Building Owners

Experience Seamless Operations with Roof Hugger Retrofits

Roof Hugger sub-purlins are specifically designed to fit over any existing metal roof system. They are much faster, less complex and less expensive than removing and replacing an old metal roof.

Building Owners

Experience Seamless Operations with Roof Hugger Retrofits

Roof Hugger sub-purlins are specifically designed to fit over any existing metal roof system. They are much faster, less complex and less expensive than removing and replacing an old metal roof.

Roof Hugger allows a new metal roof to go over an existing metal roof in a way that is structurally correct, non-disruptive and cost effective. It is a system that adds strength, is environmentally friendly, cooler in summer, warmer in winter, and conserves energy.

The Roof Hugger System can fit any existing metal panel, support any new roof panel and be configured to add insulation and solar energy equipment between the old and new roofs.

Uninterrupted Operations:

Retrofitting your metal roof won’t interfere with your business operations. You can continue with your day-to-day activities with little to no disruption.

Cost-Efficient:

Metal roofs have a long lifespan. With a new 55% aluminum-zinc alloy-coated standing seam roof, you can expect over 60 years of reliable service. Meanwhile, non-metal alternatives only last between 5 to 24 years.

Upgrade Old Roofs Easily:

If your building has an old screw-down metal roof, retrofitting can bring it up to modern standards. You can replace it with a new standing seam roof, with the option to add insulation for better energy efficiency.

Ideal for Solar Panels:

Standing seam roofs are the best for installing photovoltaic (PV) panels. Firstly, the roof will outlast the PV panels themselves, and secondly, you can mount the panels without making any penetrations to the roof.

Meet Building Code Requirements:

Today’s retrofitting solutions easily meet the requirements of the International (IBC) and Florida Building Codes (FBC). This is crucial considering wind speed design pressures in some areas have jumped from 100 mph to 130 mph and from 120 mph to 174 mph over the past 15 years. Our modern retrofit metal framing systems can handle these increased pressures without the need to integrate new structural components into the existing purlin and frame system.

View detailed guidelines for the installation of a structural retrofit roof sub-framing system. Learn more the required labor, materials, equipment, quality assurances, engineering design criteria. Get a full explanation of the standards for delivery, storage, handling, pre-construction inspection, and execution of the sub-framing system.

THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF RETROFIT ROOFING

There are a number of ways that existing metal roofs have been and still are being retrofitted. Many of these methods cannot be considered structurally correct sub-framing systems. They lack the ability to withstand wind uplift and therefore are subject to failure. Roof Hugger sub-framing systems have been installed on over 120 million square feet of existing metal roofs and continue to be installed on approximately 6 million square feet annually.

Our systems have withstood hurricane force wind loads from Katrina, Ike and others without a single failure. This is a testament to our systems that they are safe and structurally correct. This is the primary reason why Roof Hugger is the most specified metal-over-metal sub-framing systems by building owners nationwide including federal and state governments, the military and schools. Below are some of the other methods which we have listed their challenges.

Because of the width of the hat section, only one screw can be installed into the existing purlin. The other screw is attached to the existing 26 to 29 gauge metal, which does not provide sufficient pull-out strength.

Sitting on top of the existing ribs requires a long attachment screw and when exposed to thermal movement, they will “rock” back and forth causing fastener back out and ultimate failure.

Roof Huggers provide a positive connection directly to the existing purlins made available by our factory punched and nesting design.

For the same reasons as #1

Quantity of fasteners for the new metal roof must be increased due to the much reduced pull-out strength into wood, increasing installation labor and material costs.

Pressure treated wood is corrosive when placed in contact with existing and new metal roofs.

If 18 or 22 gauge hat sections are used in lieu of wood, as shown in the above isometric view, these members increase new metal roof fasteners due to low pull-out strength.

Roof Huggers are made from minimum 16 gauge grade 55 steel.

Unless the manufacturer of the stand-off clips has a manner to provide required additional sub-framing in the edges and corners of the existing roof, this method is challenged to withstand the increased wind loads in these zones by only attaching to the existing purlins.

Roof Huggers come with additional sub-framing, project engineered to meet wind loads up to and over 155 MPH wind speeds.

Most coatings are quick fixes that fail to permanently fix the existing roof.

Preparation of the existing roof is vital to the coating’s performance.

They do not comply with new stringent Building Code wind speeds.

Roof Huggers provide you with a new metal roof with a 50-plus year service life.

Read more about coatings here.

TPO systems have become popular recently since they are slightly less expensive than Metal over Metal Systems.

Design and attachment is critical however. In order to meet existing wind loads the TPO must be connected to the existing purlins per the manufacturers approved and tested details. Systems that are attached only to the existing roof panels, will not comply with the codes.

TPO systems must not allow water to accumulate on the roof surface or overloading and potential collapse is possible (see photo).

TPO systems do nothing to add strength to the existing roof to meet the new code requirements for snow drifting they just add weight.

TPO systems have about half the life span of metal roofing systems, making their slight initial cost advantage a very poor investment.

Roof Huggers provide you with a base for a new long-life metal roof that can comply with all new wind and snow loads. Huggers also create a cavity that can be used to add insulation for increasing the buildings energy efficiency.

Roof Hugger sub-purlins are specifically designed to fit over any existing metal roof system.

They are much faster, less complex and less expensive than removing and replacing an old metal roof.

They can be made to a specific height for adding insulation or removing steps in roofs that have created poor weather tight roof connections.

They can add strength to the existing purlins to overcome the additional weight of the retrofit.

They can be designed to allow the new roof to comply with todays stricter building code requirements.

Roof Hugger is the most tested retrofit sub-framing System available. They are made from high strength 16ga. (0.060 min.), 50 ksi, G-90 Galvanized steel.

They will allow an existing screw-down metal roof to be upgraded to a standing seam roof without a major engineering analysis and upgrading the existing purlin bracing to make up for the removal of the diaphragm strength provided by the old roof panels.

Roof Hugger products are made in the USA

The Leader in Retrofit Re-Roofing Solutions

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