RESIDENTIAL // COMMERCIAL // INDUSTRIAL
ADVERTORIAL : COVER STORY
Safintra takes the lead
We walk the talk to deliver roofs that have long-lasting value .
By Safintra | Photos by Safintra
St Johns , KwaZulu-Natal .
Today ' s focus to design buildings that reduce environmental impact is helping drive the metal roofing market to new heights . This implies that roofs are designed to be fit for purpose , to last a minimum of 20 years and provide protection of the items inside against the elements outside .
The application of value engineering ( VE ) ensures that we derive the maximum ‘ value ’ of the materials used – by either reducing the cost or improving the function . VE is a systematic method we use to improve the ‘ value ’ of goods , products and services by using an examination of function . Value , as defined , is the ratio of function to cost . It is a primary tenet of value engineering that basic functions are preserved and not reduced as a consequence of pursuing value improvements .
Over the past two decades , metal sheeting for roofs has gained significant ground as a preferred roof covering option for residential , commercial or industrial buildings , providing lasting value not only for aesthetics and performance , but also an increase in building value .
The functional life of a metal roof system depends on the choice of sheeting material and appropriate sheeting profile , the quality of system components , the quality of installation and specifying the installation detailing that makes the roof a fully designed system , which will perform for 20 years and more . Sheeting is not a roof , it is merely a component of the final system that provides a weatherproof outer skin to the building .
Whether it is a business or a school , a home or a hospital , the common Afrikaans expression ‘ Goedkoop is duur koop ’ ( literally translated to ‘ Buying cheaply is more expensive ’) couldn ’ t ring truer . In the realm of roof performance , reducing upfront costs for short-term savings inevitably leads to increasing costs and liability down the road .
A roof is one of the costliest property repairs or replacements on a building and it is estimated that the costs double every 12 to 15 years . Add in the increasing costs of skilled labour and the numbers climb even further . A real return on investment can be realised by buying the right system of goodquality components of equal lifespan , to ensure minimal in situ replacement or repairs before the expected service life of the roof expires .
Know what you ’ re getting
Understanding the bottom-line benefits of rooftop longevity is critical to specifying appropriate metal roofing solutions .
Choose the right material
Choose a roof sheeting material appropriate to the weather and wind conditions of the location so that it will last for the expected service life .
See more on page 14
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JULY 2018