Metal Roofing Issues
Why Use a Metal Roof?
Few will argue that a metal roof, when installed properly, adds a certain design element to a building. Metal roofing led the way by turning a traditionally bland, boring part of the building into a feature worth highlighting.
Traditional Metal Roof Issues
- Leaking
- Long-term Performance
- "Oil Canning"
- Flashing Problems
- Noise Issues
How Long Will a Metal Roof Last?
However, that statement refers to the metal panels themselves. Those roofs haven't necessarily kept water out of the building for hundreds of years. And with so many options to choose from in metal thickness, corrosion coatings and paint types - on steel or aluminum panels - this old perception is no longer the reality.
Various levels of metal panel performance are available, and premature rusting and paint peeling are real possibilities if the wrong level is chosen.
Do some research and you'll find plenty of claims that metal roofs have fantastic long-term performance. It's a perceived notion that they are "long lasting." It is true that copper and lead have been documented to last hundreds of years.
Why is My Metal Roof Leaking?
A common mistake is made when assuming that metal roofs are waterproof. Metal roof panels are great for aesthetics, but not great at keeping water out of buildings.
In reality, the metal panels simply “shed” water away from your roof - they are not watertight.
Water can find its ways under metal panels. To prevent water infiltration, metal systems generally have to install a water barrier membrane under the panels and around penetrations.
Essentially, this forces you to purchase two separate systems - one for looks and one for protecting against water.
Metal Roofs Are Not Watertight
What is Oil Canning?
As a material, metal has a high rate of thermal expansion and contraction. If not installed properly, the system can display what is referred to as “oil canning.”
Oil canning happens when the metal panels don’t have sufficient room to move.
As a result, this can leave your metal roof looking older than it really is and not nearly as attractive as you had hoped.
How Difficult is it to Flash Details on a Metal Roof?
Simply put, flashing details with metal is hard. It is a difficult material to bend, form and cut. On simple, straightforward buildings with few to no areas requiring metal to be flashed, metal panels can be a cost-effective solution.
Unfortunately, many of today's buildings have numerous areas that need to be flashed, such as roofline transitions, penetrations, valleys and dormers.
Flashing Metal is Labor Intensive?
Flashing metal is labor intensive, difficult to keep watertight and requires an additional waterproofing layer in these critical areas, adding to the system cost.
Caulking can help keep the water out in some areas, but it will eventually break down over time due to the elements and constant expanding and contracting of the metal.
In other words, it requires constant maintenance.
Are There Noise Issues Associated With Metal Roofs?
It's no secret that a metal roof can make things noisy inside your building. Metal roofs are known for the sound they make when it rains or hails. Customers have described it as “sounding like being in a drum.”
In order to lessen the sound, standing seam metal roofs need to use a “dampening” material. Insulation and/or felt are the most widely used products.
Of course, this adds another layer to the system - and another hit to your wallet.
Get In the PVC Mindset
PVC Roofing is a Watertight Alternative PVC
Sika's Décor Roof System uses the proven Sarnafil G 410 thermoplastic vinyl membrane, a time-tested product that has proved its ability to withstand weather extremes in all climates around the world.
The G 410 membrane is hot-air welded to produce watertight seams that are even stronger than the membrane itself. And where penetrations and detailing are a common source of leakage on metal roofs, Décor's hot-air welded flashings remain watertight.
If Performance is Mandatory- Think PVC
Manufacturing high-quality roofing systems for over 50 years, Sika has more experience than any other North American thermoplastic membrane manufacturer. Our roofs have proved their worth consistently, again and again, regardless of climate.
Decor's Sarnafil membrane offers a long-lasting solution that does not rust or corrode. In addition, you'll get the peace of mind of watertight integrity with hot-air welded seams and permanent watertight flashing and detailing.
Save Time and Money With PVC
Decor's Sarnafil membrane is flexible and easy to work with, which makes flashing a breeze. Because the seams are hot-air welded to maintain watertight integrity, an additional waterproofing layer is not necessary. All of these add up to labor and material savings.
Take Your Roof to the Next Level With Sika Sarnafil
Décor is the ideal choice for new or existing buildings that call for the appearance of a metal roof, yet require maximum watertight performance.
Décor Roof Systems Deliver:
- Aesthetics - the beauty of a metal roof, but the watertight integrity of a hot-air welded membrane
- Design Flexibility - express your creativity as never before - regardless of roof slope, shape or complexity
- Proven Performance - Sarnafil membranes span more than 50 years of delivering long-lasting, proven performance around the world
- Low Life-Cycle Costs - minimal maintenance requirements and exceptional system longevity drive costs down
Request a Décor Roof System Kit
To learn more about the Sarnafil Décor Roof System or to request a Décor Sample Kit, please call 1-800-576-2368