RESTORATION

Superior Metal Fabricators

Clear polyurethane skylight coating

Project Overview

Superior Metal Fabricators works out of a metal shop building at 4217 Sarellen Road in Richmond. The building has a metal roof with skylight panels that bring daylight into the work area, and gutters along the roof edge.

The owner needed the gutters cleaned and the skylights brought back. This was a maintenance job focused on two specific parts of the roof, not a full roof restoration.

Job Photos

Skylight panel on the metal roof covered in dark dirt and growth (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Skylight panel on the metal roof covered in dark dirt and growth

Pressure washing a skylight panel on the shop roof (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Pressure washing a skylight panel on the shop roof

Close view of a cleaned skylight panel with weathered fibers showing at the surface (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Close view of a cleaned skylight panel with weathered fibers showing at the surface

Clear polyurethane being applied to a skylight panel on the metal roof (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Clear polyurethane being applied to a skylight panel on the metal roof

Restored skylight panels with a glossy clear coating between the metal ribs (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Restored skylight panels with a glossy clear coating between the metal ribs

Gutter trough along the edge of the shop building after cleaning (Superior Metal Fabricators, Richmond, VA) — Gutter trough along the edge of the shop building after cleaning

The Challenge

The skylights had weathered badly. The panels were covered in dark dirt and growth, which blocks a lot of light. Fiberglass skylight panels also lose their surface layer as they age in the sun, and once the glass fibers are exposed the panel holds dirt and lets even less light through.

The gutters had collected debris. Clogged gutters hold water against the roof edge and the gutter seams, and they overflow during heavy rain instead of carrying the water away.

Our Solution

We cleaned out the gutters, cleaned the skylights, and restored the skylight panels with a clear polyurethane coating. The coating seals the weathered surface of the panels and protects them from the weather while still letting light through.

1We cleaned the debris out of the gutters.
2We pressure washed the skylight panels to remove dirt and growth.
3We applied clear polyurethane over the cleaned skylight panels.
4We checked the finished skylights along the roof once the coating was down.

Why This Approach

Replacing skylight panels on a metal roof means unfastening and refastening panels and resealing their laps, and new panels can be hard to match to an older roof profile. When the panels are still intact but weathered, cleaning and coating them is a simpler fix. A clear coating fills and seals the eroded surface so the panel sheds dirt and water again and passes more light. Keeping gutters clear is basic maintenance, but it protects the roof edge and keeps water moving off the building.

Results

Gutters cleaned out
Skylight panels cleaned of dirt and growth
Skylights restored with a clear polyurethane coating
Skylights let daylight through again

Common Questions

Can old fiberglass skylight panels be restored instead of replaced?

Often, yes. If the panels are not cracked or broken, they can be cleaned and coated with a clear coating that seals the weathered surface. That improves light transmission and protects the panel. Panels that are cracked or brittle should be replaced.

How often should commercial gutters be cleaned?

It depends on nearby trees and the size of the roof, but checking and cleaning at least once or twice a year, usually in late fall and spring, is a good baseline. Buildings surrounded by trees may need more frequent cleaning.