Jun 2009

Volume 4, Issue 2  

ARTICLES Metal roof maintenance - how easy of a job is it? Technical Journal - Staining of steel panels from steel debris Lower maintenance costs - Choose the right pre-painted steel material Factory Visit - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Need more Info?

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METAL ROOF MAINTENANCE - how easy of a job is it?
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, recently wrote an article which appeared in one of the local newspaper, titled "A strong maintenance culture certainly lacking in Malaysia". In his article, Tan Sri was appealing "to put an end to the poor and unsatisfactory maintenance of public amenities in the country".  At the time of writing his article, Tan Sri probably was not specifically thinking about metal roofing. So, how easy is of a job is it maintain maintain metal roofs?

Metal roof maintenance is something of a misnomer – the only times metal roofs should be maintained is if they are getting excessively old or were installed incorrectly, as other than that they require very little effort to maintain.

However, if you are having problems with your metal roof, this article will provide a brief overview of how you can assess and repair minor damage to your metal roof in a short time with minimal materials.

The first thing you’ll want to do in a metal roof maintenance job, as with any roof maintenance, is to clear the roof of debris. Debris like leaves, dirt and garbage can soak up water and increase the wear and rusting of even coated metal roofing. After clearing debris, if your roof is painted or coated, check the coating for signs of wear and repaint or recoat any necessary areas.

If there are holes in any of the shingles or slats, or open seams between pieces of metal, these should be repaired immediately. There can also be openings where two pieces meet on a ridge, lip, or valley.

Metal roof maintenance mostly requires that you catch wads of debris before they have a chance to collect water and damage sealants around rivets or in seams. The most common way metal roofing gets damaged is through water, be it either rusting or the deterioration of the bond between sealant and metal.

Extreme heat can also cause metal roofing to flex, and while shingled metal will not experience the same stress sheets will, either type can experience damage around the seams and corners. If you keep an eye out for damage throughout the year and give it a thorough check every few months, then you can keep a metal roof from experiencing any significant amount of wear, and have a roof that will last for decades.

Metals roofs are so commonly used because of their extreme durability and resistance to weather effects. There are few things that can cause them any significant amount of damage, but it is still important to keep an eye out for those things.

Even something as simple as water ponding can damage metal roofing over time. Metal roof maintenance essentially consists of watching for potential damage, and clearing away debris whenever it collects on your roof. With minimal effort on your part, you can maintain a metal roof for as long as you need it . . .

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TECHNICAL JOURNAL - Staining of steel panels from steel debris
Since the end of last year, our QA/QC staff have been working on publishing technical journals which we feel will be beneficial to the metal roofing and wall cladding industry. From time to time, these journals will be published in our website, and in this newsletter, we draw your attention to the topic of "staining of steel panels from steel debris".

Most of the time, spot rusting occurs when steel debris or particles are allowed to remain on a building following its construction. These rust stains may become unsightly and can be difficult to remove. To the untrained eye, steel debris looks like premature corrosion. As a result of the appearance, the owner of the building may become understandably upset, believing the contractor used inferior materials that have little or no corrosion protection. This, however is not the case.

To understand how this can happen and what can you do to rectify the problem, please read our technical journal which has been published on our website for quite sometime. Architects, engineers and site supervisors will find this information useful.

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LOWERING MAINTENANCE COSTS - Choose the right material
If you feel that your building/roof maintenance is going to be issue in the future, it would now make sense to install a roof that would not only look good but also one that would last for a very long time. What better choice than metal roofing! A typical asphalt shingle or concrete tile roof has to be replaced approximately every 15 to 20 years, making it a short-term solution with a long-term environmental impact. Metal roofs however, often outlast the home they’re on, require virtually no maintenance and are 100% recyclable at the end of their useful life.

There are some outdated perceptions of metal roofs as being rusty. In fact, modern metal roofs feature sophisticated coatings and paint systems to ensure a beautiful, durable finish. Because they can look like any other roof product, many people don’t recognize modern metal roofs.

If you have decided to lower your building maintenance cost by selecting a metal roofing, make sure you choose and specify the right grade of pre-painted steel material that is used for the downstream manufacturing of the roof profile. No house or property owner will want a metal roof that looks good at the time of installation, only to find out in a matter of 2 years or so that the colour has faded. As one house owner has strongly put it: "I suppose a roof is like the hair on your head. If it looks good, your house will look good".

A metal roof with colours that last for a long time will help lower life-cycle costs as there will be no requirement to prematurely repaint the roof.

At Colourcoil Industries, we manufacture high grade pre-painted steel products for the downstream manufacturing of metal roof. They come in a wide range of colours with warranties of up to 20 years against colour fading, chalking and delamination and 25 year warranty against corrosion (please see table below). Not only that, they are lead-free as well.

If you are unable to find a suitable colour in our standard colour charts, we are able to custom match or customize any colours to suit your design. COLOURCOIL^®.....Unlimited Colour Choices!
 

High Performance pre-painted steel grades for metal roofing	Warranty* against colour fading, chalking and delamination	Warranty* against corrosion	Click on Pics to view colour palette
COLOURCOIL®  ELITE SeriesTM	10 yrs	25 yrs	click here
COLOURCOIL®  PVF2 SeriesTM	20 yrs	25 yrs	click here
COLOURCOIL®  METALLIC PVF2 SeriesTM	20 yrs	25 yrs	click here

Click here to view our latest advertisement on why PVF2 Series^TM and METALLIC PVF2 Series^TM is still the best choice when it comes to metal roofing.

If you have any inquiries or need our colour charts, please do not hesitate to contact us or call our marketing staff at the appropriate telephone numbers.

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FACTORY VISIT - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
In March this year, the Development & Maintenance Department from UMS made a visit to Colourcoil Industries. There were almost 20 personnel consisting of mostly engineers and architects. For most, it was an unexpected surprise to see such a high-tech manufacturing facility in Sabah. As usual, the visit started with a presentation by our marketing staff, Miss Zyee, followed with Q & A and then a factory tour. The visitors were taken to Colourcoil's QC laboratory where our QC staff explained and showed the strict quality control tests and checks that are required to ensure all products leaving our factory, conform to the required specifications. Our guests were treated with lunch and given Colourcoil souvenirs before the tour ended.

Special thanks to Architect Encik Sanjay Hassan for arranging and making the factory visit possible.

 

Universiti Malaysia Sabah UMS Development & Maintenance Department staff with Zyee in the middle

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Need more info?
Whether you are an architect, engineer, developer, house owner or a metal roofing or wall cladding manufacturer, our marketing team will be most delighted to discuss with you on your specific product requirements.

If you wish to make a factory visit, obtain a free brochure or complete specifications and colour charts, please contact our courteous and friendly marketing staff by calling the nearest office or just drop us an email at info@colourcoil.com.

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