Metal roof installation is an intricate process, and it’s of utmost importance that a metal roof is installed correctly to avoid issues down the road that may crop up due to faulty installation. In this article, we will discuss several tips.
Choosing the Right Material and Metal
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Aluminum Roofing: Aluminum is among the most popular metals that are commonly used for metal roofs. It’s lightweight and corrosion-resistant, which makes it ideal for coastal areas or regions where the climate can accelerate corrosion. It’s a bit more expensive than steel and may also be dented easily. However, aluminum roofs can easily last several decades if properly maintained, and it’s not uncommon for them to last up to 3-4 decades.
Tin Roofing: Tin roofs were synonymous with metal roofs a few decades ago, and one can still come across old buildings with tin roofs. It’s a bit cheaper than steel and aluminum but lacks the strength and finishing of both these metals. Nowadays, it’s rarely used for metal roofs due to the easy availability of better options.
Steel Roofing: Steel is the metal of choice for most commercial and residential buildings and is the most commonly used metal for metal roofs. It’s pretty cheap compared to aluminum and other metals.
Steel also offers a wide range of options when it comes to design, shapes, colors, and hues. However, due to its rust and corrosion-prone nature, it may not be a good choice for areas where the climate can lead to corrosion, such as near seas, oceans, or coastal areas. Steel roofs can last anywhere from 40 to 60 years or even more with regular care.
Standing Seam Roofing: Standing seam roofs are among the most popular varieties of steel roofs in use today. Standing seams conceal the fasteners used to bind steel sheets together, which is ideal for rainy areas as there’s very little chance of a leak, even after a severe rain shower or hailstorm.
Standing seam roofs are also known for their enhanced strength and durability, providing enhanced roof resistance. Concealed fasteners not only significantly reduce the chances of leaks but also appear aesthetically pleasing. A major downside of standing seam roofs is the cost, as these roofs are more expensive than most other metal roofing systems.
Metal Shingle Roofing: Metal shingle roofs, as the very name suggests, use shingles made of metal, with steel being the most common material used in such roofs. They provide you with the strength of steel and the beauty of shingles.
Metal Slate Roofing: To describe in just a few words, metal state roofs combine the beauty of slate shingles with the strength of steel.
Metal Tile Roofing: Metal tile roofs are ideal for someone who wants to enhance the appeal of their building with the beauty of tiles and also wants to use a more robust material that will not be prone to damage, as is the case with tiles.
Copper Roofing: While many people assume that steel roofs last the longest, this is not true, as this honor goes to copper roofs that can last 100+ years. In fact, copper roofs on some historical buildings have lasted for centuries. Copper is a less reactive metal, and as such, copper roofs are ideal for use in industrial or commercial buildings or near coastal or humid areas.
Copper roofs are also quite beautiful due to the natural color of copper, which looks quite aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. The only significant disadvantages of copper roofs are that they are very expensive compared to other metals and may cost 4 to 6 times more than a similar steel roof. They are also more complex to install, and not many roofing companies have the expertise to install copper roofs.
Zinc Roofing: Zinc roofs are similar to copper roofs in most aspects and are considered a premium roofing option, like copper roofs. The major downside is that even fewer roofing companies have the necessary expertise and experience to install zinc roofs. However, if one wants a roof that can last a really long time, then, indeed, one can consider copper or zinc roofs.
Choosing the Right Tools for Installation
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The success of any commercial metal roofing project depends on the expertise of the roofer and the tools that he has access to. It’s imperative that the roofer installing, repairing, or replacing a metal roof has good quality roofing tools such as swivel head shears, metal snips, nibblers, hand seamers, and impact drivers, as it’s almost impossible to work on a metal roof without these handy tools.
You must also choose the tools based on the metal or material you’re working with. If a metal cutter can cut through steel of 18 gauge or 0.048 inches, it might not cut a steel sheet of 14 gauge or 0.08 inches due to its thickness. So, always be mindful to carefully select the tools for every metal roof project by analyzing what materials you will use.
Take Accurate Measurements
It goes without saying that in roofing, one needs to take accurate and precise measurements, as no amount of “eyeballing” can ever come close to the precision of using the right measuring tools. If your measurements are accurate, then it’ll save you plenty of time that could be wasted if you happen to be working with just an estimate of the area on which the metal roof needs to be installed.
Install Underlayment, Fasteners, and Flashing the Correct Way
During the course of a metal roof installation, repair, restoration, or replacement process, you’ll need to install several pieces of a roofing system, such as underlayment, fasteners, flashing, etc. Any error during installation will eventually lead to problems down the road that could cost your business tens of thousands of dollars.
So, always install these various components of a roofing system the correct way. Many manufacturers provide detailed guidelines and pictorial diagrams about how to install their products. And it’s a good idea to review the documentation carefully before installing these components. Correct installation will lead to a resilient roofing system that will be able to withstand even the harshest weather conditions.
Conclusion
These are some of the most important things that one needs to consider while installing a commercial metal roof. This list is by no means comprehensive, as there are certainly other things that one can add. We always appreciate feedback. Feel free to reach out if there are any other additional tips that you feel should have been included in this list.
Measuring roof area and preparing an estimate are all essential activities for securing a roofing job, and these tasks consumed a lot of time in the pre-digital era. Thanks to apps and software available now, an incredible amount of time can be saved on measuring roofs and preparing an estimate.
In today’s competitive roofing market, it can be quite a challenge to be noticed. While every entrepreneur knows the struggle of acquiring and retaining customers, standing out from the crowd can be hard. Consider one of the most powerful ways to stand out: Google Reviews!
TPO roofing systems have also become a favorite among roofing contractors throughout the country, and for good reason. They are a cost-effective roofing system that can deliver the long-term protection buildings require while still being easy to install. A few other key benefits they provide are:
So, you’re in the market for a new commercial roofing system. You start talking with a roofing contractor and he begins with throwing around terms like PVC (I thought that was a term for pipes?) and TPO (some new brand of toilet paper?). How do you translate that into what product works best for you?
TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is made from rubberized materials, generally a blend of polypropylene plastic and ethylene-propylene rubber. These sheets come in various thicknesses, ranging from 40mm to 100mm, with 45mm to 65mm being the most common for roofing applications.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the 3rd most produced synthetic plastic in the world. In its original form, it is the rigid white plastic that you’re familiar with in plumbing and other applications. With the addition of “plasticizers”, it becomes the flexible version used in single-ply membrane systems.
The roofing industry is a lucrative industry, but without proper safety, you will set your company up to fail. Your employees are your greatest resource. Without them, your company could not exist. This also goes for your clients, without them, you would be out of business sooner than you started. Your safety plan should focus on keeping both your employees and your clients safe.
Chemical breakdown. Depending on the roofing system installed, outdoor temperatures of a comfortable 90°F can quickly become a blistering 160° on the roofing surface! Some roofing system materials absorb and retain that heat, rather than reflecting it away from the building. With surface temperatures that extreme, the chemical compounds within the materials can begin to break down. Over time, this leads to roofing system failure. Unfortunately, this breakdown is almost impossible to see to the naked eye and you are only aware it has occurred when the next rainstorm advises you.
PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride, in the right hands will deliver high-quality, long-lasting protection for your building. These roofing systems have been delivering trusted protection for decades and continue innovation so they can adapt with the increasing demands in roofing today. Comprised of a single layer, PVC roofs are a member of the single-ply membrane family and are a thermoplastic.
