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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a “profile” ?
It is the shape of the roof sheet when you look at it from the
edge-on
What profile should I use?
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The pitch of your roof is the deciding factor. We usually
decide the profile by measuring the pitch (or the fall) as
below : |
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5-8 Degree fall: IBR profile |
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8+ Degree fall: Corrugated profile |
Will the cut edges of the
sheets nor rust?
These products are sometimes referred to as 'self-healing' because
the zinc in the surrounding coating protects the newly exposed edge
in the following way. In the presence of moisture, a reaction occurs
between the zinc and the steel which results in galvanic protection
of theexposed steel, thereby inhibiting corrosion. The degree of
protection does depend on the thickness of the coating (amount of
zinc) and this is taken into account when Building Standards are
formulated.
When faced with a roof design which involves hips and ridges there
will always be a significant amount of cutting that will need to be
performed on site. We can merely cover the various techniques used
in South
Africa and offer the following guidelines when cutting Chromadek:
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(1)
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Nibbler:
More suited to flatsheet material as opposed to profiled
sheeting. Laborious and very slow. Produces cold slivers of
steel with no heat damage. |
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(2)
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Power shears:
Not readily available in SA. Very costly. Offer extremely
clean cut with no heat damage. |
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(3) |
“Tin Snips”:
More suited to flatsheet material as opposed to profiled
sheeting. Extremely labour intensive and painstakingly slow. |
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(4) |
Cold Cutting Steel Blades:
Available from Youngman Roofing. Operated in circular saw.
Offers incredibly clean cut with heavier chips of cold
steel. Blade chips away material thus producing cold cut.
Cost effective on medium sized projects. |
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(5) |
Grinder Discs:
Most commonly used method in SA. This abrasive form of
cutting produces extremely hot filings and heat build-up.
The resultant cut is usually slightly burred. Special
precautions need to be taken when using this form of
cutting: |
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(a) |
Material should always be cut on the ground. |
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(b) |
Colour side should face away from the approach of the blade.
This prevents the filings being propelled against the colour
coating. |
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(c) |
Clean off all resultant filings from the material
immediately after cutting. |
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(d) |
Avoid sustained cutting in one area to prevent excessive
heat build-up. |
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(e) |
Attempt to always cut the end of the sheet which will be
protected by an overlying flashing. Impossible at valleys! |
Can the colour side of the sheet be installed to face
inside ?
No. Performance of the product will be affected by the different
film thickness and UV absorbance capabilities of the backing coat on
roofing products, however, there are double-sided products available
for applications where the reverse side will be visible.
Will cement plaster affect the Chromadek?
Chromadek is not recommended for immersion in wet cement as rapid
corrosion and degradation of the alloy structure will quickly occur.
Should splashing occur, the concrete should be removed immediately
as dry concrete is difficult to remove without damaging the surface
coatings. A few small splashes are unlikely to cause significant
damage to the surface, however, our warranty does not cover failure
of the roof in such circumstances.
Won't a steel roof be hot?
No. In summer a lightweight roof made from steel causes less heat to
be radiated into your home because it cools down faster at night.
And in winter, the same steel roof, properly insulated, helps keep
the heat inside. This can result in reduced cooling and heating
costs.
How do I maintain my roof ?
Your roof needs to be washed (hosed) down periodically, the
frequency depends on how many overhanging trees you have that may
deposit leaves etc into your gutter and onto your roof. Lack of
maintenance voids guarantees offered by most manufacturers.
Do you offer a maintenance plan / cleaning service
Yes – This is usually done during March (just before the winter
rains start) and we check the entire roofs’ waterproofing
What about insulation products?
We supply and fit a product called Alucushion with is heat, fire and
noise retardant. See the link on our Products page.
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