We cut metal tiles - the best tools

How to cut metal tiles when laying - the best methods and tools

Sheets of metal tiles are actively used in order to equip the roof in both private construction and industrial construction; the material on the roof of modern townhouses and country-type cottages will look especially effective.

Metal roof tiles on the construction market are represented by profiled galvanized steel sheet. It will be distinguished by a polymer coating on the surface, which will prevent the formation of rust and mechanical damage.

Among the working qualities of the polymers that are used to create such a roofing material (plastisol, pural and polyester), a sufficiently low level of melting temperature can be distinguished, which does not limit the choice of tools for cutting profiled sheets.

General information

Pros

Among the advantages of profiled steel sheets are:

• Long service life.

• Practicality.
• Nice appearance.

Taking into account the presence of figured relief, cutting of the material is carried out in compliance with certain rules. There are several methods on how to cut metal tiles during installation so as not to damage them. Such a question is extremely relevant when overlapping roofs of complex shapes, as well as when decorating joints to pipes and decorating internal corners.

Features of cutting metal tiles

If you use abrasive devices, you can see the following negative phenomena:

1. Bare metal "bald spots" on the surface of metal tiles as a result of grinding discs at high speed.
2. Melting of the zinc layer due to the use of an abrasive tool at high speeds.
3. The appearance of places of corrosion a couple of years after damage to the zinc and polymer layers by abrasive tools. These foci in a tangible way destroy the structure of the material for the roof.

Please note that only cold methods are effective for processing or cutting sheet metal tiles.

The ideal option would be to order the roofing material already in a cut form, since after using abrasive tools, the manufacturer's warranty will lose its validity.

If you follow the main tips for cutting and installing a roof made of metal shingles, it not only looks beautiful, but also is durable and reliable. Profiled sheets of galvanized type can last for almost half a century, and only after 10-20 years they need to be repaired, painted or even replaced if necessary. They do not cause difficulties during installation, are lightweight, which makes it possible to use on a building with a weak base and insufficient bearing capacity of the rafter system.The roof made of metal shingles is not damaged by deformation due to changes in temperature, high humidity.

Moreover, such a roof can be self-cleaning from snow drifts.

Details

Questions

Is it possible to cut metal roofing angle grinder?

Manufacturers do not recommend cutting metal shingles with an angle grinder (grinder). Such actions can provoke the formation on the sheets:

• Torn edges, which after a while begin to oxidize and rust.
• Changes of corrosive type after excessive heating of the material.

You can cut metal tiles with a grinder, but when laying on the roof, you should not do this - the activity is too dangerous.

Moreover, as a result of work, sawdust from the metal fly off, which remain on the surface of the profiled sheet and after a while they begin to rust and spoil the appearance of the roof. If the waterproofing layer is damaged during cutting with a grinder, all moisture will begin to enter the roof, to the crate, and this will lead to damage and corrosion.

Good advice! If you want to saw a metal tile with a grinder, it is important to add another 1-2 cm to a certain size, so that you can then cut it with special scissors for metal. The process is time consuming but effective.

How to cut metal shingles?

When choosing tools for cutting sheet metal shingles, it is important to approach with responsibility, otherwise noticeable chips will form , which will become the main reason for the loss of stability of the roofing system to aggressive environmental factors.

Cutting of metal shingles to size should be done taking into account the preservation of the protective sheet layer.

Among the suitable tools for cutting profiled sheets of galvanized type, we highlight:

• Scissors cut into metal tiles.
• Electric jigsaw, which is equipped with a special attachment.
• Circular saw.
• Shears for cutting sheet metal.

• Hand saw with a metal saw.

Each method has its own nuances

Electric scissors for cutting metal tiles

When the installation of metal type sheet shingles, electric scissors are indispensable tools. They make it possible to cut sheets with maximum precision, with a perfect and even cut. Such scissors for metal shingles have certain positive qualities:

• Do not leave ragged edges on the sheets.
• Maintain full protective cover.

• The engine makes it possible to perform a huge amount of work, which is important in professional construction.
• Not difficult to use.
• There is swarf removal.

There are three types of electric scissors for metal tiles:

1. Cutting - the tool can cut not just metal sheet tiles, but also metal elements that are interconnected by welding. The punch can cut a certain piece of sheet in one stroke.

2. Knife - in them the cutting part will make up the movable upper blade, and the lower one will be fixed. The indisputable advantage of such electric scissors will be the absence of waste during use. But there is one drawback - you cannot make sharp turns.
3. Slotted - universal-type electric shears that can cut sheets of various materials. During the working process, it is important to note a neat and fairly accurate move without any distortions.

   Ultimately, the material for the roofing will not deform, metal filings will not scatter and can be easily removed from the sheet.

Please note that cutting metal tiles with nibbling scissors equates to an angle grinder in speed, just does not heat the corrugated material. Such a tool can make turns even 90 degrees and does not leave burrs on the edges.

Manual scissors

Mechanical type scissors for working with metal sheet tiles have proven themselves as a hand-held and mobile universal tool. It is presented on the market in three types:

• With a straight cut.

• Right-hand cut.
• Left-hand cut.

Taking into account the fact that the cutting process for sheets of metal tiles with manual scissors is quite laborious, it will be more expedient to use them only for curvilinear cutting. To achieve a perfectly straight cut, it is recommended to leave a small gap of 0. 1-0.

2 cm between the ends of the tools when the canvases are compressed, and they should not fully converge. It turns out that the movements seem to be unfinished. This simplest technique will eliminate the formation of burrs.

Circular saw

If you think about how to cut metal tiles, then such an electric tool is highly efficient and versatile, it is also suitable for work on wood, plastic and metal. Cutting metal tiles with circular saws has many advantages:

• Speed ​​and ease of use.

• A huge amount of work is done in a short period of time.
• The saw will not leave a burr.
• Will not damage the finish.

When using electric tools, you must not make only curved cuts, work at height, because there is a possibility of injury. The circular saw blade for metal shingles should be a carbide-type material with backward-curved teeth.

Only with this approach will it be possible to make smooth edges and prevent damage to the decorative layer.

Cutting with a jigsaw

This type of tool is distinguished by its cutting speed and the ability to make curved and straight cuts, which is effective and convenient when arranging a roof made of metal tiles ... Due to the presence of backlighting and a specialized blowing device, the polymer layer on the sheet-type tiles will not be damaged.

But for an even cut, it is important to fix the profiled sheet well so that it does not deviate from one side to the other. To cut metal tiles, you just need to buy a file with a wave-like pattern and small teeth. It is important to work with an electric jigsaw at a slow pace, otherwise the sheets will begin to bend and the protective coating will be damaged.

Cricket for cutting tiles

A special drill bit is very popular for cutting sheet tiles made of metal. It makes it possible to quickly cut the roofing wave material.

Especially this adaptation of their punch and matrix shows its effectiveness when cutting a round hole. After switching on, the punch will be brought into working condition and will make strips on top of the sheet. Experience is needed here, and it is recommended to practice in advance on the remnants of the material. The width of the cut will be 0.3 cm, which is important to consider when cutting the material.

Even with this nozzle, you can cut stainless steel (with a thickness of 0.8 mm), galvanized steel, copper, iron and brass (up to 1.5 mm thick), aluminum (up to 0.2 cm thick). In general, the operating principle of the device is very similar to the operation of electric scissors.

How to properly cut roof tiles

Technology for cutting sheets of material for roofing provides for the following actions:

1. Lay metal shingles on a pair of wooden blocks in such a way that the strip along which the cutting will be carried out is between them.
2. Draw a line with a sharp tool (hacksaw, awl, construction knife).
3. Cut the blade with a carbide angle grinder, backing off from line 1-1. 5 cm.
4. Next, we cut the metal tile with scissors, and the cut must be fine.

In addition to the angle grinder, according to this scheme, you can cut sheets with other suitable tools.

Tips and Tricks

For longitudinal cutting, it is more efficient to use a metal hacksaw or scissors. But for cutting wave material at an angle of 90 degrees, it is better to use an electric circular saw. It is not recommended to use any abrasive tool for cutting metal sheet tiles, so that there is no formation of negative consequences. At the end of the work, it is important to paint the cut place with a facade paint and varnish material or lay such sheets under the upper ones.

A disc on an angle grinder for cutting metal tiles will be abrasive and provoke the formation of defects, and therefore this option of sheet cutting must be abandoned.

Conclusion

You can cut metal tiles with different tools, but it is important to choose those that differ in their ability to work accurately and without damaging the polymer layer. Not only the choice of quality material will affect the strength of the roof, but also the choice of suitable electrical appliances.