Metal Wall Panel Replacements & Hurricane Restorations In Houston
If your metal building is coming up on the 40th or 50th year of standing strong, you may find you need a few wall panel repairs. While steel buildings are built to last for decades, the elements of nature do eventually affect the structure. The wall panels won’t last as long as they should if they haven’t been maintained with the proper cleaning and protective coatings, so you may find yours need repair sooner than normal.
Some metal building owners have modifications done to the roof or walls after the building is constructed by other contractors who aren’t knowledgeable about the metal wall panel system. They may have added snow guards to the roof or installed doors, windows, and louvers on the walls. Anything that penetrates the wall panels will have an impact on the weather-tightness of the building. Unfortunately, some contractors come onto the job and don’t know anything about the fasteners needed for the material they are working with. These modifications must be done according to the manufacturer’s installation manual.
Replacing Metal Wall Panels
Your best bet with replacing metal wall panels is to have a certified installer do the work for you. The contractors able to do the replacement are trained on your specific type of metal wall panel as well as other types. One wrong misstep in the replacement will make a big difference in the building’s performance and waterproofing. It can also cause excessive bowing and stress of the wall panel when it is not properly resting on the substrate.
If you have a metal building in Houston and need wall panel replacement service, contact Brand Metal Buildings. Otherwise, it is worth doing your homework to find a metal building contractor who knows what they are doing.
Replacing Insulated Metal Panels
When replacing insulated metal panels, the fire rating of the insulation matters. The new insulated panel should match the panel being replaced with close attention given to the fire rating. One manufacturer’s insulated panel can be thicker than others. You want to make sure that the insulation material is deployed properly in the wall and not laid across framing members and pressed down to the cladding with a screw run through. This can damage the R-value and the vapor seal cavity as well as cause problems with the insulated panel joints.
Oil Canning Problems With Metal Wall Panels
Careful attention needs to be given to the fasteners and clips that are positioned over purlins and uneven substrates during the wall panel replacement. If the contractor over-drives the fasteners or the clips are slightly misaligned with the clip/seam interface, it causes stress on the wall panel. This results in a ripple effect that is very visible along the metal wall panel. This oil canning is unsightly, making the building look cheap. Compressed insulation can add stress to the panel by pushing back on the seams.
Oil canning is caused by improper wall panel replacement and is not a manufacturer defect. This is yet another problem you can avoid by only hiring a certified metal wall panel installation contractor in Houston.
Gulf Coast TDI Windstorm Inspection For Your Metal Building
If you are obtaining a building permit which is subject to compliance with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Windstorm Inspection Program, you likely live in a catastrophe area. Of course, Houston is the county seat of Harris County and obviously falls within the catastrophe area with proof from recent hurricane Harvey and earlier hurricane Carla.
A Houston metal building contractor who is certified and licensed will be able to ensure that your structure is restored according to code requirements. Be sure you stay in compliance with TDI in order to pass the inspection. These codes are in place for your protection to ensure that the work is done properly and correctly and that materials installed are not sub-grade.
You can count on Brand Metal Buildings for your Houston metal building restoration. Not only can we replace the wall panels but we can restore the entire structure.
If you would like more information about Metal Wall Panel replacement in Houston, please call Brand Metal Buildings at 281-337-1311 or complete our online request form.