Coatings | PVDF finishes
PVDF Metal Roof Coating: What Kynar 500 Does on a DFW Roof
A PVDF metal roof coating is the factory-baked paint system on most of the standing seam panels we form. Sold under the Kynar 500 and Hylar 5000 resin names, it holds its color and resists chalking under the hard UV of a North Texas summer.
- 20+ years of experience
- Lifetime limited warranty
- Free written estimates
What is a PVDF coating?
PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) is a fluoropolymer resin used in architectural coil coatings. A genuine Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000 finish contains at least 70 percent PVDF resin, with acrylic resin making up the rest.
Kynar 500 is the Arkema brand, and Hylar 5000 is the other resin named on our spec sheets. Licensed coil coaters blend the resin with pigments and bake it onto steel or aluminum coil on a continuous line. We then roll-form that finished coil into panels and bend the matching trim from the same stock.
The 70 percent figure is the part to check on any quote. PVDF absorbs very little solar ultraviolet, so the binder that holds the pigment resists the slow breakdown that turns ordinary paint chalky. Arkema publishes its long-term outdoor exposure results on the Kynar 500 weatherability page.
Why does PVDF outlast SMP in Texas sun?
The short answer is the binder. SMP (silicone-modified polyester) costs less and has a harder surface, but its polyester binder breaks down faster in strong sun. That breakdown shows up as chalk on the surface and fade you can see from the street.
Dallas summers routinely reach a UV index of 9 to 10. The area also averages about 20 days a year at 100 F or hotter, and 2023 logged 55 of them. Chalking is the binder failing at the surface and releasing pigment as a fine powder. Fade is the color shift that follows.
McElroy Metal has published a side-by-side comparison in which an SMP roof looked visibly faded at about eight years while a Kynar 500 roof nearby still looked new. Results vary with color and exposure. Dark and bright colors usually show the difference first.
| Question | PVDF (Kynar 500 / Hylar 5000) | SMP |
|---|---|---|
| Resin | 70% PVDF, balance acrylic | Silicone-modified polyester |
| Chalk and fade | Strong resistance, the architectural standard | Fair; fades and chalks sooner, more visible on dark and bright colors |
| Surface | Softer and more flexible, so it roll-forms and hems without cracking | Harder, resists scuffs during handling |
| Finish warranty on our spec sheets | 30 years on solid colors, 20 on metallics, 35 on ULTRA-Cool low-gloss Kynar 500 (1.0″ and 1.5″ mech lock sheets) | 15 years |
| Typical fit | Homes, commercial roofs, dark or bright colors, long ownership | Light colors on shops, barns and budget projects |
PVDF finish specifications
Every Permanent Metal Roofing Systems standing seam profile can be ordered in PVDF. The finish warranty comes from the coil coater and is separate from our own workmanship coverage, which is explained on the warranties page.
| Spec | PVDF on PMRS panels |
|---|---|
| Resin system | Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000, 70% PVDF |
| Substrates | 26, 24 and 22 gauge Galvalume steel; .032″ and .040″ aluminum (varies by profile) |
| Profiles | 1″, 1.5″ and 1.75″ snap lock; 1″ LD, 1.5″ HD and 2″ mechanical lock; matching flashing, trim and gutters |
| Solid colors | 30-year steel or aluminum finish warranty |
| ULTRA-Cool low-gloss Kynar 500 | 35-year finish warranty (1.0″ and 1.5″ mech lock sheets) |
| Metallic colors | 20-year finish warranty |
| For comparison | SMP 15-year coating warranty; acrylic-coated Galvalume Plus 25-year steel warranty |
| Minimum slope | Set by the panel: 3/12 for snap lock, 1/2:12 for mechanical lock |
| Best for | Roofs that need stable color for decades, especially charcoal, bronze, black, red and blue |
Exact terms are on the Metal Alliance finish warranty chart (PDF). Every panel spec sheet is on our downloads page.
Do cool-roof PVDF colors keep a house cooler?
They help, and they help most in a cooling climate like ours. Cool-roof pigments reflect more of the sun’s invisible infrared energy than standard pigments, so a panel of the same visible color runs cooler.
Reflectivity is reported as two numbers: solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Combined under ASTM E1980, they give a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI). A standard black surface scores 0 and a standard white scores 100.
The EPA says a cool roof can run up to about 100 F cooler at the surface than a dark conventional roof. Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Florida Solar Energy Center found cool metal roofing can trim annual cooling energy by up to roughly 25 percent compared with dark asphalt shingles. Your result depends on color, attic ventilation, insulation and equipment.
Light colors carry the highest SRI values. Cool-pigment darks narrow the gap but still run warmer than white or almond. Rated values for specific products are listed by the Cool Roof Rating Council, and we pull the numbers for any color you shortlist. Dallas-Fort Worth sits in climate zone 3A, where cooling drives the utility bill.
How we form and install PVDF-coated panels
A good finish can be ruined between the coil and the roof. Because we roll-form our own panels and bend our own trim, we control the steps where paint damage usually starts.
- Panels, flashing, drip edge and gutters come from the same coil run, so the color matches across the whole roof.
- We cut with shears and nibblers, never abrasive saw blades. Hot filings from a saw embed in the paint and leave rust freckles.
- Crews sweep metal shavings off the roof every day before they can stain the finish.
- Concealed clips hold standing seam panels, so no exposed fastener heads pierce the coating in the field of the roof.
- Touch-up paint is used sparingly. Air-dry touch-up never weathers exactly like a baked coil finish.
The panel underneath matters as much as the paint. See standing seam systems for profiles, or compare snap lock and mechanical lock seams.
How do you care for a PVDF roof?
Mostly by leaving it alone. Rain does most of the cleaning, and an occasional rinse handles pollen, dust and bird droppings.
- Rinse with a garden hose. For stubborn dirt, use a mild detergent and a soft brush, then rinse well.
- Skip high-pressure washers, wire brushes, scouring pads and strong solvents.
- Keep valleys and gutters clear so wet leaves do not sit on the finish.
- Keep copper, treated lumber and their runoff away from Galvalume panels.
- Stay off the roof when you can. Foot traffic scuffs paint and can dent pans.
PVDF, Tedlar or crinkle: which finish fits?
Smooth PVDF is the right default for most DFW homes and commercial roofs. The other two finishes solve narrower problems.
Tedlar PVF film is a solid film laminated to the coil instead of a liquid paint. It carries finish warranties of up to 50 years through Metal Alliance and shrugs off graffiti and harsh chemicals. A crinkle finish adds a fine texture that cuts glare and hides slight waviness in wide, flat pans.
Budget is part of the choice too. Our current base price for 24-gauge Galvalume standing seam with a Kynar 500 finish, installed on a house, is $15 per square foot of roof. The cost calculator shows how gauge, tear-off and pitch change that number.
PVDF coating questions
Is Kynar 500 the same thing as PVDF?
Kynar 500 is Arkema’s brand of PVDF resin, and Hylar 5000 is another. In a roofing finish, either one should make up at least 70 percent of the resin. If a quote just says “PVDF,” ask which resin and what percentage.
How long is the finish warranty on a PVDF metal roof?
On our spec sheets, solid PVDF colors carry a 30-year finish warranty and metallics carry 20. ULTRA-Cool low-gloss Kynar 500 carries 35 years on the 1.0″ and 1.5″ mech lock sheets. That coverage comes from the coil coater and sits alongside our own lifetime non-prorated limited warranty.
Is PVDF worth the extra cost over SMP?
For a home you plan to keep, usually yes, especially in a dark or bright color. SMP can make sense on a light-colored shop or barn. Our base installed price for 24-gauge Kynar 500 standing seam on a house is $15 per square foot of roof, and we can price SMP beside it.
Can a PVDF finish be touched up or repainted?
Small scratches can be touched up with a matched air-dry paint, applied sparingly. Large touch-ups tend to weather differently from the baked finish. Decades from now, a weathered PVDF roof can be cleaned and recoated with a compatible system.
Get Your Free Metal Roof Estimate
Tell us about your roof and a Permanent Metal Roofing Systems specialist will follow up to schedule your free estimate. No pressure, no obligation.
Prefer to talk now? Call (469) 466-2421.
See PVDF colors on your own house
Ask for physical color chips with your estimate so you can judge them against your brick in daylight. We will measure the roof and price it in PVDF, with SMP alongside if you want the comparison.