5 Cost Saving Factors To Consider When Fitting A Stainless Steel Roof

There’s no getting away from the fact that stainless steel roofing has many benefits over its more familiar counterparts. Aside from it being long lasting and durable (eg, it rarely needs treating) it’s an eco-friendly option because it’s 100% recyclable. In addition because it contains no contaminated products, any rain water that runs off the roof can be recycled without causing harm. For these reasons it’s becoming a popular choice in the construction industry,

That said, stainless steel roofing doesn’t come cheap, so if you are looking to invest in this material, then there are some factors that you really need to consider. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look…

Glare

By its very nature stainless steel roofing has a natural shiny surface. For this reason it can cause problems with glare from sunlight. If you want to avoid a waft of bright light every time you turn and look at your roof, then you should consider a low-glare stainless steel finish such as InvariMatte. It’s used on a number of airport terminals where glare can be seen as a safety hazard and it’s lower reflectivity really lends itself to roofing applications.

Don’t forget water and vapour management

While stainless steel roofing is known for being perfect for use in moist conditions because of its draining properties, it’s crucial to install some type of guttering or drainage management. Doing so will preserve the quality of the roof and increase its longevity.

Needs occasional cleaning

Although a stainless steel roof will pretty much look after itself in the sense that it doesn’t rust, corrode or decay, it isn’t entirely without maintenance needs. Instead it will need occasional cleaning from time to time, especially when exposed to harsh or inclement weather conditions. Hint – always use a mild soapy solution rather than a harsh abrasive as this may be way too aggressive for the stainless steel and you could end up damaging it.

Don’t rely on solder for strength

When stainless steel roofing is fitted it needs to be soldered, However only rely on solder for small connections such as water management purposes. Don’t rely on soldered jointing for strengthening, because in a sheer condition, the soldered joint is likely to fail.

Always use same metal abutments

Never join panels together with abutments made from dissimilar metals. This can cause galvanic or bi-metallic corrosion. Instead all fasteners or abutments should be made of stainless steel of an equal consistency or higher grade.

By ensuring that you have a good metal supplier and fitter who understands the properties and behaviours of stainless steel roofing, you’ll be assured of a well fitting roof that will last you for many years to come. While it may cost more initially, in the long term the roof owner will be spared the inconvenience and the cost of having to replace the roof early.