Sunday, November 20, 2011

Choosing the right Panel Profile (Part 2)

We can classify the panels in different forms: for their structural performance, type of fasteners, watertightness performance, type of profile, etc...
At the end you need to evaluate which characteristics are more important to you, you can have a structural rated panel but with exposed fasteners, that is the case of the so called Commercial and Agricultural profiles, they give the structural strength but since they are attached to the structure with exposed fasteners the warranty of not having water leaks is for 3 up to 5 years, that means their watertight warranty is non.
You can have structural rated panels that meet the watertight warranty but in certain slope ranges, the most common slopes that are used in this kind of panels goes from 1/2:12 up to 12:12.

The Mechanical lock panels are the best option if you are looking for structural, aesthetics, and slope range from 1/2:12 up. they have the best watertightness performance, specially if you install them with a non skinny caulk bead at the female rib and perform a double seam pass with an electrical seamer at the end of the installation. This system can be warranty up to 35 years.

We also have the Snap Lock type panels, they have concealed fasteners, may have or not clips, may come with a bead of caulk at the female rib, but they are not mechanically seamed, you just need to push the female rib against the male and they will snap to each other.

As you can see, the metal panel industry have a wide range of profiles, textures, finishes, and performances for all kind of building, the secret is how to choose the one that will give the best performance and fulfill your needs 100%

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Until the next Blog....

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Choosing the right Panel Profile (Part 1)

When we hear or talk about metal roofs, we automatically draw in our heads the imagine of a noisy, non thermal, rough and unsightly roof. If we were in the 1800's or even the 1900's I will agree with this kind of thinking, but, in the 21st century, things have changed and we can find a wide range of profiles and alloys.
Now, you can choose between:

  • Exposed or concealed fasteners
  • Commercial and/or Residential use
  • Mechanical seamed or snap lock
  • With or without clips
  • Large variety of colors and textures
  • Factory formed or on site roll formed

Things to keep in mind when choosing a profile:

  • Minimum slope required for the profile
  • Allowed substrates for the chosen panel
  • Be sure to follow the Building Code in your area. Certification and testing.
  • See if there is any restriction in your subdivision for installing a metal roof


For more information, ask your roofer for guidance on this points and remember that the best choice will be the one that fulfill your needs and expectations.

For any question or comment feel free to contact me at mavendano@saqualitymetals.com

See you in the next post...

Sunday, November 6, 2011

COOL ROOFING (Extract from the Cool Roof Rating Council)

What is a Cool Roof?

A cool roof is one that reflects the sun’s heat and emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. The roof literally stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat transferred to the building below, keeping the building a cooler and more constant temperature.
 There are many “cool color” products which use darker-colored pigments that are highly reflective in the near infrared (non-visible) portion of the solar spectrum. With “cool color” technologies there are roofs that come in a wide variety of colors and still maintain a high solar reflectance.
Basic characteristics.
 solar reflectance (SR)
 and thermal emittance (TE).
 (Both properties are rated on a scale from 0 to 1, where 1 is the most reflective or emissive) 

Benefits of a Cool Roof?

There are numerous benefits in having a cool roof:
  • Increase ecological sustainability factor, or make your house “greener” by:
    • Reducing your utility bills associated with air conditioning
    • Increasing occupant comfort and avoid installing an air conditioner where there isn’t already one
    • Decreasing the size and prolong the life of your air conditioning system
    • Lowering roof maintenance costs and extend roof life, avoiding reroofing costs and reducing solid waste  
  • Assist your home in meeting building codes
  • Mitigate your community's Urban Heat Island Effect
  • Maintain aesthetics with a roof that performs and looks good
  • Receive utility rebates (in some locations)
  Average energy savings range from 7%-15% of total cooling costs. 

When people think about making their home more “green” or ecologically sustainable, cool roofing isn’t always the first thing to come to mind.  However, certain green building programs, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED, give credit for installing a cool roof.  So if you are trying to save energy or make your home more environmentally-friendly, a cool roof is one way to achieve that goal. 

 For more information visit    http://www.coolroofs.org

Hope this information helps you to decide the type of roof that fulfill your needs.

keep on reading our blog we'll have great things coming shortly, see you in our next post... and remember that an excellent job done starts with "Q" of Quality.  www.saqualitymetals.com