Being the experts on all things metal roof and metal roof attachments, we are often asked by solar developers and installers what is the most cost-effective way to install solar panels on metal roofs. There are multiple options when putting solar on a metal roof, and each come with pros and cons that can impact installation costs and lifetime performance.

Did you know that your roof already comes with free rails? You can mount PV directly to the roof panels themselves - using the “direct-attach” method. Whether you are dealing with standing seam or ribbed, face-fastened panels, these metal roofs have one thing in common: They all have built-in rails. 

When it comes to sharing solar array costs, companies often shy away and dance around the question. They usually focus on the customization angle – telling you that prices vary, and that this is what makes estimation difficult.

Now, of course costs vary, because no two projects are the same but whether you are an installer, contractor, or a homeowner, you share two common questions:  

What is Galvanized Steel? - Carbon steel is inherently susceptible to corrosion, which means it must be protected by some other metallic coating that is less corrosive. Carbon steel sheet is called “galvanized” when coated with a thin layer of pure zinc. This coating provides two types of corrosion protection for the steel: “barrier protection” (sealing the surface from air and water) and “sacrificial protection” or “galvanic” protection—especially at scratches and cut edges.

The best test of our products is real-life application. This S-5! success story came from Guido Morandin of Work Monster, Inc. in Canada. The Work Monster project features two S-5! products: VersaBracket™ and ColorGard snow retention. 

Massive sheet metal snow guard failure is a common occurrence in Northern Ontario. After tiring of “supplying customers with improper ice guard systems,” he needed a real solution that would help mitigate this dangerous phenomenon. He discovered S-5!

An Interview with Construction in Focus and Manufacturing in Focus Magazines - Rob Haddock recently sat down for an engaging interview to discuss the lasting impact S-5! Metal Roof Innovations has had on the industry. He walks the reader through the history of his company from wooden prototypes to the collection of over 50 U.S. and foreign patents the company holds.

Swarf are the shavings of metal debris produced during machining. Woodworking, grinding, and other manufacturing processes also produce these chips or fillings. Metal, wood, plastic, and stone all produce this debris, often referred to as “swarf”.

COR-TEN® is a special steel alloy that has a weathered, rusty-orange look. The material, also referred to as corten or CorTen, was developed to eliminate the need for painting the metal. Cor-Ten forms a stable rust-like appearance after being exposed several years to weather.

A trapezoidal roof profile has a ribbed trapezoidal-shape pattern across the panel. This means, it is a quadrilateral (or a four-sided shape – see Figure 1) that has just a single pair of parallel sides. Sometimes, trapezoidal roofs are mistakenly referred to as corrugated. This is a misnomer as the corrugated profile has a repeating wavy pattern across its surface.Trapezoidal rib roofs are popular with producers because the shape makes them very material-efficient (a high strength-to weight ratio). 

This is the conclusion of our three-part series on S-5! Manufacturing. Part One featured the fortuitous meeting of Rob Haddock and Harry Carner, their partnership, and how they built their well-oiled manufacturing machine. Concerned about lack of control and a desire to always improve “the right way” to do things, these two men joined forces.