Metal roofing is used on a wide range of building types all over the U.S. and Canada. One of the benefits is that its smooth surface is essentially self-cleaning since rain water and wind will typically keep it clear of dust, dirt, or debris. Snow, on the other hand, will accumulate just as it would on any other roof. That’s fine until the snow starts to melt and the smooth metal surface allows the snow to slide down the slope of the roofing. If a large amount of accumulated snow releases quickly and suddenly, it can cause harm to people or vehicles below it. Additionally, the building foundation, fascia, or gutters can also be damaged by sliding snow and ice; the building foundation can suffer if an accumulation of snow and ice sits against it, or if splashing meltwater continues to contact the foundation.

The solution to this common issue is fairly straightforward, and has been in use for decades in the form of snow retention systems. This is typically achieved by placing metal snow and ice guards on the roofing parallel to the roof edge. While this is a fairly well-known and reliable solution available from metal roofing manufacturers, there are some details to be aware of for a successful installation:

Custom Design: Each roof and each location are different. The roofing profile, slope, and materials are all custom-designed and selected. So, it is logical that a snow guard system should be custom-designed to match it. Similarly, each location is different in terms of the amount of snow that is generally expected in a given winter season. For example, buildings located in areas that receive limited amounts of snow or buildings with lower sloped roofs may only need a limited system of snow guards (if any) in selected areas of concern. However, any location that receives multiple inches of snow in a single storm, and experiences prolonged cold temperatures that prevent snowmelt, will likely need more snow guard protection. This is especially true if the roof slope is steep and capable of shedding large areas of snow quickly. Metal roofing manufacturers are able to assess all of these factors and customize an engineered snow retention system for each individual metal roof. Factors taken into account include snow load, panel width, roof slope, roof length, and assembly length.

Retention Type: Manufacturers offer two types of zero-penetration snow guards: pipe-style and fence-style. The pipe-style can accommodate a wide range of roof profiles and snow conditions. The fence-style is strong enough for heavy-duty applications and is available with inserts to match the roof color. Both of these types of snow retention systems are intended to sit up perpendicularly from the smooth roofing surface to trap and hold back an accumulation of snow. There is also the option of adding separate ice clips that are spaced along the main retention system, and touch the metal roof to keep ice from sliding down below it. All of these products offer an aesthetically pleasing snow retention system to complement virtually any roof profile and design.

For non-standing seam roofs that use exposed fasteners, there are similar versions of brackets that use pre-installed butyl sealant, which is covered and protected by the bracket when it’s secured to the roof. In those cases, penetration is required, but is overcome by the butyl sealant that is protected from UV exposure, thus preventing drying and cracks. Pipe-style retention is held in place with a bracket specifically designed for this purpose, with circular holes in the vertical part of the bracket to support 1.0 inch pipes. Commonly, six points of attachment are provided in the base of the bracket for holding strength, with no messy sealants to apply and virtually no chance for leaks. Snow guard brackets with similar attachment details can be used on roofs of all types, including trapezoid-shaped roofs.

Overall, if a building with a metal roof is located in an area that receives a good bit of snow, then snow retention can be essential for maintaining roof integrity and safety. A customized system can be installed either on new roofs or retrofitted over existing roofs. To learn more specifically about connectors, brackets, and mounting snow retention on a metal roof, visit the website of the leading manufacturer of such systems known as S-5! To learn more about standing seam and other types of metal roofing, contact your local Ceco representative.

In a prior blog post we discussed the basics of different primary building frame systems that form the main structure of a metal building. Installing the primary frame is the obvious first step during erection, but there is also a necessary intermediary step before the finished wall or roof panels can be added. This step includes the installation of secondary framing, which is used to span between the primary members and attach the wall and roof panels. If traditional construction is being used instead of panels, secondary framing of some sort is required there as well.

Secondary framing is commonly made from cold-formed steel components that meet established standards for quality and grade. The typical shapes of the secondary framing members include purlins, girts, eave struts, wall base, and long-bay members described further as follows:

Girts & Purlins A girt is a horizontal structural member in a framed wall that provides lateral support to the wall panel to resist wind loads. Girts are also used to create a framed opening around windows and doors. Purlins perform the same lateral support for the roof panels and are usually run across the top of the primary steel. Both girts and purlins are roll-formed “Z” sections that are 8 inches, 10 inches, or 12 inches deep. Each flange of the “Z” has a stiffening lip formed at 50° to the flange, allowing  it to nest with members in adjacent bays forming a continuous beam across multiple bays.

Eave Struts are secondary members that are installed along the roof eaves to support the edge of the roofing panels. They are typically roll-formed “C” sections, 8 inches deep nominal (roll-formed) with 3 ¼ inch wide top and bottom flanges; or brake-formed “C” sections 10 inches or 12 inches deep nominal with a 3 ¼ inch wide top flange and a 4 ½ inch wide bottom flange.

Wall Base Angle/Trim provides support for wall panels and closes off the open ribs at their base. A standard base condition is to use this one-piece member without a panel notch in the concrete foundation. However, dimensions of this member allow it to be used in conjunction with a panel notch, if the customer so desires.

Long Bay^® System is a custom-engineered horizontal structural member available exclusively from Ceco. It acts as a truss-shaped, long-span purlin supporting roof systems with virtually square-shaped top and bottom chords. Using the Long Bay System allows for lengths up to 65 feet between primary structural members with depths from 12 inches to 44 inches.

All secondary members are available in a range of standard shapes, sizes, and profiles, and selecting from this assortment is usually the best way to go. The specialized Long Bay components are engineered to meet the needs of a particular project, but other custom profiles are also available.  If the secondary framing is going to be exposed and visible in the building, then any of the standard or custom paint colors available from the manufacturer can also be applied.

When it comes to installing the secondary members to the primary framing, using the proper fasteners is crucial.  These will likely be sized and engineered as part of the overall metal building system, and are usually supplied by the manufacturer. Further, the manufacturer’s installation drawings and/or manuals will include specific fastening details that will need to be followed for the proper installation and structural integrity of the system.

The information presented here is meant to simply be a review of the types and options in secondary building framing systems for metal buildings. To find out more about selecting the best framing system for a metal building that you are involved with, see the Ceco website or contact your local Ceco representative.

The standing seam metal roof is a very popular roofing solution due to its durability, water-tightness, relative simplicity, and clean appearance. While the standing seam, which is created by forming two adjacent metal roof panels together, contributes to all of these traits, some people may not realize that it also simplifies the attachment of other items to the roof. The most common and effective means to attach anything to a standing seam metal roof is to use an ingenious piece of hardware known simply as a seam clamp.

What are seam clamps?

These are engineered and fabricated small cubes of stainless steel or aluminum that are designed to be mechanically attached directly to the standing seams in a metal roof. They do that with a round-point set screw in the clamp that squeezes and dimples the standing seam for a true mechanical attachment. This approach is truly non-invasive since it does not penetrate or compromise the integrity of the metal in any way and therefore keeps all roofing warranties intact. Once secured onto the standing seam, then the seam clamp is the base for threaded bolts or screws that fit into specific locations on the clamp. From there, specific hardware can be secured to attach a variety of additional items. Specifically, seam clamps have been used for decades on metal roofing to secure accessory items such as snow retention systems, fall protection devices, HVAC equipment, lightning protection, satellite dishes, and even rooftop service walkways.

How do they work with solar panels?

One of the biggest current uses of seam clamps is for the connection of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to a metal roof. On many roof-mounted PV systems, the use of rails or some similar component may be needed to support the PV panels. By using seam clamps with customized interface hardware designed to connect directly to the solar panels, the standing seams of the roof act as the rails. Eliminating the use of the rails and using the seam clamps means the installation is easier and the cost is reduced notably, both in terms of material and labor.

Why put solar panels on a metal roof?

Solar systems are typically warranted 25 years for power production, but the real service life of the modules can be 40 years or more. Hence when mounting the PV system, the building designer or owner needs to be sure that the roof underneath it has a comparable life. Metal roofing is a very good match since it will last as long or longer than the PV panels. A roof with a shorter life will require removal of the PV to replace the roofing and then a reinstall of the PV at a high cost.

How many seam clamps are needed on a roof?

Some seam clamp manufacturers have independently tested their product in combination with literally every standing seam metal roofing system on all of the available metal gauges that are on the market. As such, very specific information can be provided on things like loading capability, wind uplift resistance, etc. for the seam clamps. With that information, combined with the roofing and solar panel information, an engineer can calculate the needed spacing and locations of seam clamps. Those calculations will take into account the specific design wind speed and wind uplift potential for the project location. It will also take into account the specifics of the building structure and the internal structure of the solar panels. In some cases, locations such as perimeters and corners of groups of solar panels (called an array) may require more frequent spacing while in the field of the array, the spacing may be less. Ultimately, the best location and spacing of seam clamps is determined and the proper quantity identified. It is worth noting that when engineered in this manner, the most common mode of failure is that the module itself fails under windy conditions, rather than seam clamp attachment.

What maintenance is needed on seam clamps?

Virtually no maintenance is required. All of the clamp designs are not friction connections, they are mechanical interlocks, so loosening is rarely, if ever, an issue. We have noted that the set screw dimples the standing seam and compresses it to make a mechanical interlock. In addition, locking head screws, bolts, and nuts all with serrations that are directional allow the hardware to be seated but not unscrew, thus holding everything permanently in place. Since all of the metal is either stainless steel or aluminum, there is no concern of rusting or corrosion.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more specifically about seam clamps and how to use them to mount solar panels on a standing seam metal roof, visit the website of the leading manufacturer of seam clamps known as S-5! To learn more about standing seam metal roofing and metal buildings, contact your local Ceco representative.

Content for this article was provided by Rob Haddock, Founder and CEO of S-5!®

Never in our lifetime has it been more evident than now that design and construction teams are incorporating so many different elements into projects. Customers are increasingly requesting more features and benefits to keep up with changing codes and their own personal requirements. It is our job as the suppliers, builders, contractors and architects to deliver on those needs.

There is something to be said for a tastefully constructed building that brings together many elements. That is quite true for the City of Greenville Public Works Campus project. Not only was sustainability an important factor for the campus, so was the ability for it to be economical and multi-purposeful.

Sustainability

A sustainable building delivers on energy efficiency, reducing waste, conserving natural resources and optimizing performance. The green movement is at an all-time high in almost every industry today therefore, it’s pivotal that companies provide a built-in sustainable strategy. Ceco was able to help achieve that with this project. The roofing system for the campus was comprised of CFR insulated metal roof panels in Kynar Polar White. The white roof reinforces sustainability by being highly reflective of the sun and reducing solar heat gain. The CFR IMP also offers a superior R-30 value, ultimately enhancing energy performance. The building’s walls are comprised of the 7.2 Insul-Rib™ and Striated insulated wall panels and with a R-21 value, these IMP’s provide another effective measure of energy efficiency. Another benefit of Ceco’s products is that they are virtually 100% recyclable, therefore, contributing to the reduction of waste, another huge sustainability benefit.

Economical

Frankly, people want the best value for their dollar. The benefit of low maintenance and low operating costs of metal building’s mean optimization of economic performance throughout the building’s life cycle. Not only are customers looking for value, but they are also looking for short turn around times (within reason). A huge motive for the City of Greenville choosing to build with metal was a faster erection schedule than conventional building materials. Both features of a custom metal building system boded well for the City whose project ultimately came in under budget and finished ahead of schedule.

Multi-Purposeful

Efficiency is important to every company. Bringing together different factions of the business to all be centrally located and housed under one roof was an important ask of the City of Greenville. Ultimately, the end project just did this. The campus contains four buildings for fleet services, operations and administration, a fuel island and truck wash. All of these integral parts of the business now have a home from which to conduct business efficiently.

For more information about Ceco’s City of Greenville project, visit our case study page.

Selecting a roofing system for a low rise commercial building involves making a choice from the multiple options available. More than ever before, metal roofing is being chosen because it provides a number of significant benefits for building designers, installers, users, and owners, including the following:

Design Aesthetics

Metal roofing is available in a wide range of standing seam and ribbed profiles that come in many appealing colors. These roofs are made to be visible whether high-slope or low-slope designs are used to enhance the overall appearance of the building in dramatic, subtle, or complementary styles. In all situations, the surface of the finished metal and the detailing associated with it have been shown to hold up well over time, meaning that the building continues to look good for decades after it is first installed.

Strength

The primary advantage of metal roofing made from steel is its strength. Milled steel rolls delivered to the manufacturer meet very exacting specifications. The shaping and profiling of the steel, along with its inherent strength, allows the finished roofing to withstand a great deal of abuse and wear.

Longevity

Metal roofing has a proven track record of longevity that is greater than virtually any other commercial roofing. In fact, it is not uncommon to come upon an older building that has reached the end of its useful life while the metal roofing is still intact.

Resiliency

In a severe weather event, the ability for a building to be resilient or “bounce back” into service afterwards is increasingly important. Metal roofing holds up against rain, hail, snow, and other precipitation quite readily, but it is also notably resilient when it comes to high winds. Metal roofing systems consistently meet or exceed the requirements for wind resistance established for common conditions under Factory Mutual (FM) or similar standards. They also have been tested and shown to meet or even surpass the code mandates of hurricane prone areas such as Miami-Dade County in Florida and the underwriting requirements of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). In a dramatic demonstration of this resiliency, hurricane activity in Puerto Rico in 2017 destroyed hundreds of commercial roofs while many metal roofs survived and protected the people inside the buildings.

Warranty

Weather tightness warranties are available at different levels for different products from different manufacturers. However, in almost all cases, they are much longer and more comprehensive than for built-up roofs or single ply membranes. Part of the reason for these strong warranties lies in the fact that metal roofs do not support mold growth, rust and decay, or distort under normal temperature fluctuations.

Faster Construction

Metal roofing installs faster and requires less time to enclose a building than with conventional roofing construction. Materials are carefully designed and precisely made so they are quick to install allowing for more accurate production schedules – that translates into more predictable labor needs and better control of profits. Further, since there is less jobsite waste than traditional construction methods, clean up is faster with disposal costs reduced.

Economical First Costs

Metal roofing has proven to be quite economical during design and construction, particularly if it is part of a full metal building package from a single-source manufacturer.

Minimal Maintenance

The exterior of a standing seam metal roof is essentially maintenance free under normal use conditions. Superior, life-extending roof coatings that retain color and resist dirt are a big part of the reason for this, including the ability to be “self-cleaning” from rain on sloped surfaces. Further, since metal roofing does not support mold growth and resists rust and decay better than other building materials, there is rarely any need for maintenance crews to spend any time overcoming these issues.

Economical Life Cycle Costs

The low maintenance, high longevity, and the potential for reduced operating costs of metal roofing allow for very favorable life cycle cost assessments compared to built-up or modified roofing systems which need repairs, maintenance, and more frequent replacement.

Sustainability

Building owners have come to expect that roofs will help them save energy and not do damage to the environment, in other words…be sustainable. The latest metal roofing systems with clips and opti-liner insulation systems allow for higher roofing R-values than were previously common. Further, insulated metal roof panels (IMP) provide superior performance with a continuous layer of insulation sandwiched between the interior and exterior panel. Added insulation means lower energy needs and lower operating costs. From an environmental standpoint, metal roofing is made with a substantial recycled content and is 100 percent recyclable at the end of its service life. For those seeking to provide a high solar reflection index (SRI) to reduce heat build-up on roofs, metal roofing can meet or exceed the standards for both high slope and low slope conditions. Finally, it is easy to incorporate natural daylighting in a metal roofing system using domed skylights or panels.

To find out more about the ways to benefit from metal roofing on a building you are involved with, contact your local Ceco representative.

A common need in manufacturing, warehouse, distribution and large retail buildings such as supermarkets is large, open spaces with minimum interruptions by columns. Often, in these cases, a steel structural frame is used with the roof supported by open web steel bar joists. Increasingly, a superior alternative to bar joists is being employed in the form of fabricated long bay trusses known as the Long Bay® roof system. It provides building designers, installers and owners with many noticeable advantages.

Engineering Advances

The Long Bay® truss systems are cold formed from 12 and 14 gauge steel to create the chord and web members – the same process as other metal structural members such as girts and purlins. The shop fabricated Long Bay® trusses are engineered to be stronger, wider and lighter than conventional bar joists. The resulting system is very linear and straight with improved performance particularly in the horizontal or weak axis. Commonly ranging in depth between 12 to 44 inches, they can span up to 70 feet, with a sweet spot at 60 feet. Longer spans mean fewer columns and fewer foundations thus simplifying design and reducing costs. Long Bay® trusses can also be designed to be used as a spandrel box beam to eliminate intermediate columns and beams in side walls or tilt-up construction.

Installation Efficiencies

There are several advantages for installers when using long bay systems. First, it is a truly bolted system with no field welding involved. Two ½” bolts are all that is needed on the end of each truss to secure them directly to the primary structure. Notably, there are no torque requirements on the bolts as would be common in other systems. Second, there is little or no bridging required. Conventional bar joists often require 7 – 8 rows of bridging on both the top and bottom, for a total of about 15 rows. Long Bay® trusses eliminate the need for top chord bridging and require only minimal bottom chord bridging, even when standing seam roofing is used. This produces a huge savings in time to erect and install the roof, on the order of at least 25 percent or more in labor savings. Third, the 4-inch top chord provides a continuous, solid area for attaching roofing. That reduces the potential for fasteners to miss the top chord or end up between the angles of bar joist. More solid attachment means the roof system performs as intended. Finally, it is possible to bolt and connect a series of long bay trusses on the ground and lift them up using two cranes to settle them into place. This can make the installation process easier, faster, and more economical.

Scheduling Advantages

Long Bay® systems are made and provided by a metal building manufacturer. Conventional bar joists are often provided by a separate company than the supplier of other metal building products. The notable distinction is that the schedule for the production and delivery of bar joists is controlled by a third party company while the schedule for producing Long Bay® systems is controlled directly by the metal building manufacturer. While this aspect alone often produces shorter lead times, it also means they can be shipped as part of a single-source metal building package to simplify the total construction schedule.

Improved Finished Appearance

Many buildings with large open areas are designed with the intention of keeping the structure open and exposed to view. In that regard, Long Bay® provides a very clean and neat visual appearance, particularly compared to bar joists with lots of bridging. Further, the thicker chord members provide a place to conceal wiring, piping and other needed items. The Long Bay® system also has optional accessories available for a similarly neat installation of sprinklers, mechanical, lighting, and other items all without the need for field welding. This system works particularly well with Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers used in many warehouses.

To find out more about ways to incorporate a Long Bay® system into your metal buildings, contact your local Ceco representative. You can also find more information on the Long Bay® system here.

Winter brings snow to many places, and sometimes a lot of it. While skiers and school children may rejoice, those tasked with maintaining metal-roofed buildings may wonder what is the best action to take. Fortunately, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) offers some advice in the Metal Building Systems Manual.

How much is too much?

When a metal roof undergoes a structural engineering design, it necessarily takes into account the code-required levels of snow accumulation for the building location. At the low end, that might be on the order of 10-20 pounds per square foot (psf). However, on the high end it could be over 40 pounds per square foot. How does that translate into inches of snow? This does not translate easily as snow can vary wildly in density from being light and fluffy to wet and heavy. The MBMA suggests that something less than 5 pounds per square foot per inch of depth for very wet or heavy snow is a conservative estimate. Of course, that means if the roof is designed for a snow load of 20 psf, then any buildup over 4-5 inches might start to be a structural concern. Consultation with a structural engineer on the carrying capacity of the building and a reasonable range of snow density and weight can provide insights for a specific building.

High Slope versus Low Slope

Roof pitch makes a notable difference in all aspects of snow buildup on a roof. A high slope roof (i.e., more than 4:12) can experience conditions where some or all of the snow slides off of the roof. This can happen particularly when the sun is out or if heat loss from the building creates a water layer under the snow. By contrast, a low slope roof (i.e., less than 4:12) will not typically see the same sort of snow sliding, meaning it is more likely to build up and accumulate over time, typically getting icier and denser as it does so. This is a concern across the surface of the general roofing area, but it is a particular concern anywhere there is a change in height or where a vertical surface is encountered, such as a parapet wall, chimney, equipment, etc. In these locations, windblown snowdrifts can become trapped, so instead of blowing off of the roof, they accumulate in these areas, creating concentrations of heavier than planned dead weight. The accumulated snow can also find its way above flashings, and its thawing and freezing can eventually cause water leaks into the building.

Clearing Snow while Avoiding Roof Damage

The MBMA makes it clear that if excessive snow builds up on a metal roof, the best thing to do is remove some of the snow in order to ensure the loads are at safer levels. Also to ensure product quality, the MBMA stresses that removing snow carelessly or with any form of metal or sharp tools is not the recommended approach. Such an approach may cause serious roof damage to occur. Instead, they recommend a systematic approach that focuses on removing the excess snow only, leaving an acceptable, thinner layer on the roof to melt and disperse on its own. They also emphasize the importance of removing it uniformly from the entire surface of the roof, starting in the areas of accumulated snowdrifts, and then moving evenly across the roof from there. The MBMA also makes a point to note that piling snow from one place on the roof to another, even in small areas, is clearly counterproductive and can cause structural problems.

Keeping People Safe

Anyone going up onto a roof even in the best conditions needs to follow proper safety procedures, and this is certainly magnified when the roof is covered with snow and/or ice. Safe access from inside or outside the building needs to be assured, along with the use of a safety harness or similar precautions. Certain areas of the roof deserve obvious attention, such as the roof edges and near any snow-covered skylights or hatches. All of this is easier to accomplish when the snow is fresh and likely more easily handled. This makes timing of the removal important to worker safety as well, since it can mean the difference between smooth removal and extra exertion.

To find out more about the best practices and ways to protect your metal building, especially in winter, get some more insights by contacting your local Ceco representative.

The components of a metal building are known for their durability and longevity, but like any building material, improper handling can lead to problems. This is especially true in winter months when metal building components can be exposed to unusually harsh conditions.

Manufacturers routinely provide most or all of their metal building components with a protective shop coat covering all sides and surfaces of the metal. However, this shop coat is only intended as a temporary coating designed to protect the steel during shipping and building erection. As such, it typically performs when guarding against normal atmospheric conditions until a finish coat can be applied as the building is completed. However, these shop coats are never intended or warranted to protect against unusual or harsh conditions that may be encountered throughout winter months. For that, other measures are needed.

The Problem: Roadway Chemicals

Metal buildings are shipped by flatbed truck over highways and byways to the intended location. During winter, those roads are often treated with salt or chemical deicers to make them safe for travel. These chemicals don’t stay on the road, though, as anyone can attest who has driven on them and headed to a nearby car wash soon after. The concern is not just appearance, but the corrosive nature of the chemicals on the metal parts of a car or truck. The same is true for metal building components that are shipped on an open flatbed truck – deicing chemicals and salts can end up coating the metal, penetrating the shop coat, and causing corrosive damage.

The Solution: Protective Tarping

The easiest and least costly way to avoid corrosion and rust damage to metal building components during shipping is to request that they be protected with a tarp over the trucked shipment. Most manufacturers use third-party shippers who will readily provide effective tarping for a modest charge, making it a very inexpensive safeguard. For anyone choosing to pick up materials with their own trucks, it is important that the tarp is made of appropriate weatherproof material, that any D-rings or grommets are sound, and that the tarp is tightly and securely fastened without the possibility of holes developing during transit. Such holes could allow water, snow, or ice to penetrate and pool on the metal components, causing damage from freeze-thaw conditions or by carrying corrosive chemicals along with it.

Onsite Protection

Once metal building shipments arrive at the jobsite, the concern for protection continues, especially in winter. Ideally, the steel can remain on the bed of the truck and be directly offloaded into place as part of the erection process. However, if any of the metal parts are being offloaded and need to be stored on the ground, then they should rest on something to protect the metal from ground moisture or other conditions. A ground tarp could achieve that; so could a finished concrete slab. In addition, the metal should be covered over the top to help assure that any precipitation or moisture doesn’t have a chance to build up on the metal and compromise the primer or the metal. Of course, the storage location needs to be high enough that water flowing on the site doesn’t penetrate under the covering and pool around or on the metal.

All metal building manufacturers are well versed in the ways that do and don’t work to protect metal and the primers applied to them – they have probably seen it all. Therefore, to find out more about the best practices and ways to protect your next metal building project, especially in winter, get some more insights by contacting your local Ceco representative.

After reading our prior blog post on severe weather and resilience of metal buildings, some may consider manufacturer warranty coverage, particularly for metal roofing. When it comes time to repair damage from a storm or even from normal-use conditions, it’s always good to be clear on what’s covered under a warranty and what isn’t. (Note that warranties exist independently of any building or property insurance, although an insurer may seek that warranty coverage be invoked first before stepping in for a covered loss or damage.)

A warranty is basically a contract between the building owner and the manufacturer of the metal roofing system agreeing that any deficiencies found will be repaired within the limits of the warranty language. Thus, most warranties focus not just on the metal roofing itself, but on the entire metal roofing system. This is true whether part of new-building construction or a retrofit application on a pre-existing building. Further, for some warranties to be valid, that system must be put in place by installers certified by the manufacturer, with system inspections required during construction.

Anyone engaged in specifying warranty coverage on a metal roofing system needs to understand that the common phrase “manufacturer’s standard warranty” is not specific enough, since there are at least six choices of common warranties. Each comes with a different cost to the owner (warranties are not free, but the cost can be included in the total roofing system price) and each has different levels of coverage and requirements. The six most common are summarized below:

Standard Warranties:

This category of basic warranties comes in three levels, but all are based on the roof system first completing a 24-month leak-free period following installation. In essence, it’s the installer who needs to address any issues during this period. After that, the manufacturer warrants the roofing system for weathertightness for five to 25 years based on the warranty period selected, with corresponding costs. Using the popular 20-year warranty coverage as the basis, the three levels can be described as follows:

Standard Level 1: This most basic level of warranty coverage does not require a certified installer. A 20-year warranty will commonly cost on the order of nine cents per square foot and provide dollar coverage for repairs of about 20 cents per square foot of installed roofing. So, for example, a 10,000-square-foot roof would cost $900 (some have a $1,000 minimum) for this warranty and pay out up to $2,000 in repairs. The numbers for larger roofs would increase directly based on square footage.

Standard Level 2: One step up in coverage, a “standard 2” warranty also does not require a certified installer. It is similar to a standard 1 warranty but at an initial cost on the order of 16 cents per square foot with dollar coverage of $3.50 or so per square foot of installed roofing over the 20 years. In our 10,000-square-foot roof example, this 20-year warranty would cost $2,000 (also may be the minimum cost) and pay out up to $35,000 in repairs (numbers for larger roofs similarly increase based on square footage).

Standard Level 3: This is the highest level of the “standard” warranties but in this case, a certified installer is required. Just as in the above two cases, the warranty will pay for repairs after the 24-month period but with no dollar limit on the payment amount over the life of the warranty. This higher level of protection comes with a higher cost—on the order of 30 cents per square foot for a 20-year warranty. Our 10,000-square-foot roof then would cost $3,000 (may also be the minimum cost) for this warranty without any dollar limit on repairs (cost for larger roofs increases based on square footage – still no dollar limit on repairs).

Single-Source Warranties:

Manufacturers also offer another category of warranties that do not require the 24-month leak-free period following installation. Instead, the warranty coverage begins from the first day of completion of the roof system, hence making the manufacturer the “single source” of coverage.

For this warranty type to be offered, at any level, the construction of the roofing system must be performed by a certified installer/erector with inspections occurring at least three times (beginning, mid-point, end). The costs for the inspections are included in the warranty charges.

These warranties are also available in three levels (Single Source 1, 2, and 3), similarly offering choices in lengths of coverage (five – 25 years), different corresponding costs (approximately 25, 32, or 41 cents per square foot respectively for a 20-year warranty), and different levels of dollar coverage ($7, $14, or no limit respectively for a 20-year warranty). Warranty details should be reviewed with the manufacturer or a certified installer/erector to help make the best selection for a particular project.

If you are interested in finding out more about warranted metal roofing systems, contact your local Ceco representative at https://www.cecobuildings.com/contact .

Content for this article was provided by Todd Mercer, Ceco Construction Services Manager.