Choosing the correct roofing screws is a necesary part of a roofing project because the correct roofing screw ensure the structural integrity of the roof. If you choose a roofing screw that is too short, the roofing screw will not penetrate the structural purlins deep enough, and if the roofing screw is too short, the roof may not hold under the weight of heavy wind or heavy snow. If you choose the incorrect type of roofing screws, you may experience leak in the roof in the future.
Therefore, you must select a roofing screw based off its gauge, its length, its tip type, and its washer. The gauge of a roofing screw refer to the thickness of the roofing screw. Many residential roofing project use a ten gauge roofing screw because a ten gauge roofing screw is a versatile size that can handle light to medium load.
How to Choose the Right Roofing Screws
However, if you are working on a commercial building or an industrial shed, you must use a twelve gauge or an fourteen gauge roofing screw. A twelve gauge or a fourteen gauge roofing screw is thicker then a ten gauge roofing screw, and a thicker roofing screw provides a thicker shank that can bite into heavy steel without stripping. Using a roofing screw that is too thin can result in a roof that shift under pressure.
The length of the roofing screw is also a critical factor because the roofing screw must be long enough to pass through the metal panel and into the underlying support. The underlying support may be a wooden purlin or a steel beam. You must choose the length of the roofing screw based on the specific profile of the metal panels.
For example, a corrugated metal panel require a specific length of roofing screw, but an R-panel may require a different length of roofing screw. Some systems, such as standing seam systems, dont use face screws at all, but most systems require a roofing screw that is long enough to reach the support. The tip of the roofing screw determine how the roofing screw enters the material.
If you are fastening a metal panel to a metal support, you should use a TEK self-drilling tip roofing screw. A TEK self-drilling tip roofing screw function like a drill bit so that the TEK self-drilling tip roofing screw can clear a path through the steel. If you are fastening a metal panel to a wooden purlin, you should use a roofing screw with a sharp point.
A sharp point is designed to bite into organic fibers, so a sharp point is more effective for wood than a TEK self-drilling tip. Using the incorrect tip can result in a loose roofing screw or a dull tool. The washer on the roofing screw is important because the washer create a seal to prevent water from entering the roof.
Every roofing screw creates a hole in the metal panel, and every hole is a potential entry point for water. People often use an EPDM rubber washer for residential work because an EPDM rubber washer can handle UV ray without cracking. Neoprene washer may be used in industrial environments because neoprene is resistant to chemicals.
You should always use a roofing screw that has a bonded washer because a roofing screw without a rubber seal will allow rain to enter the building. The way you drive the roofing screw into the material affects the quality of the seal. If you over-drive the roofing screw, you will crush the rubber washer, and a crushed rubber washer cannot seal the hole properly.
If you under-drive the roofing screw, the rubber washer will not sit flush against the metal, and an unseated washer will allow water or wind to enter the gap. You should use a drill with a clutch setting so that the drill stop driving the roofing screw once the correct amount of pressure is applied. Additionally, you can use a magnetic bit holder to prevent roofing screws from fall, and you can match the color of the roofing screw head to the color of the roofing panel to ensure the roof looks uniform.
Finally, you should of sorted your roofing screws by length before you begin the project to ensure you always have the correct roofing screw available.
