Interlocking Panels: Start At The Very Beginning
May 20, 2009 | Filed under: Articles, Benefits of Metal Roofing
One of the greatest benefits of many metal roofing systems is that the panels interlock with one another. They are not held together and held to the roof by just gravity or fasteners but the panels actually interlock one to the next, creating a continuous protective shield for the structure below.
However, this interlock can also be a downfall. If one becomes loose, perhaps due to improper fastening or wind uplift or physical abuse, that panel can start to move around. Once it starts to move around, the integrity of its interlock with any adjacent panels can become jeopardized. If this situation is not stopped, a domino effect can take place and many will be lost.
How do you avoid this? Well, there are many factors but one very important one is the fastening at the bottom edge of the roof. This is what we call the eave of the roof. Many people will misspell that as “eve” which is something very different.
When you are selecting a metal roof, make sure you understand how it is attached, fastened and connected at the eave. If the panels are not secure at the eave, they can easily be subject to wind uplift and even water infiltration.
Some systems have panels that just rest on top of a drip edge at the eave. Others can be installed that way or can be installed with an eave that they actually lock into. And other panels must be locked into the eave starter strip.
Making sure that your metal roof is securely fastened and locked in at the eave, to me, is pretty critical to getting what you’re seeking with your investment in a durable, lasting metal roof.
Todd Miller has spent his entire career in the metal building products manufacturing industry. He is president of Isaiah Industries, an organization recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers. Todd is currently Vice President of the MRA (Metal Roofing Association) and a Past Chair of MCA (Metal Construction Association). Through his website, he strives to raise the bar on standards and practices to provide property owners with the best possible products for successful roofing projects.
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