What is torch down roofing
The variety of roofing materials today can surprise anyone, especially in terms of design and ingenuity. But for a reason for centuries metal has been considered the most reliable and comfortable roof covering, especially in a sealed seam.
Neat and geometrically precise, a seamed roof has such high waterproofing properties that it is compared to the tightness of a tin can. But with her sometimes compared and its aesthetic properties, which many people do not like.
What is a seam roofing in fact – outdated method of laying metal coverings, or years of proven technology, which is now implemented in a completely new level? Now let’s find out.
What is a seam roof?
A seam roof, without exaggeration can be called unique. It is, in fact, the only one of all types of roofing is similar to the very real … clothing.
It has a fabric, and there are seams. The seams are the rebates. A rebate is a lock at the junction of thin metal sheets:
In construction parlance, the basic elements that make up a seam roof are called paintings. This is a special strip of metal, profiled in the factory for subsequent connection.
Fasten to each other such pictures with brackets, hidden under the seam. Moreover, importantly, in the roof itself does not need to make any holes.
After all, it is the holes, no matter how they were filled with sealants, are always the cause of water penetration in the underlay area, corrosion, and subsequent problems.
The biggest leak tightness provides a double standing seam. It represents a vertical joint with two bends at once. Leaks are simply excluded here:
It’s all about the most important feature of the seam roof: it has neither nails nor screws. And the lack of fasteners on this surface – this is both stylistic and functional approach, and we now explain this point in detail.
Issues of aesthetics: it’s not that simple!
You probably remember how dismal looked like a seam roof just 15 years ago. Faceless and sometimes corroded galvanized – not a pretty sight.
If you approach such a roof closer, you can take a good look at the type of seam, their pitch and the shape of the seam. Please note that usually the shape of seams may not be perfect, although the reliability of the coating is not reduced by this.
Also, if you stand close enough, you can see a little crumpled surface of the metal – this is a feature of the seam roof. During installation, such a roof will look smooth and neat, but after a few cycles of winter-summer, there will be large local bubbles.
To some extent, it will resemble a down jacket with longitudinal seams. But after a few years of use, all these stresses in the metal will go away, and the roof will level out. By the way, sometimes dents and irregularities are allowed on purpose, as conceived by architects, to create a certain texture of the roof.
Also today as a basis for a seam roof is not necessary to use a rough zinc coating. Now there is a zinc-titanium, aluzinc, aluminum, some more interesting alloys, as well as a large selection of beautiful polymer coatings.
Another advantage of the seam coating: it is easy to install on the roofs of complex configurations. Try something similar with the same corrugated board or metal. Moreover, the upper shell should also reliably protect the building from rain, wind and snow.
Material: not just steel
Here is a complete list of materials that are now made of seam roofing: copper, titanium-zinc and galvanized steel with a polymer coating or without it.
In terms of texture, the seam roofing is traditionally glossy, matte for a natural cause, painted in a matte finish or treated to achieve this effect.
Titanium-zinc is quite a versatile choice for a seam roof is rightly considered. As early as 1805 it was found that zinc is well rolled at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, and the first such plant was built.
But the quality of the rolling itself still left much to be desired, and that is why such material did not have enough “fatigue strength” and expansion coefficient. That is why the Western European market stopped being interested in titanium-zinc for a while.
It was only in the 1960s that a German company patented a technology for producing sheets from prefabricated titanium-zinc coils. Today, this material is considered noble, with its own special charm and produce it mainly in these options: dark gray, gray-blue and classic “folded. Over time, a natural patina forms on this roof under the influence of atmospheric forces, which also protects the material itself.
Titanium-zinc produces a wonderful classic seam roof and unusual flake, lined with individual rhombuses. The material itself in this regard differs from conventional steel in that it has a special plasticity on the line of flexure. That is, in the process of manufacturing roofing paintings and their installation, it will neither break, nor tear, nor crack.
Titanium-zinc itself is considered durable, functional, environmentally friendly and safe. It is not flammable and perfectly tolerates temperature and ultraviolet effects.
In addition, it also provides electromagnetic protection, trapping 99% of the radiation, according to recent studies. Even more: a titanium-zinc roof has a positive effect on the people who live inside the house, and specifically on their circulatory, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
But especially beautiful is the roof of patinated gray-blue titanium zinc. This is used for roofs, which have special aesthetic requirements, such as urban architecture. And this is not just a matter of color.
Even after unbending sheet it will not have any cracks or damage. All this makes a huge difference when it comes to particularly complex architectural forms, and in the draft roof is a lot of points with a bent metal.
And finally, the plasticity of titanium zinc avoids one of the most pressing problems of the seam leakage – thermal expansion of the metal. That is why developers and users of a seam roofing titanium zinc is attractive because of its durability. After all, this material can serve if properly installed for 150 years!
That is why this roof belong to a category of luxury class. Yes, the material itself is expensive, but to repair a roof will rarely have to, and care for it is easy.
There are points in working with patinated copper. For example, this material leads to rapid wear and tear of cutting tools. It also spoils the machine for rolling, because the patina remains on the rollers of the machine, which significantly reduces its life.
Transportation and damage problems
The most popular method of making a seamed roof, when the paintings are bent right on the site. They are made from rolled metal, and at the same time on the whole slope is a single panel, without cross seams.
Rolls (or coils) of metal is especially convenient to transport. In this case the surface of the paintings before installation is protected from possible scratches and damage, which can be difficult to avoid in transit:
At the same time, any scratches on the metal tile or corrugated board can quickly lead to corrosion. In addition, too long sheets, for example, metal tile is very inconvenient to transport and lift to a height.
Maximum waterproofing: a unique technology
This is – the most important advantage of the seam roof over other types. Unlike corrugated board and metal, even in the simplest version of the elements of a seamed roof is not connected by the usual overlap and screws.
Of course, some types of steel roofing have more complex locks – hidden mount. But they still lose out to the seam in the difficult areas, where it is impossible to maintain such a high level of tightness:
By the way, today in the market there is even a technology of imitation seam roofing. This solution appeared recently and allows you to simulate a metal roof with false joints.
Its essence is that the special roofing membranes in appearance really similar to the seam roof, but with even greater impermeability.
Special comprehensive solutions
For special tasks today use a complete roofing system. For example, this offers a company Astron. It is made of steel panels with aluzinc coating and special fixing clips. Such panels have a thickness of 0.66 to 0.75 mm, and a width of 600 mm.
The ribs have a height of 50 mm, i.e. high enough and provide additional rigidity, which makes it possible to install purlins in increments of 1.5 m.
In this case the fastening system is movable, allowing the panels to move slightly during thermal expansion. This technical feature allows you to avoid deformation of the paintings. Will the same metal tile or soft roof? That’s another question.
Such complete solutions can boast only a metal and ceramic tiles from some manufacturers.
Difficulties of installation and connecting the elements
There are some disadvantages of a seamed roof. One of them is that it requires a sufficiently large number of tools (and sometimes machinery) for installation. While for a soft roof, for example, is enough hammer and nails.
Although today produced these types of roofs, which do not need to bend the classic seam – it has been successfully replaced by a ready-made, more convenient lock:
Design and complex elements
Another disadvantage of a seamed roof – it is a bit complicated in the design. In the process of calculating such a roof, you will need to carefully choose a combination of material and surface texture, shapes and sizes of typical elements, ways to connect them. Think carefully about whether all these elements will be compatible with the proposed form of the roof.
The fact is that many homeowners are trying to emphasize their individuality with roofs more complex and interesting shape. Remember, however, that the shaping possibilities of metal are not limitless. However, for such cases there are piece roofing materials, with which it is easy to circumvent any dome-lantern or other complex element.
For example, quite popular today rhombuses. They like, and designers, and the buyer his mesmerizing game of light and shadow. And are mounted between such separate elements with the usual folding technique.
This is a fairly convenient roofing material, which allows you to bypass even the most curvilinear protrusions of the roof no worse than flexible shingles. At the same time metal rhombuses are devoid of many of the disadvantages that are inherent in shingles.
The popularity of rhombus is growing day by day, and all thanks to the fact that it is possible to achieve unusual visual effects. Especially since the requirements for the base for a seam roof is small. And installation is not so complicated: all structures connect with brackets, and loops themselves are fastened to each other in the recumbent seam.
In this case, the upper loops are connected to the bottom lock, and the top fix clampers. Assemble only from the bottom up. And, to avoid the feeling of unevenness, when you get the loops on the transverse joint is trimmed edging.
It is worth considering that, despite the high degree of protection from rainwater, which boasts any seam roof, in the case of the piece is better to use a more complex roofing pie. For example, to lay additional waterproofing membrane, which will withdraw the condensate moisture.
The seamed roof – one of the most durable options. And the high-quality polymer coating will make its life even longer. Of course, much depends on the quality of installation themselves, however, as in the case with any other roof. Where there is quality, there is reliability. Do you agree?