There is a famous chick flick with the line: “The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” (Ask your wife. She’d know about this!) We have taken this ability to new heights in the construction industry when it comes to metal roofing accessories. A typical specification doesn’t just contain the main roofing material, but it also includes all the components that are added to a roofing job because of aesthetics, function, sustainability, safety or other reasons.
As a contractor, it is important to become familiar with roofing accessory options so you know how to properly incorporate them into a project and, of course, how to correctly install them, too.
Typical Accessories
When discussing roofing accessories, there is a key component you must always keep in mind: Consult the roofing manufacturer and follow the manufacturer instructions. Each manufacturer provides step-by-step details about panel profile installation, as well as technical information about installing accessories, such as flashings. Because details and instructions vary among manufacturers, make sure you follow instructions closely.
Altering details can lead to problems, such as leaks, and can negate manufacturer warranties. A basic metal roofing package will include trim. Trim seals the roofing panel joints at transitions. The type of trim depends on where it is going to be installed, for instance at a gable or at a wall-to-roof transition.
Flashings are used when extra protection is needed around skylights, vents, chimney stacks and other roofing penetrations. Proper installation is the key to make sure the flashing does its job of redirecting water to the drainage system. Some basics of proper flashing installation include:
Install all flashings in a “shingle fashion” so they don’t allow water to run into the flashing lap.
Use butyl sealant in all flashing laps for proper sealing.
For standing-seam panels, the panel design requires that the panels be fixed at one location, usually the ridge, and allowed to slide with thermal movement at all other locations. As a result, the flashing must also allow the panels to slide at those locations and not restrain their movement.
Pipe boots often are needed for certain flashing jobs, such as around round pipes.
Urethane sealants may be applied to secure a seal accompanying a boot or flashing. Keep in mind sealants are not the end-all solution for leaks; you can’t just caulk a hole or transition and expect it to last. Sealants should complement a well-installed flashing or boot, and you need to use the proper sealant. Standard pipe boots are good up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. For higher temperatures, you should use high-temperature silicone pipe boots.
Metal edges can be added to give a project a clean, crisp appearance. They are added to projects for their aesthetics, giving a distinct perimeter around the entire building. They also keep weather out by diverting water down the panels and blocking wind driven rain.
A major component of weather issues is the drainage system, such as gutters and downspouts. Some areas of the country do not use gutters as consistently as others. And some people think gutters cannot be used with metal roofing because the gutters will be damaged by ice dams or sliding snow and ice. The truth is gutters can be used with metal roofing without damage or failure. How they are attached, the size of the gutter and the gauge of the material do matter, depending on the roof size and climate conditions; additional support is required in cold climates. Also, the outside edge of the gutter should be 1 inch below the projected line of the roof so most of the snow and ice can slide off without damaging the gutter.
Snow guards complement a drainage system in cold-weather areas. Snow guards can be mounted to a roof in many ways, and their job is to hold snow on a roof until it melts and to break up moving snow or ice into smaller pieces before falling to the ground. Many municipalities mandate the use of these rooftop devices to protect passersby from getting hit with rooftop snow or ice. Snow guards on exposed fastened panels are normally sealed with an adhesive sealant and then screwed down through the metal into the structural supports below.
On standing-seam panels, we offer systems that are clamped on the ribs so there are no penetrations. These clamped on snow guards can be a rail system or individual snow stops at each rib. Adhered snow guards are also available, but you need to put more of these type of snow guards on the roof because they have less holding power than the clamped on versions.
Newer Offerings
The list of roofing accessories can go on and on. But I’d like to turn your focus to some newer innovations. To stay current, you should explore the latest products and expand your installation capabilities.
One such item that you should become acquainted with is solar panels. Some manufacturers now offer an option called “building integrated photovoltaics.” The main component of BIPV is the laminate, a thin-film amorphous sheet. Unlike polycrystalline photocells that are heavy and fragile, no roof penetrations and no additional structural support are required with thin film.
The panel/laminate bond that is created has been tested and proven to withstand winds up to 160 mph. For Lancaster, Pa.-based Fabral, this laminate is installed in the field onto a Fabral metal roof to create its BIPV offering-Solar SSR. Roofing panel options include: 1 1/2″ SSR, Thin Seam, Slim Seam and Snap-On-Seam.
“When Solar SSR is specified, a roofing contractor is given a total integration package, as well as the full support of Fabral’s technical team,” said Adam Duckworth, manager of environmental and sustainable systems. “We also include the schematics and specifications for wiring and electrical components for an electrical subcontractor.”
Also keep your eyes peeled for the latest accessory that urges contractors to think beyond insulation. A new product from Fabral is on the horizon that absorbs and releases heat at pre-set temperatures to even out a building’s temperatures and thereby reduce air-conditioning and heating use. It is designed for new and retrofit commercial and residential projects. It is a product that follows the principles of nature to make the entire energy cycle of buildings more energy efficient. Fewer kilowatts are used to heat and cool buildings while the gel-like product intelligently captures and releases otherwise wasted energy.
Have we peaked your curiosity with this new energy-saving product? I hope so. Stay tuned for an official launch and introduction.
Keep Learning
This innovative product and Solar SSR from Fabral prove that just when you think you have conquered your ability to accessorize, there is something new to learn. Keep discovering, and contact your Fabral representative with any questions at (800) 477-2741.
