Step 19 : Roof Panels

This is step 19 in a 24 step video series that shows you how to install the roof panels on your steel building.

An important point to make on this step is that you will need at least two people to install panels on the roof and three is really the best.  One person will be on a tall step ladder, extension ladder or scaffold inside the building at the building peak and another person on the outside of the building at the eave.  That third person, if available, should be on the inside of the building on a step ladder close to the side wall to help in lifting panels onto the roof.

The roof panels are cut to allow for a 6” overhang past the eaves which means you would start them 4’ down from the peak. If you want less of an overhang, just start them closer to the peak.  Drive a #12 x 1 inch frame screw half way into the first frame 4 inches down from the peak. We want one of these in the last frame too—down at the other end. Now stretch a string line between these two. This is your top guide for where to place your panels, keeping them straight all the way down the roof line.

The first panel should be placed at the front or back edge of the roof, flush with the outside of the building frame. We like to start at the same end of the building where we started the side walls. Place the overlap edge of the panel flush with the end of the building frame.

Now the person’s job at the upper end of the panel is to line up the panel’s edge to with the edge of the building’s frame and set the upper edge of the panel flush with the string line. The person at the lower edge needs to line up the panel’s edge flush with the edge of the frame and attach the edge of the panel to the next lowest roof purlin with a #12 x 1 inch color coordinated screw.  Until we attach the eave trim, we don’t want any screws holding the panels down on the lowest purlin,

Now the person at the top should attach the edge with one of the same color coordinated screws. Slip in your next panel and attach it with a few screws.  Be sure to install one screw next to the under lap rib of each panel before you do much walking on the roof. This will make the roof more secure when you have to walk on it and it will also give you location points for marking where screws should go when the purlins aren’t visible.

After placing three or so panels, you might want to take a measurement to the end of the building, making sure that everything is going to come out square. If there are any adjustments to be made, make that adjustment in how the next panel goes on.

After all the roof panels are on as I described above,  you’re going to get on the roof and run a straight line, marking where each screw should go so that those lines are nice and straight.

Remember, when walking on the roof, step on the flat areas of the panels, not on the major ribs and you need to make sure you step near or on top of the purlins or frame members.

Now when you’re putting the exterior roof panels on the other side, the top person will have to work from the side of each panel or from the roof on the other side but other than that, the actual installation procedure is the same.

Step 20: Doors and Windows

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