Top-Notch Metal Roof Repairs in Baltimore, MD – Know Why the Baltimore Roofers Are So Recognized!
Metal roofs have grown in popularity in both new construction and remedial roofing applications, mainly in the commercial or industrial sectors. Advancements in material technology and application procedures have been instrumental in increasing its market share.
Contemporary metal roofing systems are much more reliable than their early predecessors. Today’s systems have the capacity to offer long-term service life, in fact, some of them may last up to 50 years with proper maintenance and repairs. The elements needed for establishing proper roof maintenance guidelines on metal roof systems are similar to maintenance conducted on conventional systems. The roofing contractor should have knowledge of different metal roofing systems and their application procedures. Familiarity with these systems can help identify typical problem areas that will need routine maintenance.
Identifying Roof Leaks
The goal of any roof maintenance program should be to extend the service life of the existing roofing system by eliminating and correcting all problem areas at their initial stages. The most common problem associated with metal roofing systems is roof leaks. Metal roof leaks are often a result of improper construction methods. For instance, leaving roof penetrations unprotected or omitting the needed sealants at joints and penetrations will always lead to leaks. These are items are easily identified and corrected, as are most metal roof problems.
In fact, metal roof leaks can typically be tracked to four common application errors. Roofing contractors that are aware of these items on service calls for metal roof systems can be of great benefit to the building owner. When answering these service calls, the first four areas for which the repairman should look are:
Omission or misplacement of the needed bar and caulking-type sealants in the longitudinal roofing seam cavities
Failure to install the extra strip of sealant at the four-way panel laps and at the eave connections
The roof is not caulking between the extra trim and the underside of the roof panels
Failure to install tape sealant under the screw heads
The metal roof repair specialists in Baltimore, MD considerably take a comprehensive look at all these application errors and provide an effective and efficient fix for the same. You can relax about the proper fixation of all these roofing construction application errors, when handed over the task of repair and restoration on the metal roof repair specialists in Baltimore, MD.
A short Brief on these Roofing Construction Application Errors:
The presence of the sealants at the needed locations can be detected through the use of a special ‘feeler’ tool. The specialized roofers generally have this feeler tool with them. The tool usually must be fabricated to a thin dimension of approximately 0.0005 inch so that it fits in the roofing seam. If it is determined that sealant is not applied at these points, remedial work may need removal of the panel, also application of the proper sealant and reinstallation of the panel may also be required.
Of course, not all roof leaks can be attributed to improper workmanship. Some problems occur due to inadequate design details. A case in point: waterproof of standing seam roof systems with trapezoidal seams is highly dependent on the proper installation of the closure strips that are applied at the corrugated eaves. If end closures are not designed for application at these points, leaks will occur from overflowing gutters or ice damns. The applied sealant should be thoroughly inspected for openings if end closures are applied.
If the leaks are not occurring at these points, the repairman should investigate the other most common points of concern. On metal roof systems, leaks are also susceptible at open seams and penetrations. Improper terminations of metal at vertical locations, particularly at interfaces with other types of materials or at ridge vents, are other common points of moisture infiltration.
Some Common Metal Repair Procedures
Proper repairs can be completed by using the appropriate materials for the existing metal surface. Most metal roofing system manufacturers have repair procedures that should be followed to get an efficiently working metal roof. Some of such general repair procedures are listed below.
One common point of moisture infiltration in metal roofing systems is at the openings formed by missing or corroded fasteners. To properly repair these areas, remove and replace all severely corroded as well as missing fasteners with an acceptable corrosion-resistant type fastener. Replace all severely weathered washers with new butyl rubber washers. Trowel or caulk exposed fasteners with proper sealant by totally covering the fastener heads.
Openings in the metal surface also require proper attention. Repair all splits, holes or protrusions in the metal surface using proper metal sealant and repair material. This is accomplished by following the steps provided here:
First, thoroughly clean the metal surface so that it is free of all dirt and debris.
The surface must be completely dry prior to material application. Trowel-apply an approved metal adhesive approximately 1/2 inch thick over the cracked or split areas.
Set one layer of a metal fiber membrane over the affected area in an even application of adhesive.
Finally, trowel-apply the adhesive over the metal fiber membrane in uniform even coatings.
The structural integrity of the metal can be compromised by excessive rust and pitting of the metal surface. Repairs and/or replacement of the metal surface may be needed depending on the severity of the surface corrosion. Remove and replace all metal panels that are severely corroded or deteriorated by weather to the point that they may pose a safety threat. Typically, this type of corrosion can be identified by several metal surface openings and extensive rust in a concentrated area. Best practice methods need replacement of metal panels in areas of doubt regarding the severity of the corrosion. In these cases it is best to err on the side of safety.
Metal surfaces that exhibit minor surface rust can be treated with remedial repairs. The surface rust should be removed by hand tool cleaning that may include sanding, scraping or removal with a wire brush. Once the rust is substantially eliminated from the metal surface, an application of an approved primer or rust inhibitor should be set over the affected surface area.
The most common repair and maintenance application on metal roof systems is the application of a coating. Coatings can be applied for a number of reasons, for instance to provide weatherproofing protection, to provide reflection or emissivity or for esthetic purposes. When they are properly applied, metal coatings can extend the service life of the metal system. The metal roofing specialists in Baltimore, MD are quite known for their excellent metal roof coating services worldwide. Their workmanship efficiency makes them different from the other roofers in the market.
There are varying degrees of coatings available in the market and it is the foremost duty of the roofer to conduct the necessary research to identify the best types of coatings for the different types of metal surfaces. The metal roofing specialists in Baltimore, MD offer the expert help and efficiently determine the needed type and style of coating for the existing metal surface.
Metal coating application requires proper preparation. Every additional work should be completed prior to the final coating application. The metal surface should be thoroughly cleansed of all loose rust, mill surface and paint, as well as all loose dirt and contaminants. Cleaning the surface by using power tools, such as power sanders, wire grinders is important before the coating application. A more common cleaning procedure is the use of high-pressure water blasting at not less than 2,000 psi.
Once the metal preparation procedures are completed, and the metal surface is completely dry, the coating application can begin. Most coating manufacturers provide warranties based on the coating thickness. The proper applied mil thickness is needed to achieve the warranty levels. The coating should be applied in an even application. The metal coating can be applied using approved spray equipment, brushes or rollers.
Contact the specialized roofers to know more about metal roof repairs and restorations processes in brief today!!
