The hidden power of retrofit roofing

By Roof Hugger. 

Solar, steel and smart design are transforming yesterday’s buildings into tomorrow’s energy producers. 

It used to be that retrofitting a metal roof was a basic upgrade; slap on a new skin, tighten up the frame and move on. Not anymore. Today’s retrofit projects are a far cry from the simple one-size-fits-all fixes of the ‘90s. With renewable energy mandates rising, building codes getting sharper and solar panels adding new loads and incentives, metal-over-metal retrofitting has become a hotbed of innovation. If you think it’s still just about weatherproofing, think again. The real story is how this evolving practice is making aging buildings more resilient, energy-smart and profitable, one roof at a time. The experts at Roof Hugger share how this evolving practice is making aging buildings more resilient, energy-smart and profitable, one roof at a time. 

Here are six reasons why retrofit roofing is quickly becoming one of the smartest moves a building owner can make: 

1. Metal roofing is the only roofing material that has a service life exceeding the life of the solar panels. 
2. The cost of solar panels is often reduced by local and federal tax credits. 
3. Many utility companies will buy the excess electricity the panels generate. 
4. The building owner has their utility bill reduced. 
5. The panels can also be installed with specialized roof clamps that eliminate penetrations and potential leaks, in the new roof panels. 
6. All or part of the roof retrofit may qualify for an immediate write-off under section 179 U.S. Tax Code, up to $1,250,000.  Check with your tax professional for details. 

All good, right? You know it is, except for one small detail: weight. New solar panels can add 6 lbs./sq. ft. or more. That is a lot to ask the old metal building purlins that were never designed for that load to support. 

Now the question is, “How do you deal with this additional deadload?” In the past we would typically have to go inside the existing building and try to add additional purlins to handle the weight. This is a slow, difficult and expensive process. If it is over an office area, the only way to accomplish this is to remove the old roof, add purlins and install additional ones at the needed spacing and then reroof. 

Fortunately for our industry, the Roof Hugger notched zee retrofit sub-purlins have been proven to add additional capacity to the existing purlins. Depending on the existing building’s construction, load increases of 6–12 lbs./sq. ft. have been accomplished. 

A structural analysis will need to be done because not all buildings will enjoy this increase, but most will. This makes retrofitting with the thought of adding solar panels now or in the future a no-brainer. It can also make the cost of the roof retrofit much more affordable. 

Ask your panel supplier or retrofit framing supplier about this feature on your next re-roofing project. 

Original article and photo source: Roof Hugger