FAQS -

Roofing Design Considerations
Choosing your roofing materials
What will happen if roofing sheets become wet during storage?
Installation
What can I use to mark the metal roofing sheets?
What can I use to make holes in metal roofing sheets?
Servicing or Maintenance

• Roofing Design Considerations
  What factors do I need to consider when designing my roof? There are a number of factors that need to considered, they include:· The shape: is the roof to be "flat" , pitched or curved? · The support: this refers to the supporting structure and support spacing;· The wind forces: how much wind the roof must sustain;· The pitch: this affects the looks, the profile's ability to efficiently carry rain to the gutters and fixing details.
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• Choosing your roofing materials
  What factors do I need to consider when choosing roofing sheets?
  The factors to consider when choosing roofing profiles include:· Profile: This is the design of the roofing sheet. It includes the width of the sheet, the grooves and rides on the sheet. Some examples are Coral Gable, Standing Seam and Circular Corrugation. · Gauge: This is the thickness of the roofing sheet. The thickness of the sheet increases as the gauge decreases. For example, 24Gauge is thicker than 26Gauge and 26Gauge is thicker than 28Ga. 26Gauge and 28Gauge are recommended for residential use. · Finish: This refers to whether the roofing sheet is pre-painted or unpainted. All the sheets are coated with rust inhibitors. Unpainted sheets also called Aluzinc sheets have a galvanized coating and the paint is baked onto the pre-painted material.
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• What will happen if roofing sheets become wet during storage?
  Rain or condensation can cause moisture to be drawn between the surfaces of the stacked sheets. The trapped moisture cannot evaporate easily, so it can cause deterioration of the coating, which may lead to reduced life expectancy or poor appearance.If stacked or bundled roofing sheets become wet, separate it without delay, wipe it with a clean cloth and slack it to dry thoroughly.
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• Installation
  Can I walk on the sheet without causing damage?
  It is important that you walk on roofing carefully, to avoid damage to either the roofing or yourself. Generally, keep your weight evenly distributed over the soles of both feet to avoid concentrating your weight on either heels or toes. Always wear smooth soft-soled shoes, avoid ribbed soles that pick up and hold small stones, swarf and other objects.When walking parallel to the ribs: for ribbed roofing, walk on at least two ribs or corrugations and for pan-type roofing, walk in the pans.When you walk across the ribs: walk over or close to the roofing supports. When walking on wet or newly laid sheets: always take particular care, especially on steeply pitched roofs.When there is heavy foot traffic on a roof: provide a temporary walkway or working platform to minimize damage.
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• What can I use to mark the metal roofing sheets?
  You can use a string chalk line with chalk dust, a fine felt- tipped marker or a pencil of any colour except black or so called "lead" pencils.Don't used black pencils to mark roofing because the graphite content can create an electric cell when wet and thus cause deterioration of the finish. How should I cut metal roofing sheets?Where possible, you should minimize cutting on site by using sheets cut to length in the factory. For cutting thin metal on site, we recommend that you use a power saw with a metal-cutting blade because it produces fewer damaging hot metal particles and leaves less resultant burr than does a carborundum disc.Cut materials over the ground and not over other materials where hot particles can fall and cause damage to finishes, especially pre-painted finishes. It is best to have the exterior colour finish of a pre-painted sheet facing down, however you must then protect the paint finish from scratching by your workmen. If you have to cut materials near sheets already installed, mask them or direct the stream of hot particulars away.Reciprocating nibblers are also widely used in the roofing trade, and they produce an excellent cut. The resulting small, sharp scrapes can rust and damage finishes; and they can cause personal injury. Take special care to collect these scraps.
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• What can I use to make holes in metal roofing sheets?
  Holes can be made by drilling or cutting with a saw or jig saw. Mask the area around the hole to protect paint from damage by swarf. Should I clean my roof after it is installed?Yes, your roof should be cleaned after it has been installed. Swarf (metal scraps or abrasive particles resulting from cutting and drilling) left on the surfaces of materials will cause rust stains which can lead to reduced life of the material.· Sweep or hose all metallic swarf and other debris from roof areas and gutters at the end of each day and at the completion of the installation.· If swarf has become stuck on a finish, it can be removed. Take great care not to remove the paint or the metal coatings.· For critical applications inspect the job two weeks after completion, when rain or condensation will have caused any remaining swarf to rust, and thus highlight affected areas.
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• Servicing or Maintenance
  What is involved in regular maintenance of a roof?Maintenance is one of the major factors that determine the life of a roof. Maintenance involves regular inspection for problems before they become major corrosion points. This includes:· Regular washing down, especially near coastal or industrial areas;· Removal of leaves and other debris from gutters;· Removal of fungus build -up; · Inspection of fasteners to determine whether they have backed out (especially in high wind areas like hillsides and valleys)
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