns and other earth tones have pigments that are less likely to breakdown vs. organic colours like reds, blues or greens.
• Lighter colours vs. darker colours – lighter colours tend to deflect sunlight, keeping your house cooler with less fading. Dark colours on the other hand absorb UV rays, making your home warmer and the colour will also fade faster.

We do not offer this type of service at the moment, but we can refer you to a qualified specialist if you should need one.

Yes, DAMUS Building Solutions has STOW Certification. Our aim is to adopt all best practices necessary to ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, and customers.

Yes, we do recommend having a well-ventilated roof. This enables the circulation of fresh air and avoids the build-up of heat.

Currently we carry 2 types of ventilated roofs:

• Perforated Ceiling
• Air Vents.

The Antilles 5 is very popular roofing profile that features five-crowns. Each crown measures 1 ¼” high. One 42” wide sheet will give full coverage of 40” compared to other profiles. The Antilles 5 profile is suitable for industrial, commercial and residential applications and is one of the most requested and affordable roofing profiles on the market.

DAMUS Building Solutions is the retail arm of the company. As the Sales Division, it focuses on providing the best building solutions to our customers while making sure their experience is painless and hassle-free. DAMUS Roofing Systems is the manufacturing side of the company.

DAMUS Building Solutions has five (5) strategically located offices across Trinidad, each with convenient parking.

Our locations are:

• Point Lisas
• Duncan Village
• Penal
• Princes Town
• Arima

You can also visit our E-store. If however you prefer we visit you, give us a call at 866-4DBS.

Yes, you can. With Scotia Ecom+ you can make payments from any smart device with an internet connection. Payments can also be made through our E-Store or by using a payment link which can be provided.

At DAMUS Building Solutions we carry a range of standard window blinds. Currently we do not offer customisation for our blinds.

The acronym "uPVC" stands for "Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride". uPVC must not be confused with the more commonly known PVC which contains resins (plasticisers) that make it extremely flexible. uPVC is un-plasticised (no resins) which creates a rigid structure making it strong, tough and resilient.

Our window frames are made using uPVC and offer many benefits compared to traditional materials like aluminium, steel, or timber. Extremely lightweight making for easy installation, uPVC windows are incredibly durable and require very little maintenance. Corrosion and termite resistant, these windows can last a lifetime while retaining their very pleasing aesthetics.