During the roof installation or re-roofing process, after the roof sheets are prepared, it is time to support their framework by installing purlins. The purlin structure helps to shift some of the loads that put on the metal sheeting to the main building construction by ensuring that the whole things stay in their place and adding structural integrity.
If you are currently involved in this type of project and want to know metal roof purlins spacing, you can use the passage below as a reference to get the task done properly.
Metal Building Purlin Spacing
Metal roofs are often referred to as tin roofs because of the use of tin, such as aluminum or stainless steel sheets, as the materials. Compared to a conventional roofing system, it might be a bit pricier in terms of installation and has longer durability to provide better value for the future.
Metal panels have great resistance to bugs and fires, ssuch as snow, wind, and storm, to extreme conditions. They are also popular for people who like to install the roof themselves because the process is easier.
Setting corrugated metal roof purlin spacing at a proper distance is an important part of the entire process. The distance lengths are often based on the roofing panels’ size. Proper spacing will offer attachment security that resulted in optimal stability. However, if your metal roof has another supporting method, the exact spacing is not needed most of the time.
To check the correct purlin spacing standards, it is better to read the manufacturer’s installation manuals. It often depends on the wideness, thickness, and types of roofing materials, the climate it has to withstand, and many other factors. For lighter materials such as lightweight aluminum, the common spacing length is 4 inches of the clear gap.
For heavier material such as gage steel, the metal roof purlins spacing length could go up to 4 feet. The typical spacing standards for residential and commercial buildings are about 1 to 2 feet.
The support system for the roof is comprised of ridgepole and rafters or purlins. It runs perpendicular from the walls to the ridge with rafters, while with purlins, it runs to the ridge in parallel. Using a combination of rafters and purlins is common.
This arrangement offers support for the roof, adds an interior aesthetic if you opt to match the rafters and purlins with the wall logs. It is especially preferable to use in a huge room that lacks trusses to create the overhead effects, even though trusses are used for practical purposes in the first place.
Purlins might be attached to rafters, while rafter should support all laps and joins. The rafter and purlin spacing for the metal roof must be fitted to support the whole framework.
It is important to inspect before you continue with the installation project: check if the framework is properly leveled and aligned, if there are adjustments that need to be created, and so on. The metal roof purlins spacing must be done correctly within narrow tolerances. There is a chance of damaging roofing sheets if you are failed to do so.
The width of metal panels will determine the rafter spacing. The wider the roofing panels, the greater the spacing distance you should put. You have to allow some overlap section on each side of the metal, but it will decrease the panel’s effective width.
Determining the rafter’s spacing is as important as setting the metal roof purlins spacing. You have to take the width of your roofing panel into considerations. The most common measurement used for rafter spacing is either 16 or 24 inches.
