The Roofing Resource Blog

Box Gutter Liners and the 4 Must Have Components

Perry — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 18:40:30 GMT

Make the most of your investment to have your box gutters lined by ensuring your contractor is using the right materials in the right places.

Here are the 4 must-have items that go along with box gutter liners to make sure they last.

1. Custom drain Flashings

Having a drain flashing that fits inside the downspout of the box gutter is crucial to the performance of the liner. The area around the downspout is leak-prone and almost impossible to waterproof without a special flashing.

If a contractor does not use prefabricated flashing, they will be relying on caulking and glue to try and force water into the drain. Unfortunately for the home or building owner, the caulking and glue rarely last and can allow water to back up under the box gutter liner.

The moisture gets trapped between the old metal pan of the box gutter and the new liner and doesn't evaporate because it isn't getting sun or wind. This can cause rapid deterioration and rust of the metal box gutter pan and do even more damage than if no liner had been installed.

Solution: Custom drain flashing with expansion rings to fit any sized downspout. The Drain flashings are made as small as 1 1/2” all the way up to 6” inches in diameter to fit even the largest downspouts. The drain flashing extends down into the downspout, and the expansion rings make sure the flashing stays open.

2. Box gutter liners that don’t rely on glue

Box gutters inevitably hold water from rain, snow, and ice in winter. Liners that are seamed together using glue will not last in standing water. Moisture slowly penetrates the seams and begins to degrade the glue.

As the adhesives lose their grip, more water enters the seam until the seams have opened, and water travels under the box gutter liner instead of on top of it.

Solution: Use box gutter liners that are seamed together using hot air. The hot air seamers do not use a flame but melt the liners together, creating water-tight and waterproof seams that resist ponding or standing water.

3. Metal edge trims

Box gutter liners that do not have metal edge trim must use a termination bar on the front of the box gutter. The thin silver bar and the screws that hold it in place can be seen and detract from the look of the existing cornice and trim work on the building. It also allows water that spills over the front of the box gutter to run down the trims, staining and peeling paint over time.

Solution: 2 piece Metal edge trims not only add to the look of a historic home or building trim work, but they also protect it. 2 piece metal edge trims allow the membrane to be extended over the edge of the box gutter and secured to a base or cleat.

Then a facer piece is snapped onto the base. The facers come in up to 35 different colors to complement the look of the building.

When water from heavy rains or from melting snow and ice runs over the front of the box gutter, the metal trim forces the water to drip off the metal facer instead of running down the existing wood or metal trims, preventing the staining and peeling of the paint.

4. Air vents to prevent condensation and moisture build-up

Last but certainly not least are air vents that relieve moisture created in building from human activity. Box gutters are often connected to large flat areas over the living space.

Cooking, Cleaning, Showering, watering plants, sweating, and breathing create humidity and moisture in buildings. If the building is not vented properly, condensation can occur on the bottom side of the liners and flat roofing membranes, causing mold and bacterial growth.

Solution: Make sure that your contractor installs the air vents to properly relieve moisture from the building.

238 T Standing Seam Solves Common Metal Roof Leak Problems

Perry — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 13:00:00 GMT

The 238 T standing seam is a versatile metal roofing panel designed for commercial and industrial roofing applications. It can be used in new construction over open purlins or a solid deck but it can also be used in Re-roofing projects and in metal over metal recovers.

Here’s 4 great reasons you may want to consider using the 238 T standing seam on your upcoming roofing project.

1. Full Length Metal Panels From The Eve All The Way To The Ridge With No Where To Leak.

Generally speaking, metal roofing is a durable, tough, and long lasting roofing product. It withstands hail, high wind, and foot traffic very well but metal roofing does have its Achilles heel or weak points in the system, and seams between the sheets of metal are definitely one of those weak and leak prone areas.

The simple answer is to this problem is to get rid of the seams and use full length metal from the gutter all the way to the ridge. Trucking and logistic issues like how to crane a 90 foot long piece of metal off a semi and onto a roof are why this hasn’t been done in the past. So what’s changed? Well onsite roll forming is whats changed. We now have to ability to ship coils of metal instead of finished panels and then mount the coil onto a roll former. The roll former is then picked up and the full length metal ran right out onto the building.

2. No More Metal Roof Leaks Behind HVAC Units And Skylights With Traverse Panel Detail.

Besides leaking seams, the other major source of water intrusion into a metal roof system is behind the HVAC curbs, fans, exhausted vents, skylights or any type of square box that heads off water. The typical unit we see is covered in a combination of caulking, tar, and roof coating and they still leak.

The 283 T ’s traverse panel detail brilliantly solves these perennial metal roofing problems and ends the leaks around roof top flashings. It works by installing the 238 t perpendicular the roofing panels behind the units there by diverting water to the sides and around the roof top obstacle eliminating 99.9% of the water that would have hit the back of the curb.

The traverse panel detail solved one of metal roofing's biggest problems: flashing around curbs.

3. 238 T Gives Building Owners The Ability To Repair And Replace Panel.

In today's high paced business environment buildings are constantly being modified and changed to meet the needs of tenants, expanding small businesses, and new equipment in manufacturing. Many times this means new roof top penetrations for the building. That’s why the ability to repair and or replace any individual piece of 238 T standing seam lands it our number 3 spot of the top 4 reasons why you may want to take a close look at the type of metal roofing.

Traditional standing seam metal roofing employees the male - female leg idea to keep buildings dry. The female leg rest on top of the male leg and then is crimped together. Great for keeping water out, bad for repairs and modifications. Traditionally, standing seam is virtually unrepairable. You have to remove the metal panel from the point they started until you reach the piece that needs to be changed, make the repair, then put the metal back on. Not with the 238 T. Its neutral T shape means both sides of the panel are the same and any individual pieces can be removed and replaced making repairs possible and easy to do.

4. 238 T Standing Seam Can Be Installed Right On Top Of Your Existing Metal Roof.

There are billions of square feet of metal roofing installed on steel buildings erected between 1970 and 1990 in the United States that are at the end of its service life, leaving building owners and facility mangers wonder what the next step is to stopping leaks and keeping the structure dry.

The 238 T standing seam system pioneered the metal over metal recover option. This means you can install a new 238 T standing seam right on top of your existing metal roof. This means no expensive tear off, no building disruption or shut downs, and no exposing the contents of the building to weather.

The metal over metal recover option offers a new lease on life to old buildings, and that along with full length metal panels, traverse flashing details around curb, and repairability make the 238 T standing seam a great choice for your next roofing project

Best Sealant For Metal Roof Leak

Perry — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 01:27:00 GMT

In most cases, the best metal roof repair product isn't a product at all, it’s the knowledge and skill to identify what’s leaking and to determine if and how the metal roof can be repaired. That being said, once you find the leaks an equally import part of the metal roof repair process is using the right sealant to stop the metal roof leak. Using the wrong sealant or caulking on a metal roof can lead to adhesion problems, flexibly problems, or both and probably wont stop the leak even if you found the sources of the water infiltration.

In this article we’ll look at 3 recommended metal roof sealants you can count on to get the job done.

1. Titebond Metal Roof Sealant

Titebond is a great metal roof sealant we use on metal roof repair jobs and also our new metal roof installs. Titebond has great adhesion to both Kynar painted metal roofing and gal-velum and it stays flexible so it holds a weather tight bond to the metal roof through expansion/ contraction cycles. It has good consistency even in cold weather and we find it sticks well to damp and dirty surfaces making Titebond a great metal roof sealant to carry on a service truck.

2. Nova Flex Metal Roof Sealant

Nova flex is another great sealant for metal roof leaks. Nova flex is comparable to Titebond and shares many of the same attributes and qualities. However when it comes to sealing gutters we consider nova flex to be the better option. Its very hard to beat the flowable Nova flex gutter sealant. We stock this product for use in both our residential and commercial guttering jobs. This sealant is not as thick as regular metal roof sealant so it moves and spreads out in joints between metal pieces creating a consistent watertight gasket. We also use the gutter sealant to top caulk joints between metal guttering pieces. We routinely use nova flex gutter sealant on aluminum, Kynar painted metal, and copper with great success.

Tip - Make sure to rivet your trims and joints together immediately after applying the metal roof sealants, if you allow the sealant to dry then try to rivet it together you’ll have a very hard time closing the joint and making a water tight seal.

3. Good Old-Fashioned Butyl Tape

Butyl tape is a tried and true metal roof sealant. Butyl tape is most often used to create a gasket between pieces of metal trims. We use it religiously on offset cleat, Z , and closure. Butyl tape is superior in this application because it is sticky and helps hold the metal trims in place while you screw them down. Metal roof sealant or caulking on the back of a piece of closure or Z will have your piece of metal trim sliding all over the place making a mess while you attempt to screw it down.

Where To Buy The Best Sealants For Metal Roof Leaks?

All three of these metal roof sealants are common and easy to find. McElroy Metal has service centers located in most states if you are a brick and mortar type person and AMSI supply has fast shipping from their location in Georgia and are just a phone call or click away.

Metal Roof Coatings Vs Metal Roof overlays systems - What's the difference?

Perry — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:39:39 GMT

For many building owners, a metal roof coating seems like the logical next step to take when trying to stop leaks on a metal roof, especially if other targeted repair attempts in the past have failed and the metal roof leaks.

At first glance a metal roof coating appears to be the path forward to an economical and quick solution to stop the leaks without having to replace the entire metal roof and disrupt either your business’s operations or your tenants.

Metal roof coatings sound great, you get to leave the existing metal roof in place and still fix the leaks, What could be better? And besides that, what other choice do you have?

Most building owners find themselves stuck between an Expensive and unaffordable metal roof replacement option or a metal roof coating option.

In this blog we’ll introduce you to another metal roof repair option you probably haven’t considered called a metal roof overlay system and we’ll compare and contrast it to metal roof coatings. After reading this article you should walk away with a much better understanding of metal roof repair and knowledge of several possible ways to stop the leaks on your building.

Table of Contents

Different types of metal roof coatings and different types of metal roof overlay systems
Application Issues- weather play a big role
No new flashings around pipes, HVAC units, or Skylights
Similar in cost, Not in Value, What’s the price difference?

Metal roof coatings and metal roof overlays are similar in several ways such as they both leave the existing metal in place, there’s no tear off and replacement of the existing roof, both are much less expensive than full roof replacement would be , and neither the metal roof coating nor the metal roof overlay disrupts the buildings daily activities so the building can stay up and running through out the process.

Different Types Of Metal Roof Coatings And Different Types Of Metal Roof Overlays

Just as there are several types of metal roof coatings on the market today such as acrylic based, polyurethane based, Elastomeric, and siliconized coatings, there are also two distinct types of metal roof overlays:

As mentioned in the beginning of the article, building owners seem to have no problem finding their own way to metal roof coatings as a repair option, however the metal roof overlay systems option isn’t as self evident or as obvious as a possible solution to metal roof repair.

In Fact, we find most building owners aren’t even aware that you could install another metal roof on top of your existing metal roof, (metal over metal retrofit) , or that you could install a TPO/PVC flat roofing membrane overtop of your existing metal roof, (Metal roof retrofit).

Moving forward, it’s worth noting that metal roof coatings are easier to compare to the TPO/PVC membrane over metal option than the metal over metal roof overlay.

Metal roof coatings and TPO/PVC over metal roof retrofits are similar in class and also in the price installed even though the TPO/PVC over metal has much better long term performance. The comparison is fair, more like apples to apples, and we see this comparison play out in the real world everyday as building owners consider their metal roof repair options and their budgets.

Metal over metal roof retrofits are harder to compare to because they are in a category of their own. A new metal roof installed over your existing roof is long lasting, durable, and includes all new trims and commercial guttering. A metal roof coating is akin to a thick paint. The two are hard to compare but it’s still valuable to you as the reader to know what options are available to you and we’ll look at the average cost for metal over metal roof overlay later in the article so you’ll have an idea if it fits into your budget.

3 Major Reasons Why A Metal Roof Coating May Not Be The Right Solution For Your Building

1. Application Issues- Weather Plays A Huge Role In The Successful Installation And Performance Of Metal Roof Coatings But Metal Roof Overlay Systems Can Be Installed Year Round

The first major difference between a metal roof coatings and a metal roof overlay system is that the roof coating can only be installed in the right temperatures. Some metal roof coatings can be installed in temperatures as low as 40 degrees and rising whereas other coatings must have 60 to 65 degrees and rising temps. These temperature restrictions reduce the installation window of metal roof coatings in many climates around the country.

It may or may not be the right time for your business or your budget to tackle metal roof repairs when the temps and weather conditions are right but metal roof coatings offer little flexibility when it comes to temperatures.

In addition to temperature restrictions, other weather and environmental conditions must be considered like Humidity, dew point temperature, frost, dew, and condensation.

In order for the metal roof coating to adhere correctly to your building’s metal roof, the surface must be clean, dry, and free of loose debris or any other contaminants.

Metal roof coatings that require multiple coats to be applied have varying dry times between applications that range from 16-24 hours out to 3-5 days again depending on air temps, surface temps, humidity levels etc.

The ability for a metal roof coating to keep your building dry and its long term performance is very much tied to the conditions it is installed in. Less than ideal environmental conditions = less than ideal overall performance of the coating.

None of these weather, temperature or environmental factors come into play with metal roof overlay systems. The TPO/ PVC membrane can be installed over an existing metal roof in a wide range of temperatures especially when being installed “mechanically attached” as there is no glue, sealants, or anything that needs “dry time”. And the metal over metal roof overlay can also be installed in cold temps with no thought about humidity, dew point, or adhesion problems.

The main idea behind most metal roof coatings is that as multiple layers of coating are applied, you are “ building a waterproof membrane right on top of the existing metal roof. The problem is that building the water proof membrane on the existing metal needs to be done during ideal temperatures and weather conditions that seldom occur.

A metal roof overlay system, especially the TPO/PVC roofing membrane over metal is not being “built or applied” in the field but rather installed. The membrane is already created, all that needs to happen is for it to be installed correctly.

There is a major difference between a metal roof coating being used to create a membrane vs. having a membrane or new metal panel already made and having it installed over the existing metal roof.

2. No new Flashings around Pipes, HVAC units, or gaskets between Trims

Metal roof coatings largely fail to solve the 3 of the Top 5 reasons why metal roofs leak.

And it’s one of my biggest problems with coatings, you don’t get new flashings.

Metal is a super durable and long lasting material, after all that's why it's made it into roofing. And metal roofing rarely leaks just out in the middle of the roof somewhere for no reason. Leaks are almost always centered around Pipes, seams in the metal sheets, behind HVAC units, or on the screws or trims.

So it’s reasonable to want special care given to the most leak prone areas of the roof, but metal roof coatings come up short in these critical areas. All you get around the pipes and behind the units is more coating which in many cases causes water to become trapped and pond behind the pipes or units and makes the leaks even worse.

Metal roof overlay systems come standard with all new flashings around pipes, HVAC units, and they recover old leaking trims, not just paint them white.

3. Similar in Cost Not in value- what’s the price difference

Metal roof coatings and TPO/PVC membrane over metal roof retrofits are similar in cost but not in value. Both Metal roof coatings and TPO/PVC retrofits in the MidWest will cost in the $3.00 - $5.00 dollar range per sq. Ft. installed depending on the building size and field conditions.

But the roofing membrane over metal and the metal over metal roof system both come with new insulation which adds R value to your building, reducing heating and cooling cost, while the metal coating does not add any R -Value to a building.

The TPO/ PVC membrane over metal options are 20 yr solutions whereas the longevity of the coating will vary greatly depending on the conditions it was applied in, the number of coats applied, and the adhesion of the coating to the existing metal roofing, all of which are unknown factors.

The TPO/ PVC membrane over metal system comes standard with added roof insulation, all new flashings and trims, and can be installed in a wide range of temperatures at most times throughout our year.

The roofing membranes used to recover metal buildings have been tested and are proven to last, but each time a metal roof coating is “built on site” it’s a unique product and untested in the unique environment and weather conditions it was applied in. Your building’s roof becomes the test site, and you or your building occupants hope it passes the test long term.

As mentioned, Metal over metal roof overlays are not really similar at all to a metal roof coatings but they are worth knowing about and understanding. The metal over metal retrofit is a great option for building owners who want to forget about leaks for the next 40 years or so and get on with their business. So how much more should you expect to spend on a metal roof overlay? There are many factors that drive a metal over metal recovery like panel length, building size, and labor cost in your geographical location, but what we see in our area on average is somewhere between $7 and $11 dollars a sq. ft. installed. Watch a video that further explains cost (Click here).

It's not all about price but price is important and so is working within your company’s budget to resolve leaks on your metal roof. Use the price ranges given here only as a guide. We suggest getting actual quotes from roofing contractors in your area for the metal roof repair option you feel is the best fit for your building.

If you need help finding a roofing contractor who does metal over metal roof overlays near you, feel free to contact us at https://www.exteriorproinc.com/contact-us

At the end of the day there’s no one size fits all solution to metal roof repair. Each job is unique and you find the right fit for your building, your budget, and your long term goal for the property.

Understanding your options will better equip you to make the right decision about your building. We hope we’ve helped you in this article and thank you for reading.

Snap Lock Metal Roofing vs. 138 T Standing Seam

Perry — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 20:08:06 GMT

If you find yourself in the research and information gathering phase of your up and coming metal roofing project, you may have already have learned about snap lock metal roofing. Snap lock metal roofing is a very popular and well know type of standing seam metal roof and it's a huge upgrade over a screw down or corrugated metal roof

However you may not be as familiar with another type of standing seam metal called the 138 T. In this blog we will compare the snap lock metal roofing to the 138 T so that you can gain a better understanding about your options when choosing the right metal roofing panel for your next project.

Table of Contents

Repairability Male And Female Sides Vs Symmetrical Sides
Metal Roof Trim - Flashings Matter
Snap Lock Or Mechanically Seamed?
Is There A Difference In Cos?

Snap lock metal roofing and the 138 T are both Standing seam metal roof panels, they are both made from 24 gauge metal and have Kynar paint, and both metal roofs use a clip system to install so they have exposed fasteners. Both types of metal roofing can be made on the job site with a metal roof machine allowing the metal panels to be full length with no seams.

The snap lock metal and the138 T are widely installed on residential and light commercial roofing projects with great success and both types of metal roofing look great and add much curb appeal to a structure.

In a broad sense, these two types of metal roofing are very similar and both offer long term performance when installed correctly. The snap lock metal roofing and the 138 T standing seam are both great choices, however the 138 T does offer homeowners and building owners several unique advantages.

Repairability - Male And Female Sides Vs. Symmetrical Sides

Snap lock metal roofing and other types of more traditional standing seam metal roofing last a long time but the one thing they lack is repairability. The reason for this is that snap lock metal along with the other types of standing seam, has a male and female side of the metal panel. The female side is snapped onto the male side thereby making a watertight seam. The snap lock metal roofing panels are installed by snapping each new snap lock panel onto the next. This system works great until a repair is need , then its not so good. To repair a snap lock metal roof or other traditional standing seam you have to take the metal back off to get to the place the repair needs to be made and then re-install the metal again.

The 138 T does not use a male and a female side but rather its a symmetrical metal roofing panel. Both sides of the 138 T are identical and when they but up to each other they form a T shape. The seam between the two symmetrical slides is created by installing a seam cap and then mechanically crimping the seam cap around the T shape. To make a repair on the 138 T metal roof all you have to do is open the seam cap and then you can repair or replace the individual metal roof panel and then simply replace the seam cap. When the design is symmetrical, each metal roofing panel can be removed and replaced without removing or damaging other metal roofing panels in the process.

Metal Roof Trims and Flashings Matter

The flashing and trims around skylights and chimneys are a crucial part of any metal roof not just snap lock metal roofing. In Fact, it’s rare for metal roofing to leak just out in the middle of the roof somewhere, when metal roofs leak or fail, they usually do so around trims or behind roof top obstacles such as skylights, HVAC units, or chimneys.

This is where the 138 T standing seam has really changed the way we do metal roof flashing, it’s through a flashing detail called the Transverse Panel. The transverse panel detail is unique to the 138 T standing seam and offers for leak free flashing each and every time though smart innovation and evolution of standing seam metal design and function.

Snap Lock Or Mechanically Seamed?

When Snap lock metal roofing is installed the female leg is snapped on the male leg and thats it, the seam is created and no other work has to be done. The type of seam created by a snap lock panel is referred to as a hydro kinetic or water shedding. It’s for this reason that it’s recommended to install snap lock metal roofing on roof pitches 3/12 or above. The Snap lock roofing seam is not water proof. Rain, snow, and Ice could potential enter the seam if installed in pitches below 3/ 12

The seam created in a 138 -T standing seam is a mechanic seam meaning the pieces of metal are folded together to create a hydro static or water proof seam. This allows for the 138 T to be used successfully below roof pitches of 3 /12.

What cost more? Snap lock metal roofing or 138-T Standing Seam

Snap Lock Metal roof cost slightly less than the 138 T standing for two basic reasons:

The seam cap that joins the 138 T together is a separate and additional component to the metal roof system that the snap lock doesn’t have
There is a small amount of additional labor to install the 138 -T because it must be mechanically seamed with a seamer

We find that the snap lock metal roof installed will run 15% to 20% less than the 138 T standing seam metal roof installed.

The 138 T standing seam is more expensive than the snap lock metal because it does provide extra value in areas we outlined in this blog.

Is the 138 T it worth paying more for? Well that will depends on your specific metal roofing project and whether or not repairability, the metal flashings, and slope considerations are of value to you as a consumer.

Both the snap lock metal roofing and the 138- T standing seam will keep a home or business leak free and provide long term performance and both are good choices and will look great if installed correctly.

Compare 138 T Standing Seam Metal Roofing Vs Traditional Standing Seam Metal

Perry — Sat, 23 May 2020 11:00:00 GMT

#1 Traditional standing seam metal roofing can last a lifetime but it's nearly impossible to repair or replace metal panels should they become damaged or if the building is added on to.

Fixed - The 138 T standing seam can easily be repaired because it has two neutral sides joined by a seam cap. Simply remove the seam cap and then you have to ability to remove and replace individual metal panel as needed

#2 Traditional standing seam metal roof is great in short lengths but can fail on the seams in longer length section of roofing

Fixed - The 138 T is roll formed on site and only comes full length from the eve to the ridge cap making it a seamless piece of metal roofing with nowhere to leak.

#3 Traditional standing seam metal has been a more difficult type of roofing to install correctly. Which has made qualified sheet metal craftsman hard to find

Fixed - The 138 T has a more standardized and easy to teach installation process and is a very forgiving and flexible metal roofing to install. The neutral design of the T shaped profile allows installers to start anywhere on the roof they need to and work out from there.

#4 Traditional standing seam metal and metal roofing in general has alway struggled to keep homes and buildings dry around chimneys, curbs, HVAC units and skylights. The lack of a standardized flashing process has left many structures with leaks.

Fixed - The 138 T revolutionized metal roof flashings around roof top obstacles by using travers panels. The Travers panel detail diverts water away from the curb or chimney and is without a doubt the best metal roof flashing method invented to date

138 T Standing Seam Metal Roofing - Seam Cap To Heavy Duty Gutter Strap

Perry — Fri, 22 May 2020 12:00:00 GMT

Snow, sliding ice, and clogs can be hard on gutters and can even bring them down in the right conditions.

Another great benefit of the 138 T standing seam is that the same seam cap that is used to join the metal panels together can also be used as a gutter strap. This doesn’t replace the gutter hanger, it's in addition to the gutter and using the seam cap as a gutter strap adds great strength to the gutter and looks great.

Here how it work

The seam cap is allowed to run past the edge of the panel 8” to 12”
Using a hand crimper you close the seam cap
next take hand tongs and bend strap to fit gutter profile
Use a lap screw to attach the gutter strap to the front side of the gutter

This is just another smart detail that is available with the 138 T standing seam metal roofing. It add value to the roofing/ guttering system without adding cost. Guttering hung this way will stay rigid and resist sagging.

Read more about the standing seam metal roof options here

138 T Standing Seam Metal Roofing : Simple Design = Predictable Quality Installations

Perry — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:00:00 GMT

The 138 T standing seam metal roofing performs in ways that other types of standing seam metal can not even come close to. But it's not because the 138 T has many bells and whistles that have to be mastered so they work, in fact it's just the opposite. The 138 T is a simplified version of standing seam metal that solves the traditional problems of standing seam through smart design.

Imagine if we took all the traditional standing seam metal roofing profiles and threw them into a large vat and distilled them down to remove imperfections. Then the 138 T emerges, a simplified, better system, where metal roofing reality gets much closer to the ideal metal roofing theory.

So the 138 T is a great metal roofing product, But what does this have to do with you as a building or home owner?

Actually a lot, the more systemized a product is and its installation process are, the easier it is to train a labor force and the more consistent the outcomes will be on the job site. In other words, the 138 T standing seam is a simple and easy to install metal roofing which makes it easy to teach and learn. Professional roofers quickly learn the steps in the installation process and can repeat them to provide predictable, quality, and timely installs.

Roofing Crews Become proficient with the 138 T and installation times shrink making the high value metal roofing even more affordable in the marketplace. This gives the consumer the ability to purchase a comparably much higher value product or service in the same price range as the much lesser value product or service making the choice easy, or what we can call a no brainer. And providing more value for your dollar not only makes the 138 T a smart roofing panel, it makes you a smart buyer.

Still can’t see it ?

Let's look at what a tricky, hard to install metal roofing would be like.

Not every worker will be able to do it
Quality of work will vary depending on which crew gets sent to your job
Large swings in cost due to highly variable and inconstant install times by crews
No consistency in flashing details among workers or crews begging the question, if we have it done in multiple different ways, which way is the best?

If this sounds familiar, especially to General Contractors or Architects, it's because these are just a few of the many problems with traditional standing seam metal roofings.

138 T Standing Seam Metal Roofing- Best Flashing System For Chimneys, Curbs, HVAC Units, And Skylights.

Perry — Thu, 21 May 2020 10:00:00 GMT

In this blog you will be introduced to the best metal roofing flashing detail for chimneys, curbs, HVAC units, and skylights you have ever seen. This is not just some variation of another sheet metal detail, it's an entirely new way of doing metal flashings around roof top obstacles. It does not require a welded custom curb and can be taught to most sheet metal workers relatively easily.

All metal roofing, not just standing seam, has had to combat the problem of what to do when something blocks the metal pan and water is trapped behind the curb, chimney or unit.

Over years we have seen just about every type of flashing job in failed attempts to stop leaks around units, chimneys and skylight including tar, caulk, metal roof coatings, spray foam, did I mention tar, caulk, and coatings?

Let me introduce you to the way metal flashings are done with the 138 T standing seam metal roofing, It called the traverse panel detail. The idea is simple, instead of bottlenecking water behind a roof top obstacle, we will divert the water to the sides with the same metal roofing panel as we used on the roof, the 138 T, hence the name travers panel detail.

Here's how it works

Step 1 . We start off by roofing in the home or building with the 138 T metal panel and we don't have to make any real adjustment to where the metal falls in relation to the curb, skylight, chimney, etc. We simply cut the metal around the obstacles and use normal sheet metal techniques like bending the sides of the cut panel upwards to divert water away from the curb.

Step 2. We then install our Z flashing around the front of and up the sides of the curb so that our head wall and side wall trim can “hook up” to the Z . We don’t stop our Z behind the curb, instead we let it run up to and under where the ridge cap will sit.

Step 3. We start with the front apron piece of flashing making tabs on the sides of the curb. Then we jump to a piece of flashing behind the curb. We make this piece of flashing out of a piece of the 138 T metal.

Step 4. To make the piece of flashing that goes on the back side of the curb we simply cut the leg of a piece of 138 T metal roofing panel and fold it until we have a bend accurate to the roof pitch.

Step 5. We now know where the back piece of flashing is folded and we can install the side wall flashing and turn it up at the right point to make a good clean fit. Then we fold the shared edge of the back flashing over the edge of the side wall.

Step 6 Next we use 1.5 “ roofing insulation to fill in the gap in the metal bands and proceed to install the rest of the travers panels making sure that there is butyl tape on the z and on the sides of the 138 t travers panels with the tab on the uphill side.

Step 7. We run the travers panels up to the ridge and cut the leg off the last panel and make a hem so that it can be covered by the ridge.

As you can see this type of flashing system is:

-Easy to do

-Uses the same 138 T metal roofing as the roof

Takes the water and diverts it way from the curb
Totally leak free design
Even if screws fail they fail outside the system.
Doesn’t matter where or how metal falls around curb detail still works.
No custom curb needed- just the scrap material from the roof.

This is just another one of the amazing features of the 138 T style standing seam

Learn the Common Metal Roof Profiles

Perry — Wed, 20 May 2020 21:01:08 GMT

With metal roofing there are different types of metal, gauges, profiles, and looks. In this post you will see the most common roof profiles used today.

Classic Rib - This is a 29 gauge exposed fastener, screw down metal panel. It can be installed down to a 3/12 pitch. The Classic Rib is Indiana's most common type of metal roofing. It is used on post frame buildings and light commercial building with open framing. It covers 36" and it has 3/4" tall ribs.
- Pros are: Least expensive, easy to install, and easy to find.
- Cons are: Screws go bad, not ideal for complicated roofing or valley's, panel cannot be hemmed, and it can be difficult to flash and keep water tight.

R-Panel - This 26 guage metal roof and wall handle is commonly found on industrial buildings. It can span over open framing, making a good fill for pre-engineered metal buildings. It is installed with screws through the face of the metal roofing into a strut making it easy to install. This is an exposed fastener screw down and it can be installed down to a 1/12 pitch. It covers 36" and has 1 1/4" tall ribs.
- Pros are: Easy install, less expensive than standing seam, the 26 gauge allows for thicker blanket insulation without causing panesl to bulge.
- Cons are: No hemming on metal roofs, curbs can be difficult to flash and keep dry, the rubber washer on screw tend to go bad and leak.

1" Snap Lock Panel - This standing seam, no exposed screws is a 26 guage residential snap lock panel looks elegant and is functional that of a standing seam metal roof without the cost. The panel is designed to be installed using architectual details (interlocking panels and pcs) but has a nail fin built into the panel to make the install faster and save on cost of clips. The thinner metal also makes this panel more accessible without sacrifice of quality and appearance. Can be on slopes 3/12 and greater, covers 16" and is 1" tall.
- Pro are: Few if any exposed screws, standing seam performance and look, less expensive than a 24-gauge snap lock, snap lock make installing easy and quick.
- Cons are: Needs 3/12 pitch or greater to function, can be difficult to access and maintain on greater slopes, and no snow guards that fit.

1 3/4 Snap Lock Panel - This 24 gauge is a no-exposed fastener standing seam metal. It is a snap lock metal roofing system and it does exactly what the name says "it snaps together". One side of the panel is considered the male leg and the other the female. Female side is secured and placed with a clip, and the clip is screwed to the deck so that the panel can expand and contract with temperature change. The thickness of the male leg and the clip create a tight fit for the female side of the standing seam and the panel snaps together. This standing seam is installed using architectural detail, meaning panels are folded and interlocked to itself leaving very few exposed fasteners. It can be installed on a 3/12 pitch and up over open frame or solid substrate. It covers 18" and is 1 3/4" tall locking.
- Pros are: 24 gauge, architectural detail means roof can move with temperature changes, 30 yr paint warranty, easy to install, very little maintenance if installed correctly, great look, very little maintenance if installed correctly, wind and hail resistant, and adds curb appeal to home or building.
- Cons are: Needs 3:12 pitch or greater, can show oil canning if substrate is not flat, roof pitch of 8:12 and greater can be difficult to access for maintenance in the future, and snow guards should also be installed adding to the cost.

Double Lock - This is a 24 gauge standing seam no exposed fasteners metal roof system. It can be installed on a low slope application down to 1/2:12 pitch. It covers 24" and has 3" tall trapezoidal profile that is mechanically seamed. The double lock is a structural metal roofing panel designed to install over open framing, typically a pre-engineered metal building. It is the trapezoidal legs that are crimped together and then is seamed with a machine that folds the two pieces of metal creating the standing seam.
- Pros are: Very durable and long lasting metal roof if installed properly, can be installed in both low slope and slope applications, standing seam uses clips to hold panel in place that can accommodate insulation for 1/2" thick all the way to 6" thick, few exposed screws.
- Cons are: Can be one of the most expensive metal roofing panels, proper installation requires skilled metal roofers and training, HVAC curbs can be problematic if not flashed correctly.