Repair of Faltsed Roofing

A properly installed faltsed roof can function and perform its primary role for a very long time without requiring any repairs. Typically, such a roof only needs minimal maintenance: clearing debris from gutters (leaves, branches, etc.), and local restoration of the paint coating to prevent metal corrosion.

The key to long-term, maintenance-free performance of a faltsed roof is the use of high-quality materials:

• the thickness of galvanized steel must be no less than 0.7–0.8 mm;
• the protective layer must be made from reliable and durable metal roof paint;
• the laps must be rolled and firmly pressed using specialized bending equipment.

Main Types of Faltsed Roof Repair

Any problem on the roof will eventually result in one outcome — a leak. As a result of leaks, the rafters and insulation become damp, which may lead to complete freezing of the structure, since water is an excellent conductor of temperature. Ultimately, the interior finish and belongings inside may be partially or completely damaged.

All roof repairs are reduced to two main types of work:

• replacement of one or more roof covering elements;
• replacement of the internal part of the roof structure — this refers to insulation, vapor barriers, and underlayment.

Replacing one or several panels on a faltsed roof can be done even by someone without roofing experience, provided the required panel (sheet) is available. However, if the panel to be replaced is adjacent to a chimney, downspout, fascia, or another non-standard element, it’s better to entrust the work to a professional.

It is not advisable to save on faltsed roof repair, as the cost of correcting errors made during installation or repair typically exceeds the cost of a proper installation by a factor of two.

Main Causes of Faltsed Roof Damage

Since the faltsed roof structure itself is very reliable, damage can only occur from a direct impact by a heavy object. This most commonly happens during snow removal on roofs with a low slope. Less frequently, roofs are damaged by hail or a heavy branch that falls from a tree.

If the roof is installed using a single lap (single faltsed), despite all advantages of this design, over time a point may form where the seam is not equally reinforced. The solution to this issue is local installation of a double lap — a more complex technique that requires specialized equipment from the contractor. A double lap guarantees watertightness at every joint between adjacent roof sheets and protects against condensation formation.

As for the long-standing debate between roll-based faltsed roofing and sheet-based installation, roll-based roofing clearly has the advantage, as it reduces the number of transverse joints between sheets.