There are many advantages of having a metal roof but when it comes to maintenance and expenses you might have trouble. Most of the commercial buildings have roofs made of this material. Depending on the issue it can be easier to repair metal then asphalt or wooden roof. Companies that prefer this type of roofs need to have a contractor that will do the maintenance and be available when there is a problem.
A most common problem is leakage that can damage the walls or the items that are in the building. There are many reports of damaged goods because a warehouse leaked because of lack of maintenance. The steel building repairs may be difficult but the lifespan is longer. It should be checked at least once a year. The best moment to do it is before and after winter.
Causes of Leaks
The reasons that leaks happen are because of bad installation and damage from aging or weather. When it comes to poor installation you need to check the places where bars connect together and the screws. Experienced handyman or contractor should know where to look from the start. It can happen that the leakage doesn’t even come from the roof so it is important to find the source as soon as possible.
Each screw hole has a tape sealant to prevent this from happening but it happens a lot that that is the place of failure. Ice dams, sealant failure around the fastener, rusted areas and separated seams are some of the things you should look out for. Even small problems shouldn’t be neglected because they can turn into big ones. That is why roof maintenance is very important. Read more here.
Inspecting the Roof and Tools
When you are performing a routine inspection there are a few places to closely monitor. Trying to find the leakage source can be very annoying because of the places it can happen. Look around the seams and sealant, J-rails, transitions and penetrations. If it’s an old building then there will be worn areas.
Professionals will use a tool belt because you can’t carry everything you need. Most of the issues you can solve yourself but the larger buildings will require to have a contractor. Some of the equipment you need will include fabric shears, glass-membrane roof patch, paintbrush, metal-roofing base coat, urethane roof cement and screws depending on the type of metal. Most used are galvanized-steel screws and aluminum screw nails. Of course, you’ll need a hammer and extension ladder.
Patching Holes
Without too much effort and material you will be able to fix a couple of holes if they don’t have wide-spread damages. The first thing you need to do is cleaning the area of debris and dirt. A putty knife will come in handy when you have to scrape any loose coating. The next step is to use the butyl tape around the place you want to patch. Galvanized metal should be used as a patch and when you are cutting it make sure it overlaps the area by 2 to 3 inches.
If you don’t have the right material, you can use metal fiber membrane with adhesive to keep it in one place. The patch needs support so you or the handyman should drill the holes and place the screws. Screws need to go through existing roof material, butyl tape and the patch. Never screw into trusses or rafters. Preferably, the screws should be two inches apart. Use caulk to seal the patch and let it dry.
Replacing a Section
Greater damage of the panels can mean that you have to replace the whole section. When that is the case you have to inspect the area under the roof and rafters for any extra damage. Always replace we insulation and check the overlay for damages. When you are replacing the section let it dry first. The process is similar like patching a whole because you can’t allow another leak to happen.
The thing you should look out for is screwing the roof to the rafters. Panels are meant to contract and expand when temperature changes so making it stand in one place can only make a bigger mess. Every experienced employee will know this so make sure they know what they are doing.
Barbara Ratliff