THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF ROOF EDGES

While tar paper and shingles will protect a roof from the hazards that come along with the winter and summer months, the roof edge is just as important when it comes to maintaining the roof’s overall integrity. However, often time’s roof edges are overlooked. Most edges are made from galvanized metal or flexible aluminum. They should be installed prior to covering the roof. Roof edges offer a waterproof barrier to protect the sheeting on the roof from decay and moisture.

To install roof edges, individuals must first start at one cover of the roof. They need to snug the edging’s backside to the roof sheeting. Then, they need to use a roofing nail to keep it in place and do this to the end of the edging piece. Every 18 inches should do the trick. When a person comes to the end of the piece, they need to create an overlap of two inches with the new piece of roof edging. Tap them together using a hammer and secure the center with another roofing nail.

When hitting a flat corner, use a pair of tin snips and cut a “V” section out of the edge’s topside. Place the “V”’s center-point on the corner and then bend the edging against the roof until it is in place. When it comes to edging a peak, cut out the same “V” but this time on the face. Put the edging against the roof and bend it with the center of the “V” right at the peak.

The size of roof edges and the color may vary. The size selected needs to be broad enough to fully cover the roof sheeting. If rain gutters are also being installed, the roof edge’s face needs to be at a lower height than the upper lip of the gutter’s top mounted edge. This will ensure that water will collect in the gutter. In either instance, if the roof edge’s face is too short, water will collect along the roof sheeting. This will cause the roof to begin to rot and may even provide water with a path to enter right into the home and cause structural damage.

According to FM Global, a commercial insurance company approximately 59 percent of all insured losses involving roofing was the result of failure to properly secure roof edges. The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues has also made similar observations. One report by the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues stated that the codes for the requirement of secure roof edging must be enforced and that roofing contractors need to understand it. While there are building code requirements to test the performance of roof edges, there is still some lack of adequate implementation as well as enforcement in the roofing industry. By understanding the codes associated with installing roof edges, homeowners decrease the risk of possible damage. If an individual homeowner does not understand the building codes, it is best to find a professional roofing company that does and can walk the homeowner through all the code requirements to demonstrate a level of understanding.