How To Repair Standing Seam Roof

dale-nelson By Dale Nelson, Roof Hugger LLC

Every year nosotros provide framing systems that permit a new metal roof to exist installed over an existing metallic roof. Sadly, in many cases the roof is existence replaced non because information technology had reached the end of its useful life but rather considering it had been improperly repaired. These repairs have many forms but most are along the social club of tar, caulk, or other exotic conventional roof blanket fabric that is rolled, sprayed or smeared on the metallic panels with the promise of a long term "fix" to the leak trouble.

Metal roofs are the longest life, almost maintenance free roofs on the market place, but any roof can and will eventually develop a leak. Metal roofs however are a specialty in and of themselves and contractors that do not specialize in metal covering volition ofttimes brand wrong and/or seriously damaging repairs. Some other important aspect is that most newer metal roofs have xx- to forty-twelvemonth finish warranties. Improper repairs can hands void these warranties!

Assuming your metal roof has a leak where practise yous kickoff?

1. Where is the roof leaking? What unit or point in the building has the leak appeared? Approximately how far from the eave going toward the ridge and from i building stop forth the eave is the drip showing upwardly? Recollect metallic roofs e'er take a pitch and water ever runs downhill, then the leak is typically at that bespeak or upslope from that bespeak.

nelson-roof-repair-1 ii. What kind of roof practise you accept? There are 2 basic types of metallic roofs. Spiral downward (through fastened) and standing seam. The most common roofs are screw downwardly and they volition take from 0.viii - 1.i fasteners per square human foot of roof surface area. This ways if you accept a 10,000 sq. ft. roof there could be equally many as 11,000 fastener penetrations through the roof. Older fasteners were often cadmium plated and notorious for breaking downward over fourth dimension and creating a leak. Newer stainless steel and zinc cap fasteners accept a significantly longer life bridge and should always be used. Standing seam roofs typically have very few exposed fasteners and those would typically be used at the eave or ridge of the roof. These roofs are very reliable and much less prone to leaking but on occasion, even they can accept a leak, panel cease laps being the almost common problem.

Ok, I accept the information I need, now who should I phone call?

1. Outset and foremost, call someone who specializes in metal roofing. The typical "roofing contractor" may exist highly skilled with shingles, congenital-up or single-ply systems merely metal roofs are totally different. Metal buildings commonly take the manufacturer's logo and proper noun on the peak or somewhere on the building. Call them for a recommendation; they will have a network of builders and installers they piece of work with. This will besides protect any remaining warranty y'all may have. Don't inadvertently void your warranty.

2. If the building is also old or at that place are no markings remaining, I would suggest any local metal building contractor or metal building erector. Another dandy resources is the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Clan (MBCEA). This is a group of qualified metal building specialists that piece of work continuously to maintain the highest quality of workmanship.

But my roofer friend says he can handle the job. No problem, right?

1. Ok, peradventure, just ask a lot of questions first. A roof repair does non mean yous put caulk, silicone, tar or other foreign textile on the metallic panels! If a fastener has failed, it should exist replaced with a new over-sized long-life fastener non covered with goop! Caulking or coating fasteners, console side-laps or panel end-laps is not a prepare - it is how yous significantly shorten the remaining life of your roof!

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ii. Recall, metal roofs move constantly. It doesn't matter if they are screw-down or standing-seam, they move. Because of that, metallic roofs also have their own specialized group of accessories for piping penetrations, roof openings, snowfall retentivity and other roof-mounted equipment. Never allow another contractor - i.due east.: plumbing, electrical, mechanical or other profession - to penetrate your metal roof. They don't understand them and they will not do it correctly. They too not properly trained on how to walk on a metal roof. Uncontrolled foot traffic can exercise serious damage to your roof.

Decision

one. Understand that if y'all accept a metal roof, so you have a top-of-the-line roof system. It requires a company that specializes in metal roofs to repair it if you accept a problem. Go the correct guys to guide you on repairs. Enquire questions as to how they intend to brand the repair; accept them provide pictures.

2. Caulking or coating over problems on a metallic roof will speedily crusade a myriad of other issues: some voiding your warranty, others creating life-shortening and double expense problems for your roof.

3. If y'all need to alter the roof, add openings, equipment, etc., get a specialist; shortcuts here are not good. Metal roofs have specially designed accessories that allow for movement and proper sealing. Conventional roofing products are non designed for employ on metallic roofs.

4. If the roof truly has reached the end of its life, replace it with another metal roof. That'southward what the building was designed for. Use a retrofit system that is fully engineered and tin document that it will comply with the latest edifice codes for wind and snow loads. This will enhance your insurability and resale. It will also give you the lowest, long-term cost for your investment.

v. Cheque out those tax credits, section 179 of the revenue enhancement lawmaking may let writing off upwards to $ane one thousand thousand. This volition brand the whole retrofit procedure much easier.

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Dale Nelson is the president and co-founder of Roof Hugger LLC, which is a sectionalization of the LSI Grouping that includes Logan Stampings and BPD Clips. Founded in 1991, Roof Hugger is a nationally recognized manufacturer of retrofit framing systems for metallic-over-metal reroofing. Nelson, who has played instrumental roles in a diverseness of trade associations and efforts to further the achieve of the metal construction industry, began his career in 1973 in the full general contracting field. For more than information about Roof Hugger, visit www.roofhugger.com.