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TOPIC: I Have An Existing Metal Roof and Have A Question

Fastener replacement question

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I recently had some fasteners replaced on my 14 year old externally fastened metal roof by a roofing company. When I was cleaning the gutters the other day I noticed on some of the new fasteners the rubber was cracked on the grommets that create the seal. I asked the company if this was normal and this is the response they gave me “Yes It is normal for all rubber washers crack at install. The pressure that is required to create the seal also cracks the washer. That is why every 10-15 years they need to be replaces .” I am just wondering if they are correct with their statement. Thanks.
Ron Maddox

1/8/2015
Cracking is typically a sign of over torquing. If, however, the screws are painted and it is the paint on the washer that is cracking, that is a non-issue and not indicative of improper installation. Eric Novotny
Eric Novotny
An informed customer is the Best Customer!

1/8/2015
Thanks for the quick response. It is not the paint cracking but the grommet itself. The way I can tell the new fasteners is they are not the same color as the roof and the original fasteners are. The new are just a galvanized metal look unpainted. The roof has faded some so to me color was not a big deal. I realize I will need to replace the roof at some point but I had just bought the house and wanted to get a little more out of it until I can afford to replace. I actually talked to someone else at the company and they said the same thing you just told me so I am getting two different stories. I am going to get back up there and take some good photos and send to the company. I want to make sure I am correct and since I am on the outer fringes of their service area I did not want to make them come back out for something that was not their issue. I believe in being fair. Thanks again.
Ron Maddox

1/8/2015
They are not supposed to show cracks. They are over torqued. Post up some pictures. Eric Novotny
Eric Novotny
An informed customer is the Best Customer!

1/9/2015
Will do. Tried to take some with my cell phone but cannot get enough detail. Fortunately my wife is an amateur photographer and has the right gear so I am sending her up the ladder with me hopefully Saturday. She can get some good shoots. Thanks again.
Ron Maddox

1/9/2015
Don't know if this is going to work but I have an image here of one of the screws they installed.
Ron Maddox

1/11/2015
They look a bit tight and also appear to be installed slightly canted. I will wait for the other guys that use and installed a bunch of exposed fasteners to weigh in. Eric Novotny
Eric Novotny
An informed customer is the Best Customer!

1/12/2015
Here is another picture
Ron Maddox

1/12/2015
Hi Ron. The fasteners in the picture provided are, as Eric notes, canted which is compressing the neoprene on the up-slope side of the fastener. Keep in mind though that with each removal and re-installation of a fastener in the same hole you decrease / eliminate the holding strength unless you move up in shank size. You don't want to correct one issue only to have fasteners start backing out prematurely due to a decrease in pull-out strength. For those fasteners that are NOT canted but overtightened, you can simply relieve some pressure on the neoprene by backing them out a couple of turns.
Guest User

1/13/2015
Thanks for the help. I have the roofer coming back out tomorrow to look at what was done. I really think on a 14-15 year old roof I should go ahead and have all the fasteners replaced and not just the ones that lifted out like I was told to do to begin with. Thoughts? I wish I could figure out what a fair cost would be to do this. Is there a ball park figure to work from? The foot print of the roof is roughly 1000 sf, 1 to 1 pitch with 3 dormers and a much lesser sloped front porch roof of about 400 sf.
Ron Maddox

1/13/2015
Hey Guys, Yes, that fastener in the picture is over tightened. I have included a picture that shows the correct installation method for exposed fasteners. The washer in the picture is splayed out and is subject to UV exposure. Also you might want to suggest straightening and caulking the ones that have canted.
Guest User

1/13/2015

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