Scott Tomlin from D.I. Seamers discusses their partnership with McElroy Metal and the critical aspects of metal roof seaming operations. The conversation covers common seamer issues, primarily power supply problems and hand crimping errors, which account for most service calls.
D.I. Seamers distinguishes itself through exceptional customer service, offering live phone support and troubleshooting expertise that has saved millions in avoided roof replacements. Scott explains different seamer types, proper installation procedures, and maintenance protocols. The company takes pride in thoroughly testing equipment before deployment and maintaining comprehensive quality control processes, ensuring contractors can complete projects efficiently while avoiding costly delays.
Notable Quotes
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Scott Tomlin on customer service philosophy: "If you run a foot of seaming you don't like, give us a call. We are sitting here wanting you to call us. You know how permanent bending metal is. We don't want you to keep trying different troubleshooting on your own when we may can help you with one or two simple steps to get you going."
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Scott Tomlin on their value proposition: "We have saved panel manufacturers and builders millions of dollars over the years by not having to peel and replace something and us working with them."
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Scott Tomlin on gender differences in following instructions: "Men will just go over and they'll yank that seamer out and that crimper, and they'll just go to work without looking at the field guide. If we had women only on the roofs, they'd whip that field guide out and they'd learn something before they started doing it."
What You'll Learn
- You'll discover how proper power supply is critical to seamer performance and why using a 10-gauge cord no more than 100 feet from your power source can prevent most motor brush failures.
- You'll learn the importance of correct hand crimping procedures for different panel types (especially mechanically seamed systems like 138T/238T) and how following field guides can eliminate 85% of service calls.
- The episode explains the differences between three, four, and five-station seamers and when to use bidirectional versus one-direction machines.
- You'll understand why panel cleanliness matters and how dirt can cause scratching during the seaming process, affecting the paint finish.
- Scott reveals D.I. Seamers' comprehensive troubleshooting process and how their live customer support resolves 95% of issues without sending replacement equipment.
- You'll gain insights into proper panel installation techniques, including the use of clamps to maintain modulation and prevent separation, and learn best practices for starting seaming operations correctly to avoid costly mistakes.
Key Timestamps
00:00-02:30 - Introduction and Partnership History: Kathi Miller welcomes Scott Tomlin from D.I. Seamers to discuss their 15-year partnership with McElroy Metal and Scott's background in customer service.
02:30-08:45 - Most Common Seamer Issues: Scott identifies power supply as the biggest problem, explaining proper generator specifications and cord requirements, plus the importance of motor brush maintenance and testing procedures.
08:45-15:20 - Hand Crimping Discussion: Hand crimping accounts for 85% of service calls, the importance of following field guides, and differences between single and double lock crimping procedures (including trapezoidal MasterLok-FS applications).
15:20-22:30 - Panel Quality and Troubleshooting Process: Scott praises McElroy's quality control, explains adjustment capabilities for out-of-spec panels, and describes D.I. Seamers' comprehensive troubleshooting approach using photos, videos, and FaceTime.
22:30-28:15 - Dirt Management and Installation Best Practices: Guidance on keeping construction sites clean, checking panel specifications before installation, and using clamps to maintain proper modulation; see Standing Seam Services and substructural components for clips and support members.
28:15-35:40 - Seamer Types and Station Configurations: Explanation of three, four, and five-station seamers, bidirectional versus one-direction machines, and how each station functions in the seaming process; related seamer rental info.
35:40-42:20 - Service Call Procedures and Communication: Scott details the customer service process, response time policies, and how D.I. Seamers coordinates with panel manufacturers to resolve complex issues.
42:20-48:30 - Quality Control and Competitive Advantages: Discussion of D.I. Seamers' complete teardown and reassembly process, in-house manufacturing capabilities, and focus on customer service excellence.
48:30-52:00 - Ordering Process and Closing: Scott explains the online ordering system, rental procedures, return processes, and how to contact D.I. Seamers for support; contractors can also review McElroy’s job aids and technical downloads.
Mentioned Resources
Episode Deep Dive
Expert Metal Roof Seaming: Equipment, Techniques, and Support That Ensure Installation Success
The success of a mechanically seamed metal roof depends on far more than quality panels. It requires the right equipment, proper installation techniques, and expert support when challenges arise. In a recent conversation, Scott Tomlin from D.I. Seamers shared insights from 15 years of partnership with McElroy Metal, revealing how attention to detail and responsive customer service can mean the difference between a smooth installation and a costly project delay.
Understanding Metal Roof Seaming Equipment Configurations
The foundation of any successful metal roofing project begins with understanding the equipment. Seaming machines come in three primary configurations: three-station, four-station, and five-station models, each designed for specific applications. Three-station seamers typically handle single-lock roofs and offer bidirectional operation, allowing the machine to seam while traveling in both directions from eave to ridge and back. This capability effectively cuts seaming time in half compared to one-direction machines. Four-station seamers handle most double-lock applications and operate in one direction, while five-station seamers accommodate industrial panels with varying lock configurations.
Power Supply Requirements for Optimal Seamer Performance
Power supply emerges as the single most critical factor affecting seamer performance. Scott emphasizes that inadequate power causes the motor to struggle and strain, burning through carbon motor brushes rapidly. The solution is straightforward but non-negotiable: use a 10-gauge cord no more than 100 feet from the power source, paired with at least a 2500-watt generator equipped with a 20-amp plug. Following these specifications prevents the vast majority of motor-related failures. When motor brushes do fail, D.I. Seamers provides overnight replacements and maintains instructional videos showing contractors how to complete the five-minute replacement process on site.
Hand Crimping Techniques and Common Installation Mistakes
Hand crimping accounts for approximately 85 percent of service calls to D.I. Seamers. The issue rarely stems from lack of experience but rather from contractors bypassing field guides and relying on memory or previous experience with different panel types. As Scott humorously notes, men often grab the equipment and start working immediately, while a more methodical approach would prevent most problems. The crimping procedure varies between single and double lock applications and panel styles, and using the incorrect technique at the start creates problems that compound throughout the installation. D.I. Seamers has invested heavily in visual field guides designed so clearly that following the pictures alone should prevent crimping errors.
Metal Roof Panel Quality and Proper Handling Procedures
Panel quality and installation technique work hand in hand with equipment performance. McElroy Metal's quality control ensures panels arrive on site within specification, a factor that eliminates one major variable in the troubleshooting process. However, even perfect panels require proper handling and installation. Panels left on construction sites accumulate dirt and dust, which backing pads can pick up and drag across the horizontal female leg, creating swirls and scratches in the paint finish. Cleaning panels before installation prevents this damage. In extreme cases, contractors have resorted to using Dawn soap in spray bottles to clean ahead of the seamer.
Panel Installation Best Practices and Clamp Usage
Proper installation begins with verification that panels meet specifications, followed by careful attention to modulation and panel separation. Clamps play a crucial role in this process, holding panels together at clip locations during installation to prevent vertical separation. One type of clamp grabs low on the vertical leg to bring panels together, while another sits underneath the seam to push male bend points into female bend points. Using these clamps consistently during the initial installation phase keeps panels properly aligned until crimping locks them in place. Some experienced installers eventually work without clamps once several panels are secured and maintaining modulation, but this approach carries risk for those less familiar with the specific panel system.
Troubleshooting Metal Roof Seaming Problems
The troubleshooting process at D.I. Seamers reflects a philosophy that sets them apart in the industry. When a contractor calls the prominently displayed 1-800 number on every seamer, they reach a live person, not an automated system. The company operates on the principle that if you run even a foot of seaming you dislike, you should call immediately rather than attempting to troubleshoot independently. Metal bending is permanent, and continuing with an incorrect setup only compounds problems. Field technicians walk contractors through a series of diagnostic questions, request photos or videos, and sometimes set up identical panels on test beds at their facility to replicate and solve issues via FaceTime.
Resolving Equipment Issues Without Replacement
This approach resolves roughly 95 percent of problems without requiring replacement equipment or on-site visits. The remaining cases might involve coordination with panel manufacturers or dispatching field technicians to job sites, something D.I. Seamers does approximately 15 times annually. The company maintains that simply sending another seamer rarely solves problems because its quality control processes ensure equipment leaves the facility with correct setups. If the first seamer experiences issues, a replacement with an identical setup will likely encounter the same problems, wasting valuable time while the crew waits.
Preventive Maintenance and Quality Control Standards
The comprehensive service approach extends beyond troubleshooting to preventive maintenance and quality control. Every seamer returning to D.I. Seamers undergoes complete disassembly. Technicians clean every component, requalify all tooling through their quality lab, and remove any pieces that fail to meet standards. The company manufactures most components in-house from aluminum, which they anodize in distinctive black and gold finishes. This vertical integration allows them to modify tooling angles or create custom solutions when standard configurations cannot get a contractor off a problematic job site.
Cost Savings Through Expert Metal Roofing Support
The financial implications of this level of support extend far beyond daily rental rates. Scott estimates D.I. Seamers has saved panel manufacturers and builders millions of dollars over the years by developing workarounds that preserve roof integrity without requiring complete panel removal and replacement. Time savings matter equally on projects where schedules are tight and crews are expensive. When problems do arise, D.I. Seamers' policy requires customer contact within one hour, recognizing that crews cannot afford to stand idle in extreme heat or cold while waiting for guidance.
Metal Roof Seaming Equipment Ordering and Rental Process
The ordering and rental process reflects the same attention to detail that characterizes their service. Contractors can access panel-specific rental information via McElroy’s Seamer Rental page and explore related training at our Standing Seam Installation Class.
The Future of Metal Roofing Installation Technology
The evolution of metal roofing technology continues advancing, but fundamental principles remain constant. Quality panels require quality installation supported by quality equipment and expertise. The partnership between panel manufacturers and seaming equipment providers creates a system where each component reinforces the others. When contractors encounter challenges, having access to knowledgeable support staff who understand both the equipment and the broader installation context transforms potential disasters into manageable problems.
Building Trust Through Expert Metal Roofing Partnership
Scott's observation that problems often transform vendors into true partners resonates throughout the construction industry. The first difficult job, successfully navigated with expert support, builds trust that extends across future projects. D.I. Seamers has built its business model around this principle, investing in customer service infrastructure and technical expertise that pays dividends in contractor loyalty and successful project outcomes. As Scott reflects, they excel not just in providing equipment but in providing solutions, and that distinction makes all the difference when metal meets machine on a rooftop anywhere in the country.
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