|
|
|
How To Evaluate & Maintain Metal Roofs
|
Business New Haven
11/10/2003
By: Melissa Nicefaro
|
How often do you think about the roof over your head? Probably not very often, unless the roof is leaking.
With many metal roofs in this area more than 40 years old, there is a growing need for solutions to roofing problems. A new roof is not always the answer, since there are many other remedies.
When a metal roof begins to leak, the joints and the fasteners of the system generally fail before the metal roof or metal deck fails.
After 40 years, a new roof may be the answer, but newer metal roofs should be checked before winter sets in, since once snow or ice gets on the roof and a leak crops up, it's that much more difficult, if not impossible, to correct.
As metal roofs age, even though the roof itself is in good shape, it may be that the paint coating has begun to rust and fasteners have started to loosen. For those cases, there are coating systems available as a much less costly alternative to a new roof. A coating can cost around $2 per square-foot - compared to $6 or $8 a foot for replacement. Applied properly, many coating systems carry a ten-year warranty and don't have the costs associated with ripping off an old roof, disposal and putting a new roof on a building that's open to the weather.
There are several steps to fixing metal roofing systems, including a thorough cleaning and thorough investigation of all fasteners and any patching of any penetrations or holes in the roof. Then a primer coat and reinforcing membrane are applied on the seams, followed with a topcoat of a sprayed-on rubberized product.
One big advantage to the rubberized product is its ability to expand and contract with the roof system. The old thought of putting that mobile-home aluminum coating on a metal roof is gone. That's a rigid coating and as soon as the roof expands and contracts a couple of times, the coating is cracked.
When only new will do and you are beyond a coating system, an alternative to ripping off an old roof and putting a new one on is a sub-purlin system, which goes over the existing roof. A new metal roof deck is laid on top of the sub-purlins.
There are three advantages to that: no disposal costs, you can add additional insulation between the layers, and the building is never open to the weather. The weight of an additional roof is seldom a problem, as most structures are designed to take a second roof.
A roof needs maintenance, and the key to longevity is developing a maintenance program. A contractor can either check your roof annually or train your in-house maintenance people to check the roof, but someone with a trained eye should be on the roof at least once a year looking it over and making sure it's in good shape. That way, if there are issues, they're nipped in the bud and don't turn into larger problems.
Why metal? Besides of its longevity, metal can add beautiful curb appeal to a building.
In years past metal roofs were associated mainly with metal buildings. With the development of better paint coatings for metal roofs and even architectural appeal to profiles in a wide variety of colors, metal roofs are popping up on more conventional types of buildings. They're on the facades of shopping centers and office buildings. They're popping up on residences as well.
With standard warranties in the 25- to 30-year range, longevity is the biggest advantage that a properly installed and properly specified metal roof can bring. Maintenance should be done on a regular basis, at least annually. Maintenance means getting a qualified contractor up on the roof to make sure gutters are cleaned and not backing up with water and checking for roof penetrations or holes and good sealing. Fasteners also need to be checked for loosening or movement. A lot of expansion and contraction takes place with metal, especially on metal buildings.
With proper maintenance, you can increase the longevity of your new or older metal roof.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
