Corrugated iron is sheet iron that has been folded to
created bends that increase the strength and rigidity of the metal. The sheets
are put through a hydraulic press that moulds the sheets into the required
shape.
Corrugated iron has been a very important material in the
development of New Zealand building. It was first introduced into New Zealand
over 150 years ago. Corrugated iron is usually galvanised (both sided treated
with zinc) which helps to prevent it rusting, which is good for New Zealand as
we are surrounded by sea. It was first used in New Zealand during the gold rush
period as buildings were needed to house people but they wanted easy and cheap
materials to construct the shelters. Corrugated iron was perfect for this as it
is lightweight which makes easy to work with and is weatherproof. Since then Corrugated
iron has often been used in rural settings as it wasn’t too heavy to carry out
to the farms (they didn’t have helicopters back then) and it could easily be
re-used on other buildings.
From the early 20th century it has mainly been
used as a roofing material. Though Corrugated iron is staring to interest
designers as well; it not only does it come in a range of colours but is also
staring to be used as an interior feature, such as sculpture or a digitally
printed surface.
New Zealand Sculpture Gumboot 2000 By Jeff Thomson
A bathroom with corrugated iron wall panels for texture and aesthetics.
In construction terms corrugated iron has many uses, such as
roofing, wall panelling, base for laying concrete and water tanks.
It can be very noisy depending on the weather conditions, when
there is heavy rain, hail or snow this can be very loud on the metal surface.
Also, if it is not securely fixed to the structure it will flap in the wind as
separate sheets are light weight. Domestically blanket insulation is often used
under corrugated iron to help with sound control, as well as temperature and
reducing condensation. When designing the building you have to take into
account that metal is a very heavy material on mass and depending on the size
and thickness of the corrugated iron, the buildings structure has to be strong
enough to support the roof.
A kit home designed by a small company, Ral Homes.
Corrugated iron is usually galvanised, which means it is
treated with zinc to stop the metal from rusting, it is an anti-corrosion seal.
It is the best kind of roofing to use in places with extreme weather
conditions; it holds up against intense sun, heavy rain and even hail storms.
It is often used in hurricane prone areas as it isn’t damaged by the strong
winds. It is one of the most fire resistant of all roofing materials on the
market.
Corrugated iron has a life expectancy of 50 years, as long
as it is treated correctly and properly installed. It should be cleaned
regularly, depending on the environmental factors the amount of cleaning may
need to be increased. If you live by the sea corrosion will be an influential
factor, make sure you have galvanised iron, therefore the zinc will be corroded
and not the iron. To decrease the rate of corrosion there are sealants that you
can apply to the roof to increase its durability.
An old water tank from rural New Zealand
It is attached using screws and when being laid out on the
roof the valley of the corrugations should always be vertical, therefore the
rain will be able to run down into the gutters. When over lapping the sheets,
the standard over lapping is 1.5 corrugations, that way it will stop water from
entering and create a weatherproof seal. You must also be careful not to
stretch or damage the material as this will influence the weather resistant
properties. You can find more installation tips at- http://stratco.com.au/products/roofing_walling/types/corrugated/cgi.asp
At a building site corrugated iron is should stay dry and be
kept off the ground. If it does get wet, dry if off and leave it out in the
open to air, make sure it is dry when being used.
Corrugated iron is sold per lineal metre and the prices
change depending on the width of each corrugation, and the lengths that you
want it in. Depending on the amount you require, corrugated iron can be
delivered in sheets or in rolls of up to 10metres.
I got a quote from www.roof.co.nz
and for their 0.40 Corrugated iron Galvanised 762 it was $14.85 per lineal
metre + GST.
Some Suppliers in New Zealand are:
By Alice Perry
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