Laserlite Roofing Screw Enquiry

[ozizu]

Was going to put up my laserlite sheeting on my verandah this week and have encountered a slight hiccup. Since my structure is a timber structure so laserlite one-stop timber screws were the logical choice. However my ridge capping isnt the same material as laserlite, it is made of tin. I went for this option since it is much much cheaper. However my timber screws (even they have a cutting thread on them) wont go thru the tin ridge capping so i have been advised to predrill the tin beforehand and then use the timber screws.

Then i thought ill use the metal screw version only on the ridge capping area, but have been advised by the sales people from laserlite that the cutting mechanism on the metal screw is the same as the one on the timber screw. Only the screw is longer and the thread is designed differently. He said that the end of the screw might pierce thru the tin capping but will most likely blunt the living daylights out of it.

I went to bunnings to find out the diameter of the cutting thread on the screws and it was exactly 11.15mm which would mean either a 11.5 or 12mm steel drill bit would do the job. So shall I buy the metal drill bit and pre-drill the tin and then use the timber screws after, or shall I just go for the metal screws. Any advice would be helpful.

[scooter]

So shall I buy the metal drill bit and pre-drill the tin and then use the timber screws after

Yes, I'd try predrilling both the tin and the laserlite first, then drive the screw.If this gives a ragged hole in the polycarbonate, just predrill the metal ridgecap & use the hole cutter on the screw to drill the polycarb.


Cheers................Sean

[Dr - 307]

Hi Ozizu,

Finally got the laserlite onto your verandah. Good work.

About screwing down the matal flashing / capping on your verandah just use the normal metal roofing screw like the ones they use to hold down colorbond roofing. The flashing will hold down the laserlite / polycarb. Don't worry yourself with the right screw and this and that. Too complicated. Pre-drill and bull-tish. I've built maybe 10 verandahs and have always done it this way. You won't get any creaking from the laserlite either.

Oh and the screws come in both colorbond colors and zincalume. The rubber seal on the screw isn't as big as the polycarb one but that's how it's designed.

You won't have a problem.

Cheers,
Dr - 307.

[ozizu]

Hi Ozizu,

Finally got the laserlite onto your verandah. Good work.

About screwing down the matal flashing / capping on your verandah just use the normal metal roofing screw like the ones they use to hold down colorbond roofing. The flashing will hold down the laserlite / polycarb. Don't worry yourself with the right screw and this and that. Too complicated. Pre-drill and bull-tish. I've built maybe 10 verandahs and have always done it this way. You won't get any creaking from the laserlite either.

Oh and the screws come in both colorbond colors and zincalume. The rubber seal on the screw isn't as big as the polycarb one but that's how it's designed.

You won't have a problem.

Cheers,
Dr - 307.

Thanks for the help 307, but ive already started putting half the sheets on using two drills, one for a predrill of the tin capping and the cordless for the timber laserlite screw. In the end wasnt too hard after all. Just had to make sure I dont drill too hard with the metal bit because it flies thru the laserlite. Will have pics once most of it is up.

[Dr - 307]

Whichever way I'm glad it worked out.

Dr - 307.