While wood nailer alternatives like Eliminailer-T or EdgeBox RI strengthen the roof perimeter, an additional benefit is the thermal advantage they can create that improves the overall energy efficiency of the building.
Using a traditional wood nailer prevents the installation of continuous insulation to the roof edge. Insulation will typically stop short of the perimeter, allowing heat to escape more rapidly from the corners and edge of the roof, resulting in a lower R-value for your insulation.
The R-Value is the measurement of the effectiveness of your thermal insulation materials and is important to meeting energy code requirements on your building projects. To understand the minimum insulation R-value requirements for non-residential buildings, visit this helpful resource from Carlisle Syntec Systems.
For example, the images below depict thermal scans from Columbia High School in Illinois. At 6:00pm on a 30-degree January evening, this 20-year-old EPDM roof with a stripped-in drip edge is seen letting heat escape at the building’s edge. The culprit is the lack of insulation, which stops abruptly 6-8” from the edge.
Using a wood nailer alternative, such as Eliminailer-T or EdgeBox RI, would allow the insulation or lightweight concrete to be extended, securing continuous insulation all the way to the roof edge and eliminating horizontal membrane penetration at the perimeter.
Versatile Eliminailer-T comes in several different face heights for use in a variety new construction and reroofing applications:
- The 3” face height replaces two wood nailers, allowing 3.5” of added insulation and cover board at the roof edge that can help provide up to a 35% increase in R-value compared to a standard wood nailer construction.
- The 5.25” face height replaces three wood nailers, allowing 5.75” of additional insulation and cover board at the roof edge that can help provdie up to a 47% increase compared to a standard wood nailer construction.
Interested in learning more? Request your in-person or virtual session of “Wood Nailer Alternatives: Sustainable Solution to Enhance Roof Perimeter Security and Strength,” our continuing education seminar covering everything you need to know about nailers – both wood and metal.
