Metal Roofing Blog

A steel roofing installation has to be constructed and installed in a specific way for it to be able to offer all the benefits that are commonly associated with this type of roofing, which is why it’s important to carefully select the roofing contractors you work with. Less reputable roofing contractors will cut corners at every opportunity in order to maximize the amount of money they collect from your project, which will affect both the roof’s performance and its lifespan. How exactly is a steel roofing installation put together though? What are the various components that combine to create the finished thing? Every team member at London Eco-Roof has an in-depth knowledge of these components and we are going to outline some of the main ones in this article today.

A Guide to the Core Components of a Steel Roofing Installation

Whether you are located in Toronto, Mississauga or any other part of the country, a steel roofing installation is a great option, both in terms of aesthetics and its ability to resist a range of different weather conditions. The fact that a steel roofing installation will also almost always outlast (we offer a 55 year warranty) traditional asphalt and concrete roofs is another reason why so many Canadian homeowners are having them installed. Some of the main parts of a steel roofing installation include:

Steel Roofing Substructure

Before a steel roof can be installed, the top surface of your property must be properly prepared with an appropriate substructure. The substructure’s role is to form a solid foundation on which the steel roof can be installed upon. It also adds another weatherproof layer that helps to prevent moisture from getting into your home, increases insulation and soundproofs your property. This substructure will typically be made up of an underlay, battens and ventilation strips.

Steel Roofing Surface Structure

• Roof Sheets/Panels/Tiles – Whatever you want to call them, the steel sheets/panels/tiles are by far the most visible elements of a steel roofing installation and form the first line of defence in protecting your home from rain, wind and snow. Due to their prominent position and the size of the roofing structure, they also play an important role in the aesthetics of your home.
• Valley Flashing – Valleys are commonly formed on many types of roofs and are where two sections of a roof meet at an angle. Valley flashing is installed to protect your property against unwanted leaks and it’s essential this is done correctly since the valleys are the most vulnerable part of a roofing structure.
• Eaves Flashing – Similarly, the eaves — the edge of the building (usually juts out past exterior walls) — need to be fitted with metallic flashing, which helps to protect your property against water back-up.
• Ridge Capping – On a steel roofing installation that has sloping sides that meet in the middle, the “ridge” has to be capped, which protects this joint from the elements and improves the aesthetics of the roof. Oftentimes a vent will be installed on the ridge cap to improve the ventilation of the property.
• Snow Guards – Due to the amount of snowfall that Toronto and surrounding areas can receive during the winter months, snow guards are often an important addition to a steel roofing installation. They prevent large amounts of frozen precipitation from just sliding off your roof and potentially causing damage or hurting someone. Instead, the snow or ice is suspended on your roof until it either melts completely or thaws out enough for small pieces to safely drop off.
• Verge Trims – These are fitted to the edges of your roof, helping to waterproof your property and facilitate the flow of rainwater into your gutters. They need to be carefully chosen to complement the rest of the roof.
• Rainwater System – Gutters and downspouts play a vital role in helping protect your roof and property from rainwater. As it hits the roof’s surface, the rainwater is directed to the gutters, which feed downspouts that safely deposit the water away from your home’s foundations and slow down the weathering process.

A steel roofing installation is a relatively new concept, at least in the eyes of most homeowners, and if you have any questions relating to the installation process or the benefits of choosing a steel roof over other options, contact our team today.

Contact us to find out why steel roofing installation is top notch

If, after weighing the pros and cons of a metal roofing installation against other options, you have decided that a metal roof is the best choice, you now need to spend some time thinking about the type of metal you would like your roof to be made from in addition to the type of panels used to build it. The vast majority of residential metal roofing installations are constructed using either steel or aluminum due to the range of favorable characteristics these materials possess, but copper, zinc and titanium may also be used. London Eco-Roof is the leading metal roofing company in Toronto and Mississauga, producing roofs that offer the perfect combination of performance, aesthetics and affordability. During this article we are going to take a look at some of the different types of metal roofing installations, in addition to metal roof panel types.

Metal Roofing Installation Tips: Materials and Panel Types

Steel Roofing Installations:

Steel is probably the most commonly chosen material when a metal roofing installation is requested, with one of its major advantages being its strength relative to its weight. Steel roofs are extremely light, weighing only 1.5 lbs per square foot compared to 2.7 lbs for asphalt shingles and 9.3 lbs for concrete roof tiles, meaning less pressure is exerted on both the roof supports and your property’s foundations. During the production process a special metallic coating is applied to steel roofing to protect it against corrosion. This is applied before the roofing is given its final paint finish, and will usually be either galvanized (this is a 100% zinc coating) or Galvalume/Zincalume (which are mixtures of zinc and aluminum). When galvanizing a steel roofing installation a minimum thickness level of G-90 should be applied, with AZ-50 or AZ-55 the minimum for Galalume/Zincalume, according to the Metal Roofing Association (MRA). When these coatings react with moisture in the air they oxidize, forming a zinc oxide that has no affect on the appearance of the roofing. A steel roofing installation often represents extremely good value when compared to other options.

Aluminum Roofing Installations:

Aluminum roofs are produced in much the same way as steel roofs, except they don’t require the metallic coating since aluminum possesses its own oxide film, protecting it against corrosion. An aluminum roof will often cost you more than a steel roofing installation due to its natural ability to resist rust (which we just mentioned), and this type of metal roofing installation tends to be very popular in environments where salt is a factor, such as near the coast. Aluminum’s strength-weight ratio is even more impressive than that of steel and it is also generally thinner too (thickness ratings range from .023 to .040), allowing it to cool down quicker.

Copper Roofing Installations

If you are seeking a roof with a striking presence, a copper roof might just be the way to go. However, in addition to being one of the most interesting roofing materials in terms of aesthetics, it’s also one of the most expensive. It can also be prone to expanding and contracting as temperatures fluctuate, which could be an issue if you live in the Greater Toronto Area. Having said that, from a performance standpoint, copper scores highly. It’s resistant to fire, wind and water damage and tends to last decades once installed.

The Different Types of Metal Roofing Installation Panels

In addition to the possibility of using various metals in the construction of a metal roof, the way the roof is constructed can vary too. We are going to briefly look at a couple of the most popular types of metal roofing constructions.

Vertical Seam Panels

Vertical seam panels, also known as standing seam roofing, can immediately be told apart from other types of metal roofing panels due to their long length and ribs that stretch right from the eaves to the ridge of the roof. They are secured using gasket type screws and offer a very clean, simplistic look that is efficient at resisting the local weather conditions experienced in Toronto and Mississauga.

Modular Press Panels

These panels interlock with one another — often four ways — and hidden fasteners may be utilized to fully secure them into place. They are renowned for offering an impressive level of wind resistance and can be designed to mimic traditional roofing materials, such as slate or tile.
If you have any enquiries relating to a metal roofing installation, London Eco-Roof is the company to contact. Since we began in 2009, we have fast become the leading metal roofing contractors in Toronto and Mississauga, offering an unparalleled level of service.

Contact us today to set up a free consultation on metal roofing installation.

If you are like the majority of other people that live in Toronto or Mississauga, you probably don’t look at your roof all that often. When you are leaving the house, you are thinking about where you have to be and what you have to do, and when arriving the only thing you typically look at is your front door. Your roof maybe gets the odd glance now and then, but it certainly isn’t given a thorough visual inspection at any moment, which is a mistake since doing so could potentially help to prolong its lifespan. Many homeowners in the Toronto area contact London Eco-Roof and other roofing contractors, not knowing whether their home requires a new roof or not. There are a number of different signs to look out for, which is what we are going to discuss during this article.

Our Toronto Roofing Contractors Point Out Some of the Signs that Indicate a Roof is Past its Best

Some of the signs that a roof is no longer able to do its job effectively are more obvious than others, and it’s always wise to first consider the age of your roof before you take a closer look at its condition. If, like many others in Toronto, your home features an asphalt roof, it will likely last 10-20 years, while a metal roofing installation can easily last 50 – 60 years. If your roof has exceeded its expected lifespan, it could be time to have it replaced. Our roofing contractors recommend you carry out the following checks:

Look at it From the Attic First

Before inspecting its exterior, make a trip up to your attic to look at your roof from the inside. Ideally, you should do this a couple of times each year, as this will help you to pick up on any changes in the roof’s condition. In particular look for the following:

• Anywhere that the roof is sagging (this will usually happen in the middle)
• Wet patches and water stains
• Light that is filtering through the roof from the outside

Then Check Out the Exterior of Your Roof

After inspecting the interior of your roof, you need to check it’s exterior and determine whether in its current state, your roof is capable of keeping the elements at bay. Our roofing contractors advise you to look out for the following signs in particular:

• Check to see whether the shingles are in good condition. Can you see any that are missing, cracked or otherwise damaged?
• Do the gutters contain parts of the roofing shingles? Over time shingles will be eroded and if gutters contain shingle particles it’s a good indicator that your roof is severely warn and a replacement should be considered.
• Pay particular attention to the shingles that surround the chimney, pipes or vents; are they loose?
• Pools of standing water and signs of rot or mold on the roof should be noted.
• When checking the exterior of the roof, it’s also a good idea to quickly examine the gutters to make sure rainwater is being disposed of properly and is not being directed at your property’s foundations.

If you notice several of the signs listed above when inspecting your roof you have to seriously consider investing in a replacement, as your current roof may not be able to keep moisture and other outside weather conditions out of your home for much longer, if it is still able to now. Pick up the phone and ring a few roofing contractors — many will be prepared to come to your property, inspect the roof and give you their own professional opinion on its condition.

Why You Should Consider a Metal Roofing Installation

As Toronto’s leading metal roofing contractors, London Eco-Roof would strongly urge you to consider having a metal roof installed if your current roof needs replacing. Here’s why:

• Can Last 5x Longer – Asphalt shingle roofs sometimes need replacing in as little as 10 years, while many of the metal roofing installations offered by London Eco-Roof come with a 55 year warranty.
• Trouble Free – Are you sick of roofing shingles curling, cracking or going missing? Metal roofing installations don’t experience any of these problems and are maintenance free.
• Reduce Bills – Asphalt shingles might be the “convenient” option due to their low upfront cost, but they store heat energy in the summer and have a lower R-Value, meaning your heating and cooling systems need to work harder. Metal roofs do just the opposite.

London Eco-Roof has been installing metal roofing products in Toronto and Mississauga since 2009, and we are renowned for our high quality of work. If you would like us to inspect the condition of your roof, contact us today on 1-855-838-9393.

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