How To Repair Cut Edge Corrosion

If your property’s roof is topped with metal cladding made from corrugated steel or aluminium sheets you may be at risk from the effects of cut edge corrosion. Unfortunately many people have never heard of this condition, and even fewer are aware that their building is suffering from its effects. Around 60% of commercial buildings with metal cladding will have signs of this damage, but what exactly do we mean by cut edge corrosion?

What is Cut Edge Corrosion?

When corrugated steel or aluminium metal cladding is manufactured the sheets are coated, usually with plastics, to prevent corrosion and to improve its appearance. Unfortunately when these sheets are then cut to the required size, this newly cut edge has no such coating in place, and over time and exposure to water, wind and pollutants, corrosion inevitably occurs.

How to identify Cut Edge Corrosion?

Any untreated metal edge is vulnerable to this condition, so pay special attention to where sheeting overlaps each other and also at the eaves. Metal guttering is also susceptible to cut edge corrosion, and poorly fitted gutters will merely exacerbate existing corrosion problems in and around your roof. There is also the possibility that cut edge corrosion can occur away from roof edges, so keep a look out for discoloration, cracks, and blisters on your roof’s top layer.

Why is Cut Edge Corrosion such a big problem?

When cut edge corrosion is left untreated it will quickly eat further into the metal and cause far more than a cosmetic problem to your roofing. Not only will rusty roof sheeting cause leaks into your property, the brittle nature of corroded metal can actually affect your building’s integrity in severe ways. If your cladding is corroded to the extent that perforation occurs it can be astonishingly expensive to rectify, so early identification is absolutely necessary.

Repairing Cut Edge Corrosion

The cost and length of repairing cut edge corrosion depends entirely on how early you have caught it. When part of a metal sheet is corroded that area must be removed entirely, and if damage is very severe it may warrant replacement of the entire sheet. The entire area must be fully cleaned using jet washers, and every area of rust fully removed.

The original coating should then be feathered back to avoid ridges when applying the new coat, but before doing this you must use a degreasing agent to ensure your next coating sticks. Your cladding, gutters, and any other metal fixtures should be covered in a top coat which suits the material, and this should be followed by the sealing of gaps between cladding panels to avoid future problems.

Inspecting your roof for the signs we’ve mentioned today could save you a lot of money in cut edge corrosion repairs later down the line, and even if your roof cladding hasn’t suffered its effects yet, it may be wise to have cut edges treated to ensure they never do. If you think your property may have suffered cut edge corrosion, contact NWIR today on 0800 046 1500.