metal roofs Archives | Page 7 of 7

Demand for Roofing: Something to be Happy About

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Amy Crenan

With the economic troubles of Greece and now China filling our news feeds, it’s nice to come across good news. And let’s face it—over the last several years, particularly since 2009, there hasn’t been a whole lot of good news for roofers or the construction industry overall.

Recession Effects & A Positive Outlook

Roofing demand fell between 2009 and 2014 as nonresidential building construction spending and residential reroofing activity declined due to the recession, according to an article recently published on Building-Products.com. But this same article says U.S. demand for roofing is projected to rise 3.9 percent annually to 252 million squares in 2019, valued at $21.4 billion, according to a new Freedonia Group study.

Metal Roofing Outlook

In particular, metal roofing will see above-average demand gains through 2019. The article goes on to say metal roofing demand will be helped by its durability and ability to support solar panels used to generate electricity. Building Products also sites metal roofing systems provide additional insulation as a boost to energy savings.

New building construction activity is expected to account for increased demand for roofing through 2019. New non-residential demand will come in the areas of office and commercial construction. Demand in the institutional and industrial segments will also increase as more schools, hospitals and manufacturing sites are built, correlating to an increased demand for such low slope products as metal roofing.

Rooftop Solar Energy

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Brad Johnson

The “Sustainability begets resilience” blog ended with a nod to rooftop energy production. So, how will you respond when, not if, a building owner asks you about rooftop solar energy? An appropriate and accurate answer is, “The combination of a metal roof and solar energy is a recipe for a long-term, high-performance roof system,” or something like that. The fact is a metal panel roof is an ideal substrate for a solar energy system.

Installation Methods

Solar energy is the broad term for two sub-categories: photovoltaic (PV) systems (electricity) and solar thermal (hot water) systems. Besides the obvious differences, the rooftop attachment concepts for both systems are quite similar. PV panels and solar thermal panels are commonly rigid with metal frames. Attachment to metal roofing panels can be direct or include rails. Both methods use a customized clip that attaches to the metal roofing panel seam; then, metal-framed PV panels or rails are attached. The need for rails (think “purlins”) depends on the seam spacing and layout of the roof panels relative to the size and layout of the PV or solar thermal panels. Overall roof slope matters, too. Directly attached solar energy systems match the slope of the roof, which is not necessarily the optimum slope for energy production.

Structural & Performance Requirements

Other considerations include the structural load, fire resistance, wind resistance and the use of code-approved materials and components. A solar energy system adds weight to the roof. Does the structure need updating to carry the gravity load as well as any increased wind uplift loads? Adding panels to the roof will increase the sliding load (i.e., drag load) on the clips holding the roof panels to the substructure. And let’s not forget about the potential for snow retention or increased snowdrifts that will add weight.

Fire and wind resistance should be discussed with the manufacturer or designer of the PV or solar thermal system. Fire and wind design are incredibly important, and there are very specific code requirements to meet.

Layout Considerations

Rooftop layout of solar systems, especially PV, should not block drainage or impede roof maintenance. Also, clearance at roof perimeters and access to critical roof areas (e.g., drains, rooftop units) is necessary. Last but certainly not least, check with the metal panel roof system manufacturer about warranty issues regarding a rooftop solar energy installation.

While there are many things to consider when installing solar energy systems on roofs, the long service life of metal panels and the ease of installation certainly make metal roofs and solar energy a great combination!

Sustainability Begets Resiliency…In Practice

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Brad Johnson

Sustainability is the buzzword started by USGBC that is pushing us to design and build environmentally friendly buildings. And that’s a good thing. However, from a practical—and roofing—standpoint, what we can most readily do with roofs is design them to be resilient. Roof system resiliency is the tangible aspect of sustainability that the “regular” population can get their heads around. Resiliency—the ability to bounce back—is understandable.

Loosely speaking, a resilient building can withstand an extreme weather event and remain habitable and useful. It follows that a resilient roof system is one that can withstand an extreme weather event and continue to perform and provide shelter.

What makes a metal roof system resilient? It needs to be tough and durable, wind and impact resistant, highly insulated and appropriately reflective, and perhaps be a location for energy production.

An extreme weather event typically means high winds. A resilient metal roof system needs to withstand above-code wind events. Remember, codes are minimum design requirements; there is nothing stopping us from designing metal panel roofs above code requirements! If a building is located in a 120 mph wind zone, increase the design/increase the attachment as if it were in a 140 mph wind zone. And, very importantly, increasing the wind resistance of the edge details is critical to the wind resistance of a roof system.

Toughness is important. Increasing the thickness of a metal panel roof system increases resistance to impacts and very likely increases service life (of the metal panel, at least). Tough and durable seams are important, too. A double-lock standing seam is one of the best seam types for metal roofs. A little bit of extra effort at the seam can go a long way for durability, weatherproofing, and longevity.

Highly insulated and appropriately reflective are also traits of resiliency. High R-value means less thermal transfer across the roof assembly. Two layers, staggered or crisscrossed, provide a thermally efficient insulation layer. Using thermal breaks between the metal panels and the metal substructure adds to the thermal efficiency. Reflective roofs help reduce heat transfer through the roof assembly. The effectiveness of a roof’s color and reflectivity to save energy depends on many items, such as location, stories, and building type.

Enhanced wind resistance, improved impact resistance and toughness, high R-value, and reflectivity and color are passive design elements that increase the resiliency of a building’s rooftop. And let’s not forget that rooftop energy production can provide electricity to critical components of a building, such as a freezer section of a grocery store. Hurricane Sandy put resiliency on the public radar; resilient buildings are here to stay.

Fall Maintenance for Metal Roofs

Posted on July 21, 2015 by kbuchinger

Yes, it is still summer, but it is not too early to start thinking about fall maintenance. The sooner you contact your network of building owners, the sooner you’ll be able to schedule and get paid for performing maintenance this fall.

Do You Have Maintenance Agreements in Place?

Let’s take a step back. Why don’t you have a maintenance agreement in place for every roof you’ve installed? Think “car dealer” for a minute. When you buy a brand new car at a dealership, you’re basically expected to get it serviced there for the life of the car, or at least while the warranty is in effect. Car dealers have the knowledge and expertise, and car owners rely on that expertise. It’s the same idea for metal roofing. As the installer (and perhaps designer) of a complex, highly engineered metal panel roof system, you are uniquely qualified with the knowledge and experience to provide semi-annual maintenance and inspection.

How Often Should You Service a Metal Roof?

The roofing industry continues to extol the virtues of semi-annual maintenance. Even though roofs don’t have moving parts (like an elevator or an AC unit), a roof moves because it expands and contracts with temperature changes. This movement puts stresses on all seams and joints. High winds induce significant stresses at seams and fasteners, too. Debris can collect on the rooftop and in gutters. Fasteners and seams can become loose or damaged. Regular maintenance can correct these minor issues before they become major issues. Regular maintenance can also find potential warranty issues, such as a paint or coating issue.

Start Setting Up Service Contracts

Because fall is around the corner, it’s time to start contacting your network of building owners to set up a service contract. Some companies may take a couple months to approve a service agreement, so an early start matters. A service agreement should define the parties involved, the services included, and the fees. Fees can be based on the square footage of the rooftop, and perhaps can include travel time and mileage expenses. Service agreements can be a one-time contract, or, preferably, a multi-year contract, with annual increases included. To help sell a service agreement, let your clients know that most, if not all, manufacturers’ roof warranties require annual maintenance. If you don’t have a service agreement form for your company, many examples of “roof system service contract” can be found with a Google search.

There may not always be opportunities to install new metal roofs, but there will always be opportunities to service existing metal roofs—twice a year for every metal roof.

Metal Roofs & Walls a Big Plus When It Comes to Net Zero Energy

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Amy Crenan

Kickapoo Tribe Government & Community Building features MBCI’s CF Architectural Insulated Metal Panel

Are you familiar with “Net Zero Energy?” No, it’s not that sense of power you got from using that early dial-up Internet browser of the 1990’s (The company, by the way, is still in existence, and comes up in searches for the term Net Zero. Who knew?). The Net Zero Energy I’m speaking of is the enviable, sustainable state achieved when the creation and use of energy within the same building system are equal.

Though achievable, the cost and capacity for producing energy within a building system is greater than that of creating energy efficiency in one. The good news is that metal roofing and ,a href=”http://www.mbci.com/products/wall-products/”>wall panels are extremely useful on both sides of the equation.

On the energy efficiency side, insulated metal panels (IMPs) provide roof and wall systems with the thermal and radiative performance needed for sustainable design. Insulated wall and roof panels provide continuous insulation and eliminate thermal bridges. As building and energy codes become increasingly more stringent, insulated metal panels are an ideal choice for thermally efficient building envelopes.

Baker Hughes features MBCI’s CF Mesa Insulated Metal Panels

On the other side of the equation, a common method of generating energy is through the use of photovoltaics (PVs), and metal roofs provide the best possible surface to host a photovoltaic (PV) array. Solar photovoltaic systems and solar water heating systems can be installed on a metal roof, penetration-free, resulting in high performance with minimal risk. Both the use of IMPs and the installation of PVs on metal roofs can be used with proper designs to maximize building energy efficiency.

Of course, metal roofing, known to last 40 years or longer, is the only type of roof that can be expected to outlive the PV system mounted on it, which results in virtually zero maintenance and a very low in-place cost for the roof and PV system together. A sustainability win, a durability win, and, of course, an aesthetic win. The result is anything but a zero sum game.

Find out more about MBCI’s Insulated Metal Panels