Roofing bolts, also called mushroom head bolts, are a type of bolts with a large, flat, and round head, providing a neat finish when joining various materials. These bolts with square nuts are made of rugged materials (steel or mild steel) and are often galvanised with zinc or coated to prevent rust and corrosion. A roofing bolt is supplied with a nut, preventing it from loosening or turning when tightening the bolt. Roofing bolts are fully threaded bolts that come in various sizes and diameters, including roofing bolts M6 and M5–indicating the thread size of bolts. Furthermore, these steel fasteners are easy to install using cross-head and flat-head screwdrivers, accommodating the wide slots on the bolt head. Additionally, roofing bolts, regardless of their name, are widely used in various indoor and outdoor applications.
Benefits of Roofing Bolts
Roofing bolts can join various surfaces, including plastic, timber, and metal, offering multiple benefits, such as:
- They are highly durable and versatile.
- Provide a more secure clamp with easy accessibility.
- They resist corrosion, heat, and cold and are rustproof.
- Easy to use with strong and secure fixing between materials.
- Come in varied sizes and diameters for outdoor and indoor applications.
- Easy to tighten without damaging the equipment.
- Wide heads with flush finish and low profiles.
Popular Types of Roofing Bolts
A roofing bolt or roof bolt comes in various varieties, such as:
- Standard Roofing Bolts – These come with a mushroom head with a square nut and are typically made of mild steel. They are fully threaded, featuring a smooth shank and flat head with a flush finish on used surfaces.
- Stainless Steel Roofing Bolts – These fasteners offer better corrosion resistance with solid joints than regular steel roofing bolts, especially in environments exposed to the elements.
- Galvanised Roofing Bolts – A galvanised roofing bolt is coated with zinc to protect against rusting and corrosion, ensuring longevity.
- Hook Roofing Bolts – Also called J roofing bolts, these fasteners look like a hook designed to fasten roof sheets. A hook roofing bolt is widely used to attach items like chains, ropes, and sheets to roofs.
- Self-Tapping Roofing Bolts – While not strictly a bolt, these screws are frequently used in roofing applications. They have a sharp, pointed end and are used for piercing through metal sheets and securing them without needing a pre-drilled hole.
Typical Applications of Roofing Bolts
Roofing bolts are explicitly designed for roofing and cladding applications; however, they are also used for applications requiring a neat finish. Some of the typical roofing bolt applications include:
- Roof Construction
- General Construction
- Roofing Battens
- Gutter and Downspout Assembly
- Joining Metal to Timber
- Joining Thin Plates
- Attaching Flashing and Sheets
- Fixing Roof Skylights
- Securing Roof Vents
- DIY Projects.
