Metal Roofing Accessories: Big Results From “The Small Stuff”

By Marco Industries. 

Flip through this month’s issue of Florida Roofing Magazine and you’ll see an informative article from George Allaster, Jr., Eastern Regional Sales Director for Marco Industries.

The featured article outlines the importance of the often overlooked “small things” in metal roofing, such as ventilation, sealants, fasteners and underlayment.

Allaster notes that every metal roof is actually a “roofing system” because for a metal roof to perform and protect properly, many different things must work together. His example: “if a fastener fails, it doesn’t matter how great the rest of the metal roof itself is during a driving, Florida rain.” Good point.

While the article is aimed at roofing professionals in Florida, it is packed with useful information for any roofer installing metal roofs. Allaster draws upon his 33 years of experience in the roofing industry to share insights and practical information relevant on any jobsite.

For example, while many know that proper ventilation is crucial to the performance and longevity of a metal roof—keeping out moisture, dust and pests, protecting the roof itself from damage—not everyone realizes that there is varying quality and performance among the different types of roof ventilation. From the article:

“…deciding which type of roofing ventilation you should install with your metal roof is simple. Rather than relying on box vents, end gable vents, wind turbines (also called whirlybirds), or power ventilators, follow the U.S. Department of Housing’s recommendation. They state that continuous ridge ventilation is the most effective. It is the least dependent upon wind direction and it delivers 3 to 5 times more air flow than any other combination. According to a Georgia Tech publication on energy-efficient homes, a combination of ridge ventilation along with soffit vents is the best, providing even air circulation under any wind condition. The Tennessee Valley Authority agrees, adding that turbine roof vents are the least effective and power vents may use as much energy as they save.

The choice then is clear: a continuous ridge vent (in combination with soffit vents) will provide the best performance. But are all ridge vents the same? Absolutely not. There are three main variables to consider.”

Allaster then outlines practical steps on what to look for when choosing a ridge vent. From the material used to manufacture the product to the warranty backing it up, the article walks you through the best options for you and your customers.

As the article says, “a metal roof is far more than simply sheets of steel. In fact, it is a complete system of materials that work together to provide stability, durability, ventilation, and protection from moisture, pests and weather. Demanding quality in all the elements—even the small stuff—will make a big impact on the performance of your roof overall.”

To learn more about Marco, visit www.MarcoIndustries.com. To contact Marco directly, you can email them here or call 1-800-800-8590.