Tim Wood, Marketing Manager from Leyland Trade takes a look at some of the most commonly asked questions from your customers regarding exterior and interior protection against the elements.
Q. I’m concerned my roof might be leaking, but I can’t afford to replace it. Can you help?
A. Leaky roofs can be a major headache for homeowners, and it pays to be able to offer simple solutions to water ingress. While some roofs do require extensive repairs to ensure they are watertight for winter, there are also cases where costs could be an issue so repairing cracks and minor damage can be enough.
The best products to use for repairs to roofs and gutters are waterproof resins like the Truguard Repair & Waterproofer, which is flexible and crack resistant, making it effective and easy to apply. When used in conjunction with a polyester fibre membrane and some roof repair tape, this type of product can handle a great deal of commonly occurring roof damage.
Q. Can I paint directly onto damp walls?
A. With so many homes affected by damp in the UK – especially period buildings constructed over 100 years ago – there are many people for whom the task of eliminating damp is potentially too difficult and expensive for it to be ultimately worthwhile.
If a damp problem is spreading, then action should of course be taken to stem the spread and stop the damp from threatening the integrity of the 
walls.
However, if the damp issue is contained and not spreading, then it might be that you simply want to eliminate the visible signs of damp by painting over the patches it has caused in your paintwork.
Painting directly onto damp will only bring about the same issues of staining or peeling, unless you use a stain block product before painting. Use in combination with more durable paints, such as eggshell or silk finishes for the best results.
Q. My damp issue is fixed – do I need to re-plaster before painting?
A. The question of whether or not re-plastering is necessary really depends on just how much damage the damp has done to the plaster. In most cases, it is just a case of ensuring you give the plaster enough time to dry properly before repainting.
Even if you are confident that the plaster is fully dried out and ready to be repainted, it is highly recommended that you apply a damp proofing treatment product such as the Truguard Stabilising Damp Treatment. These products prevent the formation of efflorescence after painting, which manifests as white salt deposits in the affected area.
It is a water-based product that is touch dry within three hours of application, so using it shouldn’t hold you up too much, and it will be well worth it in most cases.
Q. How can I keep fences and gates rust free over winter?
A. Corrosion of metal surfaces is something that affects nearly every household during the cold, wet, windy British winters.
Rust and degradation affects gates, fences, and certain types of window frames and guttering, but there are plenty of tools at hand to protect metal surfaces and keep them in top condition all year round.
It is important to establish the cause of any corrosion before treating metal surfaces. Exposure to rain, wind, snow and hail is often the cause of issues such as rust in metal gates and fences, and the range of products available 
to protect against this problem is highly effective.
Products like Truguard Brushable Bitumen paint renders metal surfaces entirely waterproof by making them resistant to low concentrations of acids and alkalis, and ready to endure prolonged oxidation. These products can be used on iron, steel, lead, zinc and aluminium.
Where corrosion in metal surfaces is caused by humidity or contact with chemicals, then it is best to use an active primer on the surface, which will neutralise acid ions before they come into contact with the metal itself.
Q. I want to seal my patio before winter arrives. What should I use?
A. After your customers have spent a summer happily sitting out on the patio, it is wise to try and protect it through the months when it will take a pounding from the elements.
Natural stone patio flags are often porous, so it is important to protect them using products that repel water and block stains A Path and Patio Seal is available in our Waterproofing range, which protects porous floors, including paths and block paving stones, from water and stains using water and oil-repelling technology.
Patio seals are easy to use and won’t affect the colour of your stone, so if you want to paint the protected area you can do so with confidence.
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