Install Your New Roof
Now its time to install your 29-gauge roofing material. The first metal panel will overlap the edge of your roof by one-fourth inch. Lay down all of your metal panels so that the larger edge of one panel will overlap with the shorter edge of the next panel.
Then add silicone sealant to each of the metal panels so they adhere together. Try to follow the manufacturers guidelines during the installation of 29-gauge metal roofing material.
Summarizing Your Metal Style Choice
Corrugated Metal Roofing Offers a Very Affordable Choice for Businesses.
Whats more important to your business at this juncture: better pricing or maximum durability? Its entirely possible to purchase a thick corrugated panel system that offers the same level of impact resistance as standing seam, perhaps at a medium price point. Of course, a longer lifespan and minimal maintenance program could make standing seam the preferred choice.
Discuss your commercial roofing priorities with your contractor, and see which option best suits your price.
Metal Roofing In Southington Waterbury Naugatuck And More
Roofers, are you trying to figure out how to cut metal roofing? Weve got you covered.
Let’s agree on this, the roof is an essential section in any construction project, and you would not want to compromise on its quality. The roof provides protection against tough weather conditions, helps with conserving energy and improves your homes aesthetic value.
When installing a new roof, you want to ensure that it is of the highest quality and will serve you for years. In this case, metal roofing fits best. It is known to be not only a durable roofing solution but also one that’s aesthetically appealing.
However, if you plan on working the installation process on your own, you need to understand how to cut sheet metal roofing. This is important because the metal sheets have to be in specific shapes and sizes to fit your roofing needs in Connecticut.
For most beginners, learning how to cut a metal roof may seem intimidating, and any slight mistake when using the tin snips can cause injury.
However, cutting metal roofing is easy if done using the right metal roof cutters and in the proper manner. In this post, we will look at the brass tacks in cutting metal roofs, including the tools needed and the procedures that you should follow and answer a question or two on metal roofing.
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Metal Roofs Can Reduce The Chance Of Structural Damage
As touched on in the section above, you can do several things to decrease the potential of a lightning strike. But when your building is struck, it can put the structural integrity of the building as well as the safety of the occupants at risk.
This is why having the right materials in place is essential. Again, people get confused since metal is a conductor, thinking that it makes for unsafe roofing material. But the fact of the matter is that the exact opposite is true.
Since metal is a conductor, it actually spreads out the force of the electricity rather than focusing it in one place. For this reason, the full impact of the strike will actually be diffused. The electricity from the strike will travel nearly instantaneously through those conductive materials straight to the ground.
Did you know that the average lightning strike lasts only 30 microseconds? If your building materials are more likely to combust, the results of a strike are more often than not a destructive fire. When using metal and steel as building products, and also pairing them with fire-resistant materials, your building will be much more likely to stand up to a lightning strike than those wood-framed buildings that permeate your neighborhood.
Prepare Before You Cut
No matter which cutting tool you use, planning your cuts is by far the best way to cut tin roofing. Measure and make note of the location of roof vents, chimneys and other areas that will require cuts. Use a tape measure to make precise markings on the tin and a marker to sketch the cuts. A carpenters square or a two-by-four is useful for marking straight cuts. When marking your cuts, draw on both sides of the tin. Preparing the cuts ensures that you make only the cuts you need, because you get them right the first time. Use care when handling the tin because it is flexible and can easily fold back on itself. This can result in damage to the panel. Wear heavy leather work gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges. Safety goggles and ear protection are also necessary, particularly if you are using power cutting tools. Wear long sleeves and pants, and do not try to cut more than one sheet of tin roofing at a time.
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Cutting Metal Roofing Panels
I am adding a lean-to on a storage shed. The roof will be galvanized metal roofing that I puchased used. What is the best way to cut these panels? I have heard some say you can use a skil saw with the blade reversed. Also wondering if a blade especially made for cutting metal would work. I dont have the special nippers made for cutting metal, and not sure if I can rent them in this area.
You can indeed use a circular saw blade put on backwards and it will cut – albeit about as well as you’d expect. Better is a ferrous-metals blade which has the correct hook angles etc and won’t cost a great deal – but will still sound like a full battalion assault on your hearing.
Somewhat better for noise is a ferrous-metal blade in your jigsaw or even a recip.saw. You have to be a bit more careful about keeping striaght edges though.
The very best is to find a local contractor that actually knows how to use the snips really well. They will be able to do the job fast, neatly, quietly, tidily and accurately and probably in less than a day for a small job. You might even find someone happy to do a quick weekender for a crate of beer if you’re really lucky.
How long are the cuts you need to make, total length end to end? For a relatively small distance I’d be inclined to use an abrasive cutting blade.
In any event, use full body armor — goggles, heavy shirt and pants, heavy gloves, and hearing protectors.
Cutting With Tin Snips
Tin snips are best when making short, small, or detailed cuts. They work the same as scissors, so if your cut begins at the edge of the panel, theres really not much to it just be sure to follow the cut lines you made carefully.
However, if your cut needs to begin in the middle of the panel, you will need to drill a pilot hole. Using an electric drill with a ½ inch metal-cutting drill bit, bore a small hole at the starting point of your cut. Then, simply use your snips to get into the pilot hole and begin your cut.
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Ensure There Is Proper Ventilation In Your Attic
After you have taken the steps to ensure that your attic is properly insulated and sealed, you need to make certain that your attic is also ventilated properly. First, you need to check to see if you have soffit vents installed. These are designed to drive cold air into the attic and you will be in good shape if you have them.
If you dont have soffit vents, then you will need to have gable vents installed as an alternative. Generally speaking, you want to have one foot of that gable ventilation or any alternative roof ventilation for every 150 square feet of your attic floor.
When you ensure that you have proper ventilation, you prevent that buildup of heat that can melt water and cause it to become trapped in areas of your roof, causing those troublesome ice dams to form. It might be a bit of a hassle, but ensuring that those ice dams do not form can mean the difference between a properly functioning roof and one that can become damaged and cause issues with your roof.
Prevent ice dams with these relatively easy steps and you can ensure that your metal roof holds up during even the toughest of winters.
How To Cut Roofing Sheets Step
The preparation of the metal roofing panels is the same no matter which tool youre going to use for cutting them. While it might seem unnecessary, preparing the cuts is a way of ensuring that you make exactly the cuts you need without wasting time because you get them right the first time. To do this, you have to:
Now is time to put your PPE on and select the tool youre going to use to cut those metal roofing sheets.
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How To Cut Metal Roofing With Tin Snips
Like I mentioned before, your tin snip is just like a pair of scissors and while trimming your 29-gauge metal sheet you should try and think of it like a sheet of paper. Just remember that you need a straight, clean cut.
Open your snip and keep the upper blade of your tin snips on the marking you made earlier. It is best to fit the metal and upper blade of the snips together as tightly as you can.
Now press the handle of the jaws together with your hand. Repeat the process until you finish your cut. Finally, youll need to file the edges of your 29-gauge metal sheet to remove the unwanted portions. Your metal sheet should look nice and clean.
The 29-gauge metal sheets are pretty thin, so you can easily use tin snips or aviation snips to cut them by hand. The best tin snips for metal roofing are Hurricane 10 inch snips.
Plan And Mark Your Cuts
First off, you need to plan your cuts before you do anything else. Planning is integral to every construction project and its no different when cutting metal roofing.
Planning out your cuts will save you time and energy and prevent you from accidentally cutting too small a piece out of the roofing material you purchased.
Its important to take your time during this part of the process. Most major mistakes occur during the planning aspect of cutting metal roofing.
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Will Metal Roofs Attract Lightning
Will metal roofs attract lighting? No, having a metal roof should neither increase nor decrease its chances of being struck by lightning. Other factors like building height, size, and topography do, however, have an influence.
The Metal Construction Association has even pointed out that metal roofing may actually keep your building safer in the event of a lightning strike.
Cut Aluminum With Your Miter Saw
Making accurate cuts on aluminum rods, tubes and angles is easy with a miter saw and a blade designed to cut nonferrous metal . If the motor housing on your saw is open and could collect metal chips, tape a piece of cloth over the openings to protect the motor windings and bearings while you cut the aluminum. Trapping the aluminum with a wood backer as shown reduces the danger of flying metal shards and makes it easier to hold the metal in place for cutting. This tip is especially important when youre cutting thin-walled pieces. Without the backing board, the blade will often catch on the metal and distort it and make it unusable.
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Cutting The Panels With A Circular Saw
If you have a circular saw, you can get the job done this way. However, there are some limitations when using this powerful tool, including:
- You should know how to handle it
- You might need additional PPE
- You will need refined skills to perform precise cuts
- If the exposed side of the tin is facing up, you can damage the panels
- You will need to find the right blade for the job
Using a circular saw is more appropriate if you wish to perform straight cuts through several metal roofing panels.
Cut Metal Roofing Safely
Remember that you should always wear safety goggles, gloves and other protective gear when cutting metal roofing because there are many sharp blades involved.
The equipment can also be dangerous if it is not used correctly or with the proper precautions in place.
To be sure, make sure to take note of these two important tips:
1. Have complete safety equipment These tools can be dangerous if you arent using them correctly, so make sure to have complete safety equipment before making any cuts.
2. Hire a professional It is always a good idea to hire someone for this job if you dont know how to use the equipment or simply want it done safely and correctly. Remember that a dependable roofing contractor is not hard to find.
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Major Features Of Cutting Different Types Of Metal Roofing
Sheet metal shears with parallel or angled knives and a circular saw are often used for cutting of sheet metal onto strips or workpieces. If there is an issue how to cut corrugated metal roofing, the most reliable option would be using electric scissors. They are designed for cutting painted metal and plastic, and they are convenient for cutting corrugated sheets as well as any uneven surfaces.
Mechanical separating cut is performed by guillotine shears and press shears. Sheet metal parts with non-straight edges are cut using a circular saw.
Hand Tools Slow Down The Installation Process
Manual preparation of metal roof panels is not as accurate as you may thinkfor the simple reason that even the most skilled professionals have physical limits as far as precision. During the installation process, roofers typically have to make adjustments in real time to accommodate inconsistencies and rough spots while installing manually prepared panel, thus slowing down installation times.
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After You Cut Metal Roofing
Okay, so after you cut metal roofing to your desired shape, I want to demonstrate the fasteners used to hold the metal roofing down.
Its not just a normal screw these screws. These screws, if youll notice closely, have its own little washer on it. And right below the metal washer is another little neoprene washer which is made to seal it water type.
So as you tighten that screw down, the neoprene washer goes down to your metal. It has a metal washer right behind it. You will want to collapse that neoprene washer, just a little bit, and that will give you your water tight seal.
Now, the problem with these sometimes those screws through time are gonna work their way loose. If that loosens up, then the neoprene washer comes up and it is going to allow water to get down in the hole where the score is.
Ill show you some examples. This roof has been on for a few years. Youll notice how high the head of this screw is. Through the years that screw has loosened up and now theres nothing sealing out water there anymore. Its a very simple fix.
You can take your driver again. Tighten her back down. As long as theres still plywood to hold it, squeeze that neoprene washer tight again and itll be good to go.
Otherwise, you can pull them back out and simply replace the screws.
This one is not tightening down to anything.
Yeah, its just spinning.
So lets talk about the medals themselves.
Theyve got all kinds of painted steel.
Also, weve got trims on the rakes.
Cutting Your Metal Roofing
You have to cut metal sheets for your roofing material.
There are many different ways to cut a sheet. You can choose from any one of the options listed below and cut metal roofing without difficulty.
1. Use an electric drill This is one of the easiest ways to cut metal roofing. If you have an electric drill, then this method will not cost you much money.
You can use a hole saw or spade bit for cutting holes in your sheets. Holes are used to mount hardware on the sheet by using bolts and screws.
2. Use a nibbler A nibbler is a great tool. It cuts metal very quickly and easily, but it is dangerous.
Be careful when using this tool because there are many sharp blades that can cause serious injury if you arent paying attention to what you are doing.
3. Use tin snips Tin snips are another popular way to cut metal roofing.
They usually come with an adjustable pivot that makes cutting easy and straight lines possible for all kinds of angles, so it is perfect if you want to make your own custom cuts in the sheet.
4. Use a miter saw A miter saw is another way to cut metal roofing. It offers three different speeds, so it can be used on thin metals as well as thicker materials.
The blade doesnt need to be changed when the material changes thickness because there are many blades that come with this tool for various types of metals and each one has a small knob on the end of it for adjusting thickness.
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