Making the Choice Between Prefabricated and Shop-fabricated Metal

When it comes to choosing a fascia or coping, the options for colors, finishes, and profiles are virtually endless. Most times, the color and finish will be dictated by the building owner or designer. Roofers and general contractors, on the other hand, often have much more influence over which profile is used and how it’s sourced. This post breaks down the benefits of prefabricated edge metal (such as Versico VersiTrim products) as well as the advantages of shop-fabricated edge metal (made in-house by the roofing contractor or outsourced to a local sheet metal shop).

Prefabricated edge metal has a lot to offer, from enhanced performance and code compliance to labor-saving benefits. Below are a few of the advantages of using prefabricated edge metal. 

Testing and code compliance: All Versico VersiTrim products are tested to ANSI/SPRI ES-1 standards as required by International Building Code. ES-1 testing has been mandatory for all low-slope roofs since IBC-2003 and using prefabricated VersiTrim ensures that code requirements can be met. The majority of VersiTrim coping and fascia profiles offered by Versico are also approved for use on Factory Mutual-insured buildings or where FM-approved edge flashings are required.
Convenience: Using prefabricated VersiTrim products allows contractors to order edge metal and have it shipped directly to the jobsite, with many products available to ship within days. No sheet metal shop is required. On the flip side, roofing contractors who have shops with skilled sheet metal workers can use those resources to work on more complex and profitable sheet metal work, rather than fabricating basic coping and fascia designs.
Labor Savings: Unlike traditional gravel stop and drip edge, many VersiTrim profiles have a snap-on design and do not need to be stripped in. This saves considerable labor on the roof and eliminates the need to use primer and cover strip (as is typical with a drip edge or gravel stop).
Warranty: All VersiTrim products are covered under the Edge-to-Edge Total Roof System Warranty, offering the building owner protection backed by Versico.

While prefabricated edge metal offers many advantages over shop-fabricated edge metal, local fabrication has its own benefits, and shop-fabricated metal is still covered in some Versico warranted roof systems. Here are a few reasons why shop-fabricated edge metal might be a good fit for a project. 

Flexibility: While VersiTrim products can be customized, it’s often easier to create complex custom parts locally where the sheet metal fabricator can see what is needed, measure, and fabricate the part.
Speed: Many VersiTrim profiles can be shipped in as little as one day; however, if you need something immediately, there’s no substitute for a local sheet metal shop that can fabricate something for installation the same day.
Warranty: While VersiTrim will almost always meet warranty requirements, shop-fabricated metal using Versico metal flat sheets can also be included in many warranted roof systems for up to 20 years.

For more information, visit the edge metal product page on the Versico website.