HOW TO INSTALL ENDWALL TRIM

How To Install Endwall Trim: ABC SL-16® Metal Roofing System

HOW TO INSTALL ENDWALL TRIM AND FLASHING

Our experts walk you through all the steps of how to seamlessly integrate endwall trim with our high-quality metal roof panels and ensure that you get the job done right. Watch the short video above or read through the steps below to familiarize yourself with the endwall trim and flashing installation using our SL-16 concealed fastener metal roofing system.

Before you get started, make sure you have all the tools you’ll need to install the endwall trim.

  • Duck Bill Snips
  • Seaming or bending tool
  • Drill
  • Pencil or sharpie

After you’ve gathered all the proper tools, you can begin installing your endwall flashing

Before You Install

What are endwalls? Endwall is where your metal roof panels run into a wall. You will also hear this referred to as a high eave parapet. It occurs any time panels are running up a roof and intersect a wall running perpendicular. The endwall trim allows for water to flow off the wall, over the trim, and down off your roof.

Endwalls might be up against different types of building materials including:

  • Brick/Masonry
  • Siding
  • Tyvek (new construction)

Endwall is different from sidewall and it’s important to know the differences when determining which type of trim, you’ll need to install.

What is Z-Trim? Z trim is an important and versatile trim that can be used to attach the final trim for endwalls, sidewalls, gable trim and hips.

Your Z-Trim will have paint on one side and primer on the other. It’s important to make sure when you’re installing the Z-trim to install it where the paint side will be on the visible side of the metal panel. This will ensure that when you look up at the roof you have a panel that has continuous finished paint visible.

You have the option of using pop rivets (concealed fasteners) or stitch screws (exposed fasteners) for the installation. We used stitch screws in our how-to video and the steps below.

Step 1: Preparing Endwall Z-Trim

When you receive your Z-Trim at your job site, it will be in master lengths. You’ll cut it down for installation between each panel. In our video “How To Install Endwall Trim” we used a gabled trim that is sticking out into the panel. With this, you’ll have to adjust the width or the length of the Z trim accordingly.

  • Mark the trim. First, you’ll need to mark the Z trim the length and the correct length to ensure it will fit between the ribs of the panel.
  • Cut the trim. Then cut the trim where you’ve made marks. To cut it, snip through the two ends of the ‘z’ and then bend the trim. After bending the trim, cut through the middle of the ‘z’ to finish off what you will need for the endwall.
  • Mark the metal panels. Then you’ll need to mark where you are going to place the trim on the endwall. Using the endwall flashing as a guide, put it in place and use a pencil or a sharpie to mark the tops of the ribs of the panel where the flashing ends. Now you will know where to place the Z-trim.
  • Apply sealant tape. The next thing is to apply tape sealant to both sides of the Z-trim so that we have a watertight seal between the Z trim and the top of the panel, and the Z-trim and endwall flashing
  • Place the trim. The final step of preparing for endwall trim installation is to place the Z trim so that the leading edge is just about a quarter or a half an inch behind the marks made. By placing it slightly behind the lines we make sure that it doesn’t stick out from beyond the endwall flashing

After you’ve completed the steps to preparing the Z-trim you’ll be able to move on to fastening the trim to the metal endwall.

Step 2: Endwall Trim Installation

Now that you have the Z-trim in place, the next thing to do is fasten it to the roof deck. You can use either a pancake head fastener or a neoprene washer fastener, either will do just fine for securing the trim to the endwall. Just make sure that you thread the tape sealant with your fastener.

  • Faster the trim. Drill your fasteners into the center and then one on each end of the Z-trim.
  • Fill in holes. After fastening your Z-trim to each of the metal panels, you will see that there are holes in the trim over the edge of the metal panel rib or gable. You’ll want to use a urethane-based caulk to fill in the corners to ensure water can’t get behind the Z-trim. Make sure that it’s a urethane-based sealant because silicones can eat away at the paint surface on the metal panel.

Step 3: Preparing the Endwall Flashing & Applying Tape Sealant

Now that the Z trim is fastened, you can move to the endwall flashing installation. First, you’ll need to get the endwall flashing into place before you can proceed with fastening it to wall, and the Z-Trim.

  • Leave approximately one inch past the edge of the gable trim on both ends of the flashing.
  • Using a pencil or a sharpie, mark where the flashing and gable meet.
  • Then take the flashing off and fold it down where you marked it.

By folding down the flashing, you keep water from rolling between the top of the gable trim and the end wall flashing.

The final preparation before fastening the flashing is to apply tape sealant to the top of the Z-trim. The ensures that there’s a watertight barrier between the end wall flashing and the top of the Z.

Step 4: Endwall Flashing Installation

Now that you’ve prepped the Z-trim tops with tape sealant and folded the flashing ends down to overhang the gables you can proceed to fastening the flashing. The final step in endwall trim installation is fastening the flashing down to the Z-trim.

  • Place the flashing on top of the Z-trim, making sure that the flashing is up against the wall.
  • Fasten the folded sides of the gable with stitch screws. You can also use pop rivets to fasten the flashing.
  • After fastening the flashing to the tops of the gable, use stitch screws to attach the flashing to the Z trim. Apply one stitch screw between each panel, directly in the center. Make sure that you fasten the flashing to the Z-trim that’s below and that you’re in the outside leg of the Z-trim. This way, the fastener shank comes through on top of the panel and not behind the Z-channel. The shank of the fastener will be visible.
  • Blow away any metal shavings that come from fastening the flashing and Z-trim together.
  • The last thing to do with an exposed fastener panel and exposed fasteners on the trim is to put a couple of screws into the sides of the gable trims. This keeps the trim and flashing tight, so the wind doesn’t pull at them. Put fastener into the side of the gable trim down toward the eave on both sides.

There are some slight differences in installation methods depending on the materials wall. It might be new construction with a wrap on it like Tyvek or existing construction with sidings like vinyl, wood or brick. In some cases, you might have to fasten the end wall to the brick or siding.

We’re happy to answer any of your questions regarding this how-to or any other question about metal roof installations. Contact our installation experts to get more tips or answer your metal roofing installation questions!

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