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TOPIC: Exposed Fasteners

Rubber washers

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I'm designing a house and am considering a metal roof. An acquaintance, who claims to be an expert on many things, says that (exposed fastener) type metal roofs are bad because the rubber washers used with the screws must be replaced every 5 years. Is this true?
Guest User

6/14/2002
This has not been my experience. Certainly, hot climates are probably the most abusive in terms of drying out the rubber though. I would strongly suggest a high-quality screw as well as screws which have metal caps that extend out over the rubber washers in order to protect them from the UV and other weather.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

6/16/2002
I spoke to a roofer today who feels that a high-quality screw which has a metal cap that extends out over the rubber washers in order to protect them from the UV and other weather works just as well as the standing seam locking system. Do you find this to be true?
Guest User

10/26/2005
Christy, I really cannot make judgment calls like that when I am representing the industry. However, there is an old adage that I live by because it applies well to this industry ... you get what you pay for. That doesn't mean that lower price poducts don't perform the way they should nor that there isn't a place for them in this world. But, whenever you start looking at products with more features and benefits, a higher price comes along with that.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

10/26/2005
we had a large company build 3 large buildings for us they are all wood structure with board and batt siding. we had fabrel metal roofing put on them they used rubber washers and nails. the nails were put in atan angle with half of the washer flattened the other half blown into a big bubble. also some are totally flattened, some have been hammered so hard that the washer came clear through the metal and some are not compressed at all . can you tell me what kind of problems this could cause in the future. one of the buildings is to be insulated and sheetrocked. we would like to know what we need to do
Guest User

4/26/2007
Bill Croucher is director of engineering services at Fabral. I would suggest contacting him. [email protected]
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

4/27/2007