Install

In some states of Australia, steel roofing falls under the category of plumbing, which can only be performed by a licensed contractor. Please refer to your local authority for advice relevant to your state.

Normally it's OK to walk on a roof made from COLORBOND® steel. However safety precautions should be taken, including the wearing of soft rubber-soled shoes and any necessary precautions for working at heights. You should also take into account the manufacturer's recommendations about where to place your feet on the profile to prevent deformation.

Some roofs are designed to be 'non-trafficable' (meaning they're not designed to be walked on). This should be noted on designs, plans and is sometimes signposted.

If you are unsure whether a roof is trafficable, treat it as non-trafficable until you can confirm otherwise.

No. The coating on the underside of the sheet has a different film thickness and UV absorbance capabilities which are not designed for prolonged exposure to weather. At the same time, roofing profiles are designed to be used one side up and may leak if installed the wrong way. However, there are double-sided products available for applications where the reverse side of the sheet will be visible.

Condensation forms under/on roof sheeting when the sheeting becomes colder than the air in contact with it. Water vapour carried in the air then condenses on the colder surface of the roof sheet. To minimise the risk of water damage to ceilings or corrosion related to condensation under steel roof sheeting, a vapour barrier should be provided under the sheeting to prevent contact between the moist air in the building and the roof sheeting.

Reflective foil laminates (sarking) which are commonly used to provide heat insulation under roof sheeting can serve a dual function as a vapour barrier, by thoroughly sealing the foil overlaps with moisture impervious adhesive tape.

The laps should be about 100 mm and kept in close contact when positioning the laminate so the tape can be readily applied.

The laminate must be allowed to drape between the roof supports so that the cold temperature of the roof sheeting will not be transmitted to the laminate by contact. If this were to happen condensation could form on the underside of the laminate and may drip into the ceiling space.

For more information, please Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 11 - Condensation and Insulation.

View our page How To Insulate Steel Roofs.

BlueScope Steel recommend 'cold cutting' coated steel products. If this recommendation is followed, these products will 'self heal', that is, the zinc in the surrounding coating will protect the newly exposed edge. How does this happen? In the presence of moisture, a reaction occurs between the zinc and the steel which results in galvanic protection of the exposed steel, thereby inhibiting corrosion. The degree of protection depends on the thickness of the coating (the amount of zinc), and this is taken into account when Building Standards are formulated.

BlueScope Steel warranties require adherence to manufacturers instructions. These usually state roofs must be crest fixed. Contact your roof sheeting supplier to obtain their specific recommendations.

When sheets need to be cut on site the most suitable technique is with nibblers or power saws with metal cutting blades (tin snips can be used although they are difficult to use on profiled sheeting). The use of cutting discs and grinding wheels is not recommended as they generate very hot particles which can damage the coating.

BlueScope Steel recommends the use of cold cutting saw with appropriate blades

• Don't forget to clean up each day. Offcuts and other metal scraps, such as pop rivet stems and fasteners, if left on COLORBOND® steel, may cause rust stains which detract from the finished appearance. Swarf (steel debris produced by drilling and cutting etc) should be swept or hosed from the job each day.
• Care should be taken if hosing off a roof into gutters already installed. The swarf should not be left to sit in the gutters. Maximum care should be taken when attempting to detach swarf which has become stuck. This can be done, but no action which is likely to remove the paint or metal coatings should be attempted. For critical applications, inspection of the job should be made after two weeks when rain or condensation will have caused any remaining swarf to rust, and will highlight affected areas for a more thorough cleanup.
• Sheets should not be dragged across others as scratching will result. Spray packs should not be used to repair any scratches. The paint fades differently. Small scratches are best left alone. If the damage is severe it is best to replace the panel.
• Never use black lead pencils for marking galvanised, ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel. Black lead pencils are made from graphite which will react with the coating on these products resulting in corrosion of the coating. The answer is to use any colour pencil but black and clean off any markings as soon as possible.
• This information is intended as a guide only. For detailed assistance with your particular application, please contact us.

Please view our page Choose fasteners for cladding.