A two-piece fastening clip used in standing seam metal roofing. The base fastens rigidly to the roof deck, while the top tab folds into the panel seam and slides back and forth within the base. This mechanism holds the roof down against wind uplift while letting the long metal panels expand and contract freely as they heat up in the sun.
If you hard-pin those 40-foot panels without expansion cleats, the metal will buckle by noon.
Always center the sliding tab in the cleat base during installation so the panel has equal room to expand and contract.
Also heard as
- sliding cleat
Related terms
Standing seam
A metal roofing system where continuous panels are joined by raised interlocking seams.
Double lock standing seam
A metal roofing joint where adjacent panel edges are folded over twice to create a watertight seal.
Flat lock
A low-profile sheet metal seam made by folding and hooking two panel edges together.