When It Comes to Roofing Expertise, It Doesn’t Hurt to Diversify

As is often the case when it comes to your investments, it’s always a good idea to diversify. This also applies to the investment of your construction expertise as a roofing contractor. Even with the mild uptick in new construction activity of late, contractors are smart to explore the additional revenue stream that can come from roof renovations and retrofits.

Example of Retrofit Metal Panel, NuRoofMost metal roof retrofit work entails adding slope to an existing flat- or low-sloped roof.  According to a 2013 article in Metal Construction News, about 25 percent of U.S. commercial, institutional and public buildings are 55 years old or older and consist of flat-roof stock that has reached the end of its service life. Two years later, that percentage is surely higher.

To transition from a flat roof to a sloped roof is a good move, because it will result in lower energy and maintenance costs for years to come.  It is also environmentally smart, because metal is one of the most recycled materials used in construction, and metal roofing is 100 percent recyclable at the end of its service life. A metal roofing system provides for additional insulation, as well as the installation of solar panels that reduce reliance on electricity. And in most circumstances, a new metal roof can be installed without having to remove the existing flat roof. A metal retrofit may carry a higher initial cost, but when total life-cycle cost is considered, a metal retrofit will end up being the lowest cost alternative.

A large number of buildings with flat membrane or built-up roofs require a framing system to produce an adequate slope. But this particular type of retrofit can be challenging. In general, the retrofit market is more specialized and much more technical than what roofing contractors are likely used to in the existing metal building market. At the same time, the retrofit market can be very profitable and is worth getting up to speed on.

Whether you’re doing a small retrofit project or a complete renovation, MBCI can assist you with developing a preliminary budget, estimating, engineering, as well as providing a complete set of shop drawings for your retrofit project.

Stay tuned for future posts where we’ll provide some guidelines on how to successfully navigate the design process of retrofitting a flat or inadequately sloped built-up or membrane roof.  Adding this diversity to your portfolio of roofing skills will likely net a high return on investment.

Standing the Test of Time: New Study Reveals 55% Al-Zn Alloy Coated Standing Seam Roofs Last 60 Years

The majority knows that metal roofs are durable, but it wasn’t until recently that a study showed the longevity of low-slope unpainted 55% Al-Zn alloy coated steel standing seam roofing (SSR) systems- 60 years. With the service life of a commercial building being 60 years, according to LEED version 4, this means that essentially the metal roof system described above, and commonly referred to as Galvalume® metal roofs, does not require replacement. To put this into context, by comparison most non-metal roofs require at least one replacement during the same period. This study also reveals that the longevity of a 55% Al-Zn alloy coated standing seam roofing system far surpasses the typical warranty period granted, which is 25 years. Basically, this is a game changer and we, manufacturers, are thrilled!

Technical Director of MCA Scott Kriner said, “This study is a breakthrough for the metal construction industry because it finally provides third-party, scientific data that backs up the long held stance that 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roofing systems are very durable, economic and can be better for the environment.”

Let’s take a closer look at the study. The Metal Construction Association (MCA) and Zinc Aluminum Coaters (ZAC) Association sponsored it. The study involved three independent consulting firms testing 14 buildings in five climate zones. The variety of structures and climates allowed them to analyze how Galvalume metal roofs perform in a range of temperatures, humidity and precipitation pH, or acidity, levels. All of these can affect the metallic corrosion rate of roof panels, their sealants and components, and that’s what the consulting firms analyzed.

Here were some of their findings:

  • First, the sealant life is the primary deciding factor in establishing end-of-life for Galvalume metal roof systems. In certain structures analyzed that were 35 years old, the sealant was considered “entirely adequate and without issue.” Based on the sealant performance, the study conservatively projected the lifespan of such roof systems to be 60 years.
  • Secondly, although a Galvalume metal roof is moderately maintenance-free, all roof systems require a periodic inspections and maintenance in order to achieve such long lifespans.
  • Thirdly, while the roof system as a whole was projected to last up to 60 years, components may need to be replaced during this period. The cost of replacing components, however, is considerably less than 20% of replacing an entire roofing system, which is the value deemed by this study as excessive to the point of constituting the end of service life for a roof system.
  • Lastly, the study unveiled that even on areas typically most susceptible to corrosion, such as panel profile bends, there was an absence of significant rust after 35 years; even at its most vulnerable areas, a Galvalume metal roof system performs well.

So what does it mean for architects and building owners? Speaking from a purely biased manufacturer’s prospective, specify and purchase more metal roofs! All jokes aside, this study displays the appeal in selecting a metal roof because it reduces the maintenance costs of the building. It also changes and increases the accuracy of Life Cycle Cost (LCC) or whole building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) associated with Galvalume metal roof systems by providing tangible research as opposed to previous calculations based on roofing professionals’ opinions. To find out more information or to download the full report, visit http://www.metalconstruction.org/index.php/education/technical-resources.

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