Tips for Avoiding Rust on a Metal Roof

How can I make sure my metal roof doesn’t rust? This is a question on the minds of many property owners. Even some contractors and roofers don’t completely know how to avoid rust. It’s very easy for a metal roof to rust, especially if it is made from steel. The best way to ensure that the roof doesn’t rust is to use a non-ferrous metal like aluminium or copper. 

Many property owners go with an option like steel. This is especially appealing because of the lower price point. But how do you avoid rust with a ferrous metal such as steel? There are essentially two ways to avoid rust on a metal roof. 

First of all, you want to make sure you are using high quality metal for your base with a high degree of zinc in the coating. The coating should also be anti-corrosive. There are many offshore products that come into the United States that have extremely low amounts of zinc in them. It’s important to purchase high-quality metal materials so that the roof will also be high quality.

Secondly, you want to make sure that the metal is installed properly, which means that the edge cuts will be crisp and clean. This also means that if there are any scratches on the metal, they will be touched up neatly. It’s crucial to realize that there isn’t much of a difference between edges made from cuts on the job and factory edges. Both of these are at risk of acquiring rust. Because of the lack of precision that often exists on job sites, field-cut edges are at a very high risk of rust. 

With proper installation techniques and practices, you can ensure that a steel roof will not develop rust. One of the important things to keep in mind when installing a metal roof is that you must have the right equipment. If you need fasteners, snips, vice grips, or more, have a look around our website.