By EXCEPTIONAL® Metals.  

How to properly cut and prepare metal panels to ensure the buildings' long-term performance. 

Metal panels are key in manufacturing a building that is resilient and durable. While onsite cutting is a common part of the metal roof and wall panel installation process, improper onsite preparation could lead to premature degradation. Using the right tools and methods is crucial to avoiding protective coatings being damaged. EXCEPTIONAL® Metals is proud to supply construction and building partners with excellent metal panels, read on for their in-depth guide on the best ways to prepare metal panels for the job site. 

Importance of cutting metal panels 

To better cut metal panels in the field, it’s best to understand what protects them. Protective coatings are applied to the surface of metal coils during the painting process. These coatings help retain color long term and improve overall longevity by achieving high levels of resistance to a range of deteriorating factors, including: 

• Ultraviolet light 

• Moisture 

• Extreme heat 

• Acidic rain 

• Hail 

• Debris 

• Corrosion 

• Fire 

The tools and methods that manufacturers use to turn metal coils into finished metal panels are designed to avoid damaging the coated surface. During fabrication, the metal panels are cut to length either by shearing before or after entering the roll former. These processes spread the coating across the cut edge of the metal panel, delivering excellent corrosion protection. 

Protecting the coated surface is vital to the long-term performance of metal roofing and wall panels. Damaged coatings open the door to rust, which negatively affects a material’s structural integrity and durability. Localized corrosion can lead to pitting, cracking, and future fractures, causing leakage or more severe failure of building components. 

Superior metals require the right tools 

When metal panels reach the construction site, the need to cut them to fit specific dimensions is commonplace. Crews should approach on-the-job metal panel fabrication with the same quality-first mindset as the manufacturer because any defects can ultimately damage both customer relationships and business credibility. Here’s how to cut metal panels quickly and efficiently without damaging their coated surfaces. 

Aviation snips 
These tools are ideal for small cuts, such as conforming to unique wall details or around pipe penetrations. Lightweight and practical, aviation snips act to wipe the protective coating just like the shears used by the manufacturer. 

Electric shears 
They are perfect for longer cuts, such as trimming wall panels at a corner or accounting for door openings. These shears remove a quarter-inch strip from the metal panel, which leaves both sides smooth and flat. Similar to factory cutting methods and aviation snips, electric shears effectively protect metal panel edges by wiping the coating. 

Mechanical shears 
Fitted to the end of battery-operated impact or screw guns, these add-on tools work fast and require minimal manual effort. Mechanical shears maintain metal panel longevity by effectively wiping the coating over cut edges, and they are an ideal tool for bevel trimming standing-seam panels at hips and valleys. 

Nibblers 
The nibbler punches out small, half-moon shaped pieces of a metal panel, and it offers protection by wiping the coating across a cut edge. A nibbler is an excellent tool for cutting across corrugations in wall panels to create openings for windows, doors, and similar structural additions. An important thing to keep in mind when using a nibbler, however, is cleanliness. The little metal pieces generated during a cut can fall to the floor and get stuck in the soles of shoes. Scratches may appear when installers walk on the roof. 

Skill saw 
This useful, versatile tool is a great way to cut metal panels. It’s capable of cutting across and parallel to corrugations, both straight and at angles. Using a cool-cutting blade is important, though. The heat generated from standard or abrasive blades can melt protective coatings along the cut edge, opening the door for premature corrosion. 

Additionally, it’s crucial to avoid cutting metal panels around other panels. A skill saw blade flings into the air considerable amounts of steel debris, which can land on the surface of nearby metal panels. This debris, called swarf, is prone to corrosion and can create rust spots. 

Fast work, poor results 

One of the most common challenges facing contractors is applying the right tool or procedure at the optimal time. Using the wrong tool might be faster, but it can lead to issues later on. Here’s a list of tools to avoid when cutting metal panels at a worksite: 

• Reciprocating saws 

• Torches 

• Grinding wheels 

• Cut-off saws 

• Hacksaws 

• Grinders 

Every one of these tools generates considerable amounts of heat, which melts the protective coating and exposes the cut edge to the elements. This causes localized corrosion, which spreads over time. These pieces of equipment also create a lot of swarf that embeds into the panel coating, causing rust spots and other imperfections. 

Quality is the way we do business 

At EXCEPTIONAL Metals, our mission is simple. We want to help you construct high-performing, energy-efficient structures that exceed customer requirements. 

Metal panels are renowned for providing superior durability and thermal resistance in a simple-to-install and aesthetically pleasing package. They are ideal for use on a range of applications, including: 

• Metal buildings 

• Commercial spaces 

• Warehouses 

• Banks 

• Office parks 

• Bus stations 

• Medical facilities 

• Automobile dealerships 

• Schools 

• Industrial complexes 

• Cold storage 

• Food processing 

• Laboratories 

• Manufacturing sites 

• Airports 

• Residential homes 

• Train stations 

• Agriculture applications 

• Universities 

• Athletic venues 

• Department or big-box stores 

• Hospitals 

Strengthen customer relationships and grow your business with high-quality metal panels from EXCEPTIONAL Metals. We offer a wide range of beautiful, weather-resistant metal panels that add striking flair to any structure. Additionally, our extensive knowledge of proper fabrication techniques enables you to improve installation time and overall finished product quality. 

Learn more about EXCEPTIONAL® Metals in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit exceptionalmetals.com 

Original article source: EXCEPTIONAL® Metals 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Learn about the companies that are driving the industry towards a greener future.

It is no secret that now more than ever is the time to focus on greener roofing solutions and for companies to reduce CO2 emissions. As manufacturers innovate to provide products that work longer and use greener practices, consumers and contractors alike can do their part to make sustainable choices. We have rounded up some pioneering companies that are driving the industry towards a more sustainable future.  

Re-use and recycle 

Environmentally responsible materials are more popular than ever, which is why an endlessly recyclable metal that won’t lose its strength and durability is a key component in EXCEPTIONAL® Metals’ pledge to reduce their environmental impact. 

Malarkey adds upcycled rubber and plastic polymers from used tires and water bottles to help extend shingle life. The upcycled materials improve the shingle's resilience and strength, creating an incredibly durable material that will last through extreme weather conditions like intense wind, rain and impact. 

Often on a roof made of a thousand pieces of tile, there are only a few broken tiles. Rather than reroofing, which comes at a substantial environmental cost, All Points Tile & Slate makes it easy to simply replace the few bits of damaged tile. Completely re-doing a roof creates harmful emissions during production while unnecessarily filling landfills. This is why All Points Tile is driven to provide local, national and international customers with the ability to identify, procure, color-match, store and deliver tiles. These processes make fixing a roof and replacing tiles much greener, while also making it easier for contractors to quickly finish the job and deliver a beautiful roof. 

Certifiably sustainable 

Sika strives to be transparent about their products from a full life cycle “cradle to grave” point of view. As such, Sika products are certified sustainable and designed to meet LEED standards in order to build a brighter future for our environment. 

Sika has been publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its products since 2012 and its extensive EPD portfolio covers all of its construction target markets, from roof to basement. The only liquid-applied roofing and waterproofing systems that offer a fully disclosed cradle-to-grave EPD are Sikalastic RoofPro products. 

Duro-Last, Inc. is the first manufacturer to publish a product specific PVC environmental product declaration (EPD) for single-ply membranes, reporting the lifecycle environmental impact of each of their membrane products. Duro-Last also leads the roofing industry with the most certifications under NSF/ANSI 347, and is one of the only two manufacturers to achieve the highest-level platinum certification.  

Green technology 

Malarkey is committed to the environment and developed the industry’s first smog-reducing shingle by incorporating 3M smog-reducing granules. These granules are used in all of Malarkey’s shingles. You won’t even be able to tell the granules are there because they blend into the shingle’s color.   

Another way to reduce smog and the Urban Heat Island effect is through the use of green roofs. SOPREMA makes it easy to incorporate vegetated roofing systems into any roofing business with SOPRANATURE® green roof, which uses natural vegetation, like grasses and shrubs, to turn the roof, a usually neglected space, into a green oasis. 

The roof layers act as a soil and drainage system, compensating for the hampered ecosystems resulting from urban development, offering a multitude of economic and environmental benefits to building owners and communities. 

In addition to their innovative green roofing solutions, SOPREMA is deeply engaged in developing sustainability initiatives within their communities. For instance, they have a company recycling program and employees who have worked at SOPREMA for 20 years get a tree planted on the property in their name.

Energy efficiency 

Western Colloid's Cool Roof Systems can make a huge difference in the heating and cooling costs of your building, specifically with Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing (FARR) systems. The cost of upgrading or restoring your roof with this system is offset by the cost savings for your building. Additionally, your roof upgrade may qualify for government rebates, tax deductions or write-offs. 

Similarly, ATAS has a variety of cool roof products designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, bringing a new definition of “cool” to sustainability by bringing down the temperature.   

Conclusion 

These are just a few of the ways that the roofing industry is working towards ensuring a brighter, cleaner and certifiably greener future. Roofing products that extend the life of the roof, promote efficiency and save materials from landfills are smart choices for contractors and homeowners and show just how much you care about our planet and making sustainable choices to preserve it.  

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news. 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Tax season is among us, and there has never been a better time for commercial property owners to invest in a new metal roofing system. 

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals knows that growing their business means growing your business, which is why they are promoting a federal tax incentive that allows building owners to deduct up to 100% of the cost of a new metal roof off of their taxes. 

New roof investments are now included in the tax code Section 179 as a qualified real property deduction. Take advantage of this new incentive and add a new roofing system from EXCEPTIONAL Metals to your offerings. Customers will love the value you bring when you offer a deduction on the full cost of their investment and get the benefits of a durable and beautiful EXCEPTIONAL Metals roof. 

Tell your customers to consult with a certified tax specialist and to verify the deduction limitations and qualification of their building! 

Learn more about EXCEPTIONAL® Metals in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit exceptionalmetals.com 

About EXCEPTIONAL Metals 

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals is a family-owned company that offers a full line of commercial metal roofing, wall panels, and accessories that are designed to save time during installation, add striking visual details and provide a secure fit for unsurpassed protection and durability. Additionally, they manufacture a full line of edge details, drainage systems, scuppers, collector boxes, pitch pans and other custom-fabricated products for use with single-ply roofing systems. Many of these details are made with vinyl-coated metal, which creates a secure, watertight bond during installation. Visit www.exceptionalmetals.com to learn more. 

Exceptional metal roofs come from the exceptional attention to details from EXCEPTIONAL® Metals. 

RoofersCoffeeShop, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, is pleased to welcome EXCEPTIONAL® Metals into its community for contractors. 

EXCEPTIONAL Metals provides a variety of metal roofing products, as well as edge details and accessories, that save time during installation and provide a secure fit with unsurpassed durability, protection and efficiency.  EXCEPTIONAL Metals knows that growing their business means growing your business, so they are committed to giving you the materials and resources to be successful and deliver a high-performing roof.  

With Exceptional Metals you can expect: 

• Proven commitment to quality. EXCEPTIONAL Metals is committed to producing high quality products and providing extraordinary customer service. EXCEPTIONAL Metals offers metal roof and wall panel systems that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are structurally sound, as well as edge details that are compatible with most single-ply roofing systems. 

• Investment in your success. EXCEPTIONAL Metals offers a variety of certification classes from coast to coast that provide you with the knowledge you need to efficiently install EXCEPTIONAL Metals' products. 

• In-house support. From concept to completion, EXCEPTIONAL Metals’ in-house team offers support in the layout and design of EXCEPTIONAL Metals installations. 

• Sustainability. EXCEPTIONAL® Metals is committed to providing customers with industry-leading products that stand the test of time without negatively impacting the environment around us. Their standing seam metal panels provide high reflectivity rates, helping to keep buildings cool and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the panel’s extended lifecycles reduce the need for regular repairs and replacement, mitigating construction waste in our landfills. 

• Weathertight warranties. EXCEPTIONAL Metals offer a variety of Weathertight Warranty options that cover the material and installation of their metal roof panels. These options include Paint and Finish Warranties, Standard Warranty I & II, Standard Warranty III and Single Source Warranty I, II and III. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® is proud to welcome EXCEPTIONAL Metals! 

About EXCEPTIONAL Metals 

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals is a family-owned company that offers a full line of commercial metal roofing, wall panels, and accessories that are designed to save time during installation, add striking visual details and provide a secure fit for unsurpassed protection and durability. Additionally, they manufacture a full line of edge details, drainage systems, scuppers, collector boxes, pitch pans and other custom-fabricated products for use with single-ply roofing systems. Many of these details are made with vinyl-coated metal, which creates a secure, watertight bond during installation. Visit www.exceptionalmetals.com to learn more.

By Mike Gwizdala, Exceptional Metals. 

How metal is specifically made to handle extreme weather conditions. 

Extreme weather events like hurricane winds, lightning strikes and water damage from floods always test the limits of building materials. When struck with snow or heavy rain, the exterior of a building can crumble if it’s not made with durable materials. 

Growing awareness of the effect of catastrophic weather events has increased the demand for high-quality building materials. Capable of tolerating wind, moisture, corrosion, lightning and just about anything else Mother Nature comes up with, metal panels are a great way to improve structural climate resilience and overall building performance. 

At EXCEPTIONAL® Metals, we want buildings to withstand the test of time. In this article, we provide an in-depth look at how incorporating metal panels into your new construction project or existing structure is beneficial for almost any application. 

Safety in strength  

Put simply, metal panels are made to last. When properly installed and maintained, their lifespan can extend up to 50 years. That’s double the life expectancy of most asphalt shingles.  

While much of that longevity can be attributed to the engineering and physical properties of the raw materials used to manufacture the panels, there are also rigorous industry standards in place that manufacturers must test their products against to verify performance for a wide variety of environmental stressors: 

Hail 

When a hailstorm strikes, it can cause catastrophic degradation to traditional roofing systems, including scratches, tears and punctures. Depending on the degree of damage, complete roof replacement may be the only option. 

For metal roofs, however, the outcome is much different. While the gauge of the panel plays a role in its durability against impacts like hail, metal panels by their very nature are engineered to provide more robust protection. When hail damage is reported on metal roofs, more often than not it is only cosmetic and does not affect the performance of the system. 

If you live in an area that is prone to heavy hail storms, thicker gauge panels are an ideal solution to provide more resistance to any damage that may occur. 

Wind 

Just as certain areas of the country are more prone to precipitation than others, certain regions are more likely to see high-wind events and have developed standards that building materials must meet to ensure they can withstand the associated pressures. 

A primary advantage of a metal roof is the ability to withstand high winds, due in part to its attachment methods and interlocking installation where roof panels are overlapped and attached to the structure of the building, reducing the ability of wind to disrupt the panels. When installed properly and in accordance with local code standards, metal panels have been tested and proven to withstand hurricane-force winds, barring physical debris damage. Whether you live in the Great Plains or a coastal community, high-wind events and effective building materials must be considered. 

Moisture 

Since many metal roofing assemblies feature overlapping panel installations along with various sealant products and underlayments designed to provide an additional moisture barrier, water infiltration through the roof is rarely a pain point for building owners. 

Of course, as with any roofing system, proper installation and drainage are key to preventing the backup of precipitation which could ultimately lead to unintended water infiltration. If the structure of a roof does not offer an adequate slope for water shedding, you will want to determine what modifications can be made to prevent water from collecting. Additionally, regular maintenance is key to ensuring drainage channels are not blocked with debris and sealants are functioning properly. 

Snow 

While beautiful when falling from the sky and light enough to catch in the palm of your hand, accumulating snowfall can create serious structural load challenges for buildings in cooler regions of the country. For buildings with traditional roofing systems, the added weight of snow and ice can lead to more frequent damage resulting in water infiltration, and in extreme cases structural failure. 

By contrast, metal roofing systems provide a much lighter structural footprint allowing for more even weight distribution when exposed to accumulating snowfall. Additionally, the physical properties of a metal roofing system actually promote the shedding of snow and ice much more effectively than traditional roofing systems, helping to negate long-term accumulation of snow on the rooftop. However, these shedding properties also present safety hazards that must be carefully considered when planning for a metal roof. EXCEPTIONAL Metals offers a variety of snow guard products designed to break up sliding snow from a metal roof, preventing “roof avalanches” that can cause damage to gutters and be hazardous to unsuspecting people nearby. 

Fire and lightning 

In a wildfire or even structure fires from nearby buildings, flaming branches, leaves and other debris carried by the wind may land on neighboring roofs. Since metal is not combustible or flammable, the chance of a fire developing on a metal roofing system under typical conditions is much less likely.  

Additionally, while not common, lightning strikes have been known to connect with a structure, causing a fire. While a rare occurrence, lightning continues to be a common concern for metal roofing owners. This is more fear than reality, however. While metal is conductive, a home with a metal roof is no more prone to lightning strikes than other roofing systems. Actually, metal roofs can be advantageous during a lightning storm. Large metal surfaces do an excellent job of safely dispersing energy generated from a lightning strike. 

High heat 

If you’re looking to combat extreme heat from the sun, there’s nothing better than a metal roof. High-reflectivity metal roofing panels, which are sometimes called cool metal roofs, reflect the sun’s energy to dissipate heat. This improves energy efficiency and lowers monthly cooling bills. 

Withstand extreme weather 

Whether you’re an interested property owner or a contractor specializing in installation and upkeep, we’re here to help you better understand the benefits of metal roofs in the face of any environmental stressor. 

EXCEPTIONAL Metals provides a variety of metal panels that are ideal for a wide range of applications including residential and commercial spaces, office parks, warehouses, industrial complexes, medical facilities, schools, restaurants, airports and more. 

Learn more about Exceptional Metals in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit exceptionalmetals.com. 

Original article source: EXCEPTIONAL Metals