Columns/Blogs

Precision and accuracy are paramount when estimating construction projects. As projects become more intricate and diverse, relying solely on traditional square footage pricing may lead to financial risks and hinder competitiveness. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the reasons why estimating software is emerging as a triumphant alternative, offering a more precise and adaptable solution for the challenges of today’s complex projects.

A growing trend has emerged in the world of housing – metal barndominium homes. These unique structures combine the rustic charm of barns with the comfort of modern homes. From their origins as practical agricultural buildings to hybrid living spaces, barndominiums have gained popularity among homebuyers seeking a balance between functionality and aesthetics, and opened up a wealth of new opportunities for those in the metal roof and wall panel industry.

For over 120 years, the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Standard 780 has stood as the definitive guide for effective lightning protection. Within the standard lies a crucial tool - the Simplified Risk Calculator - designed to quantify lightning risk for specific structures, empowering architects, engineers and building owners to shield properties from nature’s electric wrath.

For property owners and managers, it's essential to understand the tools available to mitigate the risks associated with lightning. Two commonly cited solutions are lightning protection systems and surge suppression. While they both address issues related to lightning, they serve distinctly different purposes. This article delves into the differences between the two and the importance of including both to provide effective protection for your property.

Standing seam roof systems are often recognized as the best metal roofing system available. And without a doubt, they offer unparalleled protection when properly specified, manufactured, and installed. Unfortunately, as long as individuals are involved in the process, the potential for mistakes exists. In her latest column for DesignandBuildwithMetal, Kathi Miller of McElroy Metal roofers installation tips for a weathertight standing seam roof system.

Events in which snow or ice slides off roofs and leads to people’s deaths happen too often. This article highlights the information we should consider to best protect people and property from roof avalanches. It is based on what I have learned in my years studying and contributing to manuals about roofs in snowy and icy climates. In the list that follows, I pose key questions and explain their significance for the prevention of roof avalanches.

Metal roofing is well-known for its outstanding performance against mother nature. From hailstorms to hurricanes, metal roofing performs better than other material options like membrane roofing and shingles. With that said, like with any other product, problems can occur. And while installation errors lead to most issues, panel side laps, incorrect panel profile selection, and fastener locations can be problematic for exposed fastener panel installations, particularly on lower roof slopes.

Hurricane Ian has provided us with yet another stark reminder of the importance of the strength of your building and, in particular, your roof. So what if your old metal roof is still in ok shape and you do not have the cost of a retrofit roof in the budget at this time? There are a few things you can do to make your existing roof stronger, giving your building and its contents a better chance of surviving an extreme storm event.

Retrofitting of older metal building roofs continues to grow in popularity with good reason. This popularity has given rise to many questions about what can and cannot be done over an old metal roof. The following are the questions we most commonly hear from owners, contractors and designers considering retrofitting an existing metal roofed building.

Not all insulation materials are the same. There are various reasons to use insulation, ranging from keeping cool spaces cool or keeping warm spaces warm, to keeping noise in or keeping noise out, or for fire protection, etc. The best advice we can give is to first understand what you need to insulate, and more importantly, why you need to insulate it.

Anodized sheet products are often chosen for the aesthetics and lasting durability of the surface finish, but one issue that should not be overlooked in purchasing anodized aluminum sheets is the flatness. Why is flatness important, how is it defined and measured, what causes a lack of flatness and how can it be prevented or corrected?

One thing I have learned in life is to always have a Plan B. Things don’t always go the way you think they will. The pandemic is a stark reminder. For some, with the onset of COVID-19, it appeared as though the greatest economic boom period in history had come to a complete standstill. And today, with increasing costs of goods and raw materials, supply chain backlogs and the labor shortage, it can still feel like an uphill battle.

Anodized aluminum offers a durable, beautiful, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to stainless steel and painted metals for a wide variety of applications in architecture, transportation and consumer goods. But, like all materials, it has its limitations. When subjected to extreme levels of thermal and mechanical stress, the surface layer can exhibit signs of micro fracturing called “anodize crazing”. Several proven strategies can be employed to minimize or eliminate crazing.

Manufacturer certification programs can be a source of confusion. Most often, the confusion stems from using words like “certified,” “approved,” “authorized,” and “qualified” interchangeably. While they may mean the same thing to architects and building owners, those terms often mean completely different things to manufacturers. Kathi Miller explains in her latest blog.

More is better, right? For many architects and building owners, the decision of three-coat vs. two-coat paint systems certainly isn’t black and white.

"Every year we provide framing systems that allow a new metal roof to be installed over an existing metal roof," writes Dale Nelson of Roof Hugger LLC. "Sadly, in many cases the roof is being replaced not because it had reached the end of its useful life but rather because it had been improperly repaired."

As a leading authority on rooftop snow management systems, Brian Stearns, founder and president of Alpine SnowGuards, addresses a frequently asked question: Can a snow guard manufacturer guarantee that their snow retention device will retain all snow and ice on a roof top?

New construction has been a booming business for the past five years or so but as always “this too will change” and as a result of Covid-19, boy oh boy, has it changed. Many projects have been slowed down, many have been delayed and others cancelled. Having another steady base of business is critical to dealing with these sudden and unforeseen market changes.

The paint used to coat metal roofing and siding panels has three basic components: pigment, which creates the color; solvent, which helps to dissolve the pigment; and binder or resin, which acts like the glue to hold everything together. Due to differences in both pigment cost and the amount of pigment required, most metal panel manufacturers segment their PVDF offering into three pricing tiers.

Color is a time-tested method of adding personality to buildings, albeit sometimes more effectively than others. Its use can offer a way for buildings to blend with the environment, with surrounding structures, or to create a stronger—sometimes even bold—statement to make the building stand out.