How can you prepare for your next metal roofing project?
As a contractor, managing your team and ensuring installation is successful can be a demanding job, as there are many variables to keep track of, from the handling of materials to engineering specifics. It’s essential to keep your team on the right track throughout the whole process. This starts with having the right preparation, including taking action before starting a new project, prepping the job site, and communicating installation details to your team.
At Sheffield Metals International (SMI), we sell coils, sheets, and metal roofing accessories. We also have Architectural and Technical teams that can offer assistance when it comes to your metal roofing project, including design help, engineering, installation detail manuals, and more. We’re also committed to providing high-quality content, through articles, videos, and downloads, to aid our customers and help them complete projects efficiently.
For this article, we talked to former installer Dave Stubbs, who has decades of experience working in the metal roofing industry. We’ll walk through what successful metal roof project preparation looks like, including:
- Considerations before starting a new metal roofing project
- How to prep a metal roofing job site
- How to prep your crew
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a better understanding of how to best prepare your next metal roofing project and have tools to guide you through the process.
Considerations Before Starting a New Metal Roofing Project
“Information is always the catalyst to success. What does the roof look like? What are you putting on it? Where do you want to start on the roof? How complex is it? All these things are questions to be answered prior to the start [of the project].”
-Dave Stubbs, Former Metal Roofing Installer
Before you start installation, you’ll want to consider different factors that will affect your metal roofing project. Much of this pre-installation phase will involve gathering as much information as possible to get a better picture of what installation will look like and what challenges you may face.
Engineering
The engineering of your project will be the guiding force throughout the whole process, but it is especially important before installation, as it will tell you what you need to complete your assembly, including which panels, clips, and screws. The engineering will also tell you the clip spacings you’ll need and the type of materials required.
Depending on your region and local codes, you may need to find materials that match a certain testing standard such as for wind uplifts. Some metal roofing suppliers offer panel profiles that have already been tested – this can be a convenient and efficient way to find the panel systems that you need.
Project Complexity
Metal roofing projects range from small, simpler projects like picnic area overhangs and single-family residential homes to sprawling, complex jobs such as university buildings with intricate designs. The complexity of your project will impact installation, including the amount of time it takes to complete, the amount of labor you’ll need, and the level of detail you’ll need to communicate to your team.
Commercial projects will often require weathertight warranties, for example, which will demand an added layer of precision when installing metal roofing details. With all metal roofing projects, you’ll want to do your best to communicate as best as possible and complete high-quality work. The more complex your project gets, the higher the stakes will be, and the more precise and targeted you’ll want to be with your communication and plan for installation.
Materials
24-gauge metal is most commonly used for standing seam metal roofing applications. It’s also thicker and harder to bend and manipulate than other metal thicknesses, so this is something to keep in mind if your crew is not familiar with 24-gauge.
Also, be aware of chemical processes such as galvanic reactions, which can occur when dissimilar metals come into contact with one another, such as a copper gutter interacting with steel. These reactions can happen even if materials are not touching – rain runoff can travel from the copper to the steel, leading to corrosion.
Be sure to pay attention to details like these and keep your team informed and updated about best practices.
How to Prep a Metal Roofing Job Site
Prioritize Organization and Precision
“Disorganized processes do not lead to efficient processes. A loss of materials is a loss on the job. There’s no making it up.”
-Dave Stubbs, Former Metal Roofing Installer
Metal roofing installation requires attention to detail for a quality finished product. Prioritize organization and precision on your job site:
- Take accurate measurements: Time spent taking measurements is critical for installation. Staying patient and being as precise as possible will allow your installers to work freely and gain momentum as they work, without having to pause to remeasure or fix a mistake.
- Handle panels correctly: Follow best practices for handling panels on a job site – check out our article here on that topic – so that materials do not get scratched or bent. Stack panels so that they do not hold water and tie them up to defend against wind.
- Keep reliable counts: If you have an onsite rollformer, be sure you’re keeping count of the panels you’re running and measure them to length. This will speed up the process and avoid having to make manual cuts.
Additionally, seek out tools to help during the preparation process and onwards, including checklists and project management software to help keep processes streamlined.
Communicate With Your Crew
“Construction is tough because there are always modifications. If you don’t have a plan, your modification is a complete disruption. Have a plan to execute and share it with your team. Everybody’s important.”
-Dave Stubbs, Former Metal Roofing Installer
On any job site, communication with your crew is essential. Project plans should be detailed and explained to the crew every morning. This is especially true when modifications to the original plan are needed, and when it comes to metal roofing, you’ll likely need to make modifications at some point, whether it’s because you ran out of trim or need to adjust a detail to account for a unique aspect of the roof design.
Having a good place to start installation on a roof can also help installers build momentum. Starting in a simpler area on a larger, complex project, for instance, could help your crew get into a groove to set the day on the right track.
Scheduling is also communication. Not only will it help you plan the long-term view of your project and establish goals throughout, but it will also give guidance to your installers and allow them to see what’s coming next.
Work with Other Trades During Project Prep
“Organization leads to efficiency. And efficiency is really how money is made.”
-Dave Stubbs, Former Metal Roofing Installer
Metal roofing is just one part of the larger, complete design of a home or place of business. As a contractor, you’ll likely have to work with other trades – including plumbers, masons, and siders – to coordinate various aspects of installation so that you’re doing things in the correct order. You might even see these tradesmen on other job sites, so it’s important to establish good relationships and open a line of communication early on.
Siders may have to work first so that the metal panels are not damaged. Any foot traffic or adjacent work could damage the metal or the painted coating, both to aesthetics and performance, so it’s important to communicate clearly with the other trades at the job sites so you can sequence your installation correctly.
Where Can You Find Help for Your Next Metal Roofing Project?
The right metal roofing project preparation can set your installers up for success. If you’re looking for additional content related to this topic, check out these articles and videos:
How to Install a Standing Seam Metal Roof from Start to Finish (youtube.com)
Plus, feel free to download our Metal Roofing Installation Checklist, which walks through the sequencing of your project from start to finish.
Content like this can help you gain an overview of best practices and clarity about the project preparation process. Still, you may require more specific expertise concerning your unique project. At Sheffield Metals, we offer assistance through our Architectural and Technical Department, which are ready to answer your questions. Reach out to us today.
