Roofing Sheets

Installation Guide
Before you get started
Placing your order
Our single skin profiled metal sheets are UK law requires employers and self-
made from 0.5mm or 0.7mm thickness pre- employed contractors to formally assess
painted coated galvanized steel that comes the risks associated with each roofing job
off a roll and is pushed through a roll-forming and, before starting their work, to plan and
machine or folder. Sheets generally give 1m organise their work so that it is carried out
width cover after lapping and can be cut to in a safe manner. Further information on this
any length up to 5m for tile sheets, 6m for and other applicable legislative requirements
13/3 corrugated and 32/1000 profile sheets can be found by visiting the Health and
and 8m for 34/1000 profile sheets. Flashings Safety Executive’s website www.hse.gov.uk.
are available in standard lengths of 3m.
Receipt of goods
Working out the sheets, flashings, fixing Sheets and flashings are bundled together
screws and fillers that are needed for a job and shipped in packs that are heavy and
can be difficult. If you let us know the details awkward to handle making delivery worth
of your roof we can help you figure out the extra expense.
what you need and ensure that you place
the right order. Upon receipt of your order, check that
it’s correct and consistent with the
Remember that sheets and flashings are accompanying delivery note. Any issues
often fabricated to order and it could be 1to 2 should be reported to us immediately
weeks before you take receipt of your order. by phoning our Customer Service Team
Make sure your plans allow for a suitable on 01295 565565.
lead time prior to delivery.
Two people should be able to lift a single
Work safely! sheet at a time off a delivery truck. The
Roofing work can be hazardous. Caution edges of sheets and flashings can be sharp
should be exercised and appropriate safety so remember to wear protective gloves with
precautions taken including the wearing of rubber palms for grip.
suitable protective gloves, clothing,footwear
and hard hat.

Ideally crawling boards should be used to

walk on sheeting. If this isn’t possible ensure
you walk over or close to the purlin supports
keeping your weight evenly distributed.
Clean soft-soled footwear should be worn
for maximum grip and to reduce
any damage to sheets.
Before you get started
Handling sheets Cutting sheets on-site
Care should be taken when handling sheets If necessary, we recommend sheets are cut
to prevent damage duringinstallation. whilst on the ground and resting face down
If possible mechanical handling equipment on padded supports. Sheets should be cut
should be used (e.g. a forklift truck). Dragging using tools that produce little heat as this
one sheet’s edge across another when can damage a sheet’s coating.
unloading may cause scratching of the sheet
below, so make sure the sheet is lifted clear
and not dragged. Any packaging should be
removed before lifting sheets onto a roof.

When on the roof and prior to fixing,

sheets should be kept secured to the
roof, close to the rafter line and, in so far
as is possible, spread out so their weight
is evenly distributed across the purlins.
Debris arising during the installation
process should be removed and off- For longer straight cuts we recommend a
cuts of insulation, surplus fasteners and circular saw with a fine-tooth metal cutting
similar not be left on the sheeting. blade that produces a cold cut. For small
cut-outs, openings and cuts that are not
straight, a jigsaw or a reciprocating saw is
recommended. In other circumstances an
angle grinder with a small tooth blade or disc
is usually suggested although reciprocating
nibblers which are widely used in the roofing
trade also produce an excellent cut. Swarf
Glossary should be removed with a brush to prevent
eventual rust marking andscratches.
Purlins
Rafters
Ridge

Verge

Eaves
Step-by-Step

1a. Purlins Z Section Purlins

Use purlins to create a supporting framework and to metal Z section purlins in Z39 structural grade
transfer the loads imposed by the sheeting onto the galvanised steel. These are available with a
primary building structure. 140mm, 175mm or 200mm depth Z section
and in 1.6mm, 1.8mm and 2mm thickness steel.
As a rough guide purlins should have a width of at least
50mm to ensure sheets can be easily fixed, and, in the Z section purlins can be made to any length
case of 0.7mm thickness sheeting, be spaced no further and can be joined by overlapping (one Z
than 1.2m apart; 1m apart in the case of 0.5mm thickness section can be turned around and slotted inside
sheeting. Exact requirements will vary. another) or by using short sleeves where two
longer sections meet.
All purlin joins or laps should be supported by a rafter.
Purlins can be fixed to rafters using boltable cleats

Check spaced Check

correctly perpendicular

1b.Purlins
Once purlins have been fitted and a supporting
framework created, an inspection should be carried
out before further work is commenced. It should be
checked that:
❑ The purlin framework is correctly is aligned and
levelled;
❑ The purlins that make up the framework are correctly
spaced and within specifiedtolerances;
❑ There are no protrusions such as bolt heads and
cleats on the face of the framework.
Step-by-Step (continued)

Run 3

Wind side lap

Run 2
direction
end lap

Run 1

2a. L a yi n g Sheets 2b. L a yi n g Sheets

Lay sheets in runs. Start at the eaves and in the corner Sheets should be overlapped by the next sheet in the run
away from the direction of the prevailing wind (this by at least one profile or corrugation (‘side laps’).
will help to prevent side laps facing into the wind and
Adjacent runs of sheets should overlap each other by at
water ingress).
least 250mm (‘endlaps’).
If the first sheet is not laid perpendicular to the eaves and
ridge, adjustments will have to be regularly made when
laying other sheets and a ‘saw tooth’ effect at the eaves
will be seen. This may be unavoidable if the building is
not square.

top tip!
When laying your first few sheets it
may be helpful to not fully fix them
until sure they are correctly aligned.
This can help mitigate the impact
of false starts! Once sure put the
remaining fixings in and carry on.

2c. L a yi n g Sheets
The first row of sheets should extend over the bottom
purlin and the eaves so that rainwater can drain into a
gutter or beyond the wall.

top tip!
A stretched string along the purlin line can make
it easier to keep the fixings in line when the
sheet is laid on the purlins.
Step-by-Step (continued)

3a. f i x i ng Sheets t o Purlins 3b. f i x i ng Sheets t o Purlins

The fixings used to attach sheets to purlins must be TEK screws are fitted through the trough or pan sections
durable and able to withstand considerable wind of a sheet’s profile, or if fixing corrugated sheets, through
pressures. We usually recommend self-drilling ‘TEK’ type the crest of the sheet’s profile using a longer screw
screws with a 5/16th hex head. with a soft BAZ washer. It can be helpful to use a centre
punch to put an indentation in the sheet at the point
These have a drill point for drilling through the sheet and you want the screw to go through to keep the screw on
purlin before tapping into the purlin. Under the head is a course when screwing it in. Make sure fixings are not
19mm stainless steel washer with bonded neoprene pad over tightened as this can burn off the soft neoprene pad
that compresses to create a seal with the roof sheet. under the washer.
The type of screw required will depend on the sheet and Under normal conditions sheets should typically be fixed
type of purlin (timber/light steel/heavy steel). to supporting purlins at every second trough or third
corrugation with fixings in every trough at the bottom/
eaves to help protect against wind uplift if the roof is in
an exposed position. The exact fixings required however
will depend on the circumstances.

top tip!
Remember it is very difficult to separate
sheets once they are joined by lapping
tape, make sure of your sheet position
before placing one sheet on another!

4. Side laps 5. e nd laps

It is good practice to use mastic lapping tape and A minimum sheet over sheet overlap of 250mm should
stitching screws to ensure a robust weather resistant be allowed for where sheets lap, this lap must be
joint on side laps. Lapping tape with a section of 9mm x supported underneath by apurlin.
1.5mm mastic should be run along the crest of the profile
As with side laps, it is good practice to use lapping tape
that is to be lapped, sheet to sheet stitching screws
to help create a robust weather resistant joint. A strip
should then be used at 600mm intervals down the lap
of tape should be placed across the full width of the lap
to consolidate the bond created by the lapping tape.
approximately 25mm from the end of the top end of the
overlapped or bottom sheet. Lapping tape is considered
more effectively than silicone.
Step-by-Step (continued)

Eaves Filler

6. Ridge Caps 7. Gaps a t Eaves a n d Ridge

Lay ridge caps from the opposite end of the roof to In order for a roof to be properly weatherproofed, the gaps
the direction of prevailing winds. Each cap should be that occur under the sheeting at the eaves, and between the
overlapped by the next cap in the run by a minimum sheeting and the ridge flashing, need to be sealed. This can
of 150mm. be done using foam filler strips that match the profile of the
sheeting beingused.
We usually recommend ridge caps are fixed using self-
drilling TEK type stitching screws to the high point of each An ‘eaves’ filler strip is designed to go under a sheet. An
profile they cover and through the appropriate ridge filler ‘opposite ridge’ filler strip is designed to go over a sheet. Foam
if one is being used. This helps ensure a robust weather filler strips should be bonded to the pans or valleys of the
resistant joint as well as keeping out birds and vermin. sheeting with a flexible waterproof silicon sealant and should
be continuous over the entire width of the sheeting.

top tip!
When constructing your purlin support structure,
consideration should be given to the need for
additional purlins to support your ridge caps and
other flashings.

8. Protrusions Th r o u gh O n g o i n g Care
Sheeted Surfaces
Protrusions such as pipes and ducts should be
Your new roof should be inspected at least
adequately flashed where they pass through the yearly and cleaned of debris such as leaves
sheeting surface. Where ribs have to be cut away to ensure a long useful life. Areas that have
to permit penetration, additional framing should be become marked may be cleaned using soap
installed as required to support the sheeting. and water. More persistent marks may be
Depending on the position of the penetration through addressed through the usage of white spirit
the roof, special attention should be given to back or car paint cutting compound.
flashing the sheeting to the ridge or point of water entry
up the roof from the protrusion.
In all cases, all cutting and flashings should be so
arranged that adequate provision is made for the
drainage of all troughs and corrugations.
 Phone: 01295 565565
Email: sales@roofingmegastore.co.uk