DIY Cutting and Fixing Profiled Sheets
Cutting
Flat sheeting
When cutting the flat type sheeting it is recommend that you use a good pair of tin snips (you will find cheap tin snips will not work effectively). You can also use a jigsaw with a metal blade.
Profiled sheets
When cutting profiled type sheeting it is recommended that you use a fibre-cutting disc for metal. This disc can be used with a small angle grinder or larger specialised cutting tools. It is worth noting that the edge of the sheeting, where the cuts have been made using a grinding wheel, heat up rapidly and may burn back the plastic coating and will leave sharp edges that rust. Therefore this is only used when the ridge can hide the edge.
Best finishes
It is advised that for best finishes a nibbler tool is used. This can be hired from a good tool hire firm. Practise on a spare piece of metal sheeting first.
Alternative cutters
You can also use diamond & tungsten-tipped blades which given a neater finish than the fibre-cutter, although still not perfect.
Sinusoidal Corrugation
Fixing the sheets
When fixing the corrugated sheets a fixing should be made at the end of each sheet, including the laps. A fixing should also be made at the top of every other corrugation. When fixing the middle of the sheets to a bearer, a fixing should be made every three corrugations. Seam stitches (Tek screws) can be used for added safety.
All the fixings must be fixed to the top of the corrugation. Some of the fixings available are:
Galvanised Drive Screw
Gash Point Type AB (Wood) Tek Screw
Galv. Diamond Curved Washer
Galv. Round Curved Washer
Spat washer
Colour Cap
Trapezoidal (box) profile
Box Profiles are named by profile depth and cover width, for example the pictured profile is a 32/1000 profile.
To fix through the top of the profile we recommend self-drill and tap screws, more commonly known as TEK screws.
Fixing to Metal Purlins
TEK screws have their own drill point, and this will drill though the sheets and the purlins. Since angle iron varies in hardness, it may sometimes be necessary to drill a pilot hole before putting the screw in, to avoid breaking the screw. Remove all swarf from the hole, as it will rust.
Roof pitches of 10° and below
Seal every lap, before fixing, with a butyl sealant. This prevents moisture leakage. In places where there is a lot of air moisture (such as by the sea), use a cut-edge lacquer to prevent rusting of the cut edge.
Colour Caps
You can get coloured caps which match the colour of the profile sheets to put onto the TEK screws to disguise them.