How to properly fasten a metal tile to the crate - mounting
Recently, most of the built private low-rise buildings overlapped with metal tiles. This practical and durable coating provides reliable waterproofing throughout the life of the roof. If the metal tile is fixed to the wooden crate correctly, then the bearing capacity of the structure will be so great that it can withstand the load from the three-meter snow layer without deforming. In this article we will talk about the important features of fixing profiled steel sheets to the base of the roof, affecting its quality and strength.
Features of working with metal tiles
Metal tile - a common roof covering, which is a rectangular sheets of profiled steel. The zinc coating and polymer protection help this material retain its qualities when in contact with water, preventing corrosion. Many inexperienced craftsmen have a question about how to properly fix the metal tile to the crate, and also what tool to use for this. Manufacturers note the following features of working with this material:
- For cutting metal tiles it is not allowed to use abrasive tools, which, when used, heats the surface of the material, burning off the polymer coating. For this reason, it is impossible to cut metal tiles with a grinder or to fasten sheets by welding.
- Use cutting tools, drills or screwdrivers for metal roofing is necessary at low revs, so as not to damage the material, as well as to make the edges even.
- When tightening the screws with a screwdriver, it is necessary to clearly define the necessary pressing force, since with an excessive force the coating deforms, and if it is insufficient, it is poorly fixed to the crate.
Important! Fastening metal - a technologically simple process, for which you will need special fasteners, as well as a powerful screwdriver that runs on batteries.
Crate requirements
Profiled steel sheets used to overlap the roof, have a rigid form, so they are attached to the usual sparse crate. This roofing is characterized by high strength and light weight, so it has no special requirements for the preparation of the foundation. To simplify the process of fixing metal on the slope, you must observe the following rules:
- The pitch of the batten should correspond to the wavelength of the metal tile. If the distance between the base strips is the same with the coating wavelength, then where and how to fix the metal tile is much easier to determine.
- The permissible spacing between the elements of the battens is 30-70 cm, however, it must correspond to the slope of the roof. The greater the angle of inclination of the roof, the less snow accumulates on the surface of the slope, the less often you can mount the battens.
- In the area of the roof overhang, where snow holders are mounted on the roof, as well as in the area of the ridge joint, the crate is reinforced with additional boards. In addition, places where snow accumulates most actively (valleys, galls, joints with vertical surfaces) need to be reinforced.
Note that for the manufacture of crates for metal roofing it is better to use edged boards or square bars, planed and treated with antiseptic preparations. The smoother the base, on which the roofing is fixed, the easier it is to fix it with self-tapping screws.

Requirements for fasteners
Before you attach the metal, you need to choose the right and high-quality fasteners. Fixing steel profiled sheets to the crate is performed using self-tapping screws, which, when screwed in, drill a hole in the material by means of a sharpened, sharp tip. At the same time for high-quality fastening it is necessary to use fasteners that meet the criteria:
- For fixing metal tiles use special roofing screws, which are made of galvanized steel. Such fasteners are more expensive, however, it does not rust when in contact with water, due to which the coating lasts longer.
- Screws for roofing steel are supplied with rubber or latex tips and press washers. When tightening, they flatten out, due to which they reliably waterproof the mounting hole from water penetration.
- The color of the screws is selected under the shade of the metal tiles, so that they merge with the roofing sheet and not stand out.


Note! To securely fix the sheet of metal on the roof, it is necessary to use roofing screws, the length of which is 1-3 mm longer than the total thickness of the roofing material and waterproofing.
Number of attachment points
Even experienced professional craftsmen have disputes about how many attachment points are needed to firmly attach a sheet of metal to the crate. On this account, as they say, how many people, so many opinions. In this situation, the proven principle “the more the better the better” does not work, since in this way one can only deform the sheet. Manufacturers when fixing metal tiles are advised to adhere to the following rules:
- For every square meter of roof area, 8-12 roofing screws are needed.
- Additional elements fasten 3-5 screws per linear meter.
- Metal coating in the area of the end and roof overhang should be attached to each rail sheathing, that is, every 30-40 cm.
- Also increase the number of attachment points in the complex structural elements of the roof - endov, razdolokhkah, places adjoining the coating to vertical surfaces.
It is believed that the screws when fixing the metal roof should be twisted in the center of the rail crate. In any case, the attachment point should be located further than 1.2-2 cm from the edge of the board.

Fixation scheme
The correct scheme of fastening the metal tiles with self-tapping screws ensures a reliable fixation of the roofing covering on the surface of the slope, which will not weaken under intense wind loads. On each square meter of roofing material must be located at least 8 evenly distributed mounting points according to the following rules:
- Screws are screwed strictly at right angles to the surface of the roof so that the press-washer closes the mounting hole.
- Do not twist the roofing screws up to the stop so as not to deform the coating. It is necessary to leave a gap of 0.5-1 mm between the fastener head and the surface of the material.
- Screws twist at a distance of 10-15 mm from the punching line between the crests of the metal.
- In places where one sheet of metal tile overlaps with the second one, the screws are twisted at once into both layers of the roofing material, so that there is no gap between them where water can penetrate.
- The fastening of the metal begins with the lower right edge of the slope, and ends with the fastening of the ridge.
Important! If the roof has a slight slope, the overlaps between the sheets and the place of habituation to vertical surfaces are coated with silicone sealant, which prevents water from penetrating under the roofing material.


