Category: Warranties

Metal Panel Material Delivery and Handling

Posted on by Ken Buchinger

Handle with Care

What You Need to Know about the Delivery and Handling of Metal Panels

As sturdy and resilient as metal panels are, there are a number of considerations that must be accounted for in order to maintain the integrity of the product, ensure on-time and cost-efficient delivery, and guarantee safe, effective installation. First, metal panels can do no good if they can’t be properly delivered to the jobsite—in pristine condition—where and when they’re needed. Second, once the panels do arrive, proper handling can be the difference between a successful job or problems before, during and after the fact. Here we’ll take a brief look at some of the main considerations related to the delivery and handling of metal panels that support the best possible outcome.

Delivery Considerations

The main conditions to confirm and questions to ask before placing an order and establishing delivery parameters include the following:

  1. Delivery location: Is delivery offered in your area or to your jobsite?
    • Is your location accessible? In other words, are there unsafe or impassible terrain or road conditions that prohibit the delivery of the materials?
    • Can you accommodate the size of the delivery vehicle? This includes making sure roads and entrances are large enough that delivery vehicles can pass through/access.
    • What are the delivery terms and conditions? Be sure you understand the requirements of your selected delivery method before signing on the dotted line.
    • Have you arranged for offloading or do you have people and equipment to handle this? Most delivery truck drivers are not equipped or trained in offloading metal panels, so it’s best to make arrangements with someone who knows how to properly get your material off of the delivery vehicle.
  1. Delivery method and carrier options
    • Do you know the options your manufacturer offers?
    • Have you confirmed the rates associated with each delivery option? As with traditional shipping, metal panel and component delivery costs can vary based on the type of delivery selected as well as your proximity to the place of origin.
  1. Proper packaging to provide protection against transportation damage
    • What packaging option is right for your order? You may want to consider the kind and quantity of material you’re ordering, its destination and end use when selecting how you’d like it packaged.
    • How much does packaging cost? This varies by the manufacturer. Some offer complimentary packaging, but it’s best to know about any potential costs beforehand.

Handling Considerations

Some key issues to bear in mind after delivery has occurred include:

  1. Exercise care when loading, unloading, storing and installing metal roof and wall systems.
    • Handle materials in such a way as to prevent bending, warping, twisting and surface/paint finish damage.
    • Do not drag panels on the ground or against each other; they should be picked up to be moved.
  1. Cutting metal panels
    • Follow manufacturer instructions at all times to keep from voiding the panel warranty. (ABC’s recommendation is to use a portable profile shear, especially for across-the-profile cutting of metal panels. Power shears, nibblers or hand snips that can follow the contour of the panel’s profile are also acceptable.)
    • Never cut the exposed end of a metal panel with a metal or abrasive saw. This will erode the Galvalume® coating, causing premature rusting at the cut edge.
  1. Worker Safety
    • Take appropriate precautions against potential hazards, which include:
      1. Moving and handling metal panels manually and mechanically, whether using conveyors, cranes, slings, forklifts and/or ladders
      2. Stacking metal panels/metal panel bundles
      3. Cut/exposed edges
    • Follow the manufacturer’s recommended safety measures, including any outlined protocols, recommended machinery, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc.

Following the precautions provided above can help mitigate many potential pitfalls often faced. A little care upfront will inevitably lead to a much smoother process for all involved during every phase of the process. And always remember, the manufacturer is here to help; contact your local ABC representative today.

 

Galvalume® vs. Galvanized Metal Roofing

Posted on by Jessica Taylor

Galvalume® vs. Galvanized Metal Roofing

Selecting metal panels made from high-quality materials is essential to the longevity and success of your customer’s metal roofing system—from the steel sheets to the fasteners. Although the quality of the paint system applied to metal roofing panels provides an essential level of protection (as discussed in our recent ‘Decoding Your Warranty’ blog series), not to be overlooked is the coating used on metal roofing panels. Two coatings are commonly used on steel sheeting in the metal panel industry today: Galvalume® and Galvanized. Both products are manufactured to adhere to carbon sheeting and provide a barrier that resists corrosion. Additionally, they enhance long-term water-tightness and durability, ensuring resilience through damaging weather conditions. But what exactly are the differences between Galvalume® and Galvanized?

What is Galvalume® metal?

Introduced into the construction marketplace by Bethlehem Steel in 1972 and now widely available around the world, Galvalume® is carbon steel sheeting coated with aluminum-zinc alloy by a continuous hot-dip process. Composed of 55 percent aluminum and approximately 45 percent zinc, this coating combines the best properties of both metals. It has the corrosion resistance, high temperature oxidation resistance and heat reflectivity typical of aluminum coatings, with the formability and galvanic protection of cut edges characteristic of zinc coatings. This combination makes it ideal for most types of roofing and siding. In addition, the coating also contains a small but significant amount of silicon in the alloy—not to enhance the corrosion performance, but to ensure optimal coating adhesion to the steel substrate when roll-formed, drawn or bent during fabrication.

 What is Galvanized metal?

Galvanized Sheet is carbon steel sheet coated with zinc on two sides by a continuous hot-dip process. This method tightly adheres the coating to the steel with an iron-zinc alloy bonding layer formed by a diffusion process while the heated steel strip is in contact with the molten zinc.

What is the difference between Galvalume® & Galvanized roofing?

While both products were developed to essentially sacrifice themselves to protect the steel sheeting they coat, the above exposure comparison shows that Galvalume® performs (up to nine times) better in fighting corrosion as compared to Galvanized coating. While Galvalume® can initially show signs of corrosion faster than Galvanized, it has a sacrificial property that will prevent the corrosion from growing whereas once corrosion has started on a Galvanized panel, it can continue to corrode until panel integrity is lost. According to a study released by the Metal Construction and Zinc Aluminum Coaters associations, the longevity of a low-slope unpainted Galvalume® standing-seam roof is 60 years  (See the full report.)  Additionally, primer and paint adhere better to Galvalume®-coated panels and they carry a 20-year limited warranty while galvanized panels do not, making them a smarter long-term investment for your customers’ homes, agricultural buildings or commercial properties.

Important Facts About Galvalume®

  • Galvalume® should not come in direct contact with: standing water, dissimilar metals (copper, lead, iron), harsh chemicals, graphite pencil, masonry products or treated lumber.
  • Proper roof inspections and maintenance is still required, as with any other roof system.

Its versatility, ease of use, aesthetic appeal and long-term, service life-extending performance makes Galvalume-coated steel roof panels the most economical and sustainable coating option for your customers’ new and retrofit applications. To learn more about Galvalume®, please visit  http://www.galvalume.com/. To view ABC’s Galvalume® Plus products, which are easy to form and install safely due to the thin, clear acrylic coating that allows them to be roll-formed dry without vanishing oil, please see our color resources and Galvalume® warranty information.

Decoding Your Warranty: Paint Chalking

Posted on by Heather Hollis

The third and final element of our “Decoding Your Warranty” blog series covers paint chalking. As with fading, chalking is an expected occurrence with any paint system that is subjected to outdoor exposure, and while it may be preferable to other issues such as cracking or peeling, it is still important to the metal roofing industry and its customers. As a result, similar questions should be asked about how this is addressed in paint system warranties to ensure chalking isn’t the cause of premature damage to your metal roof system.

What is paint chalking?

Also referred to as “powdering”, chalking happens when the resin (binder) of the paint system is compromised. The resin is the substance that holds the paint pigment together. It also ensures the color is evenly distributed and provides glossiness, durability and flexibility. In addition, resin has the very important job of adhering the pigment to the metal surface it’s applied to and protecting the finish against damage.

When the resin at the surface of the paint finish deteriorates, most often as a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, the embedded pigment particles lose their adhesion to the paint film (resulting in color fading) and the resin particles take on a white (chalky) appearance that is easy to wipe off of the surface. In addition, chalking can erode the film resulting in a loss of substrate protection and run down onto the underlying structure, further degrading the appearance of your structure.

How can you protect against paint chalking?

Climates that are exposed to more intense UV rays for longer periods of time will experience chalking sooner as the environment plays a big role in how painted metal will perform. While you may not be able to control how much UV or moisture exposure your roof gets, you can choose a paint system that is not over-thinned or over-spread and that uses high quality components. ABC’s Signature® 200 system incorporates a 30 percent SMP Resin—one of the strongest in the marketplace—to help reduce the amount of chalking experienced.

Similar to the fading section of the warranty, paint system warranties allow for an acceptable amount of chalking. Chalking is measured in accordance with the standard procedures as defined by the “Standard Methods of Evaluating Degree of Chalking of Exterior Paints”, ASTM D4214. ABC guarantees the level of chalk on vertical panel applications will not chalk in excess of a numerical rating of eight (the higher the numerical rating, the better) for 30 years for our Premium paint system colors and 25 years for our Select40 paint system colors. For non-vertical panel applications, ABC guarantees a rating of 6 for 30 years for our Premium paint system and 25 years for our Select40 paint system. Consumers should be aware of these numbers, and expect them to be expressed in sample warranties.

Check out ABC’s metal color resources and warranty information to learn more!

 

Missed parts one and two of the “Decoding Your Warranty” blog series? Start reading now!

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