Are some curb adapters stronger than others? Well, sure. The structural integrity of a curb adapter depends on the gauge and quality of the steel, the care taken to protect against corrosion, and of course smart design.
Our industry uses G90 galvanized steel as a standard material for curb adapters. The heavier or more massive the material, the stronger it’s going to be. Depending on the local climate, a rooftop curb adapter may face winds, rain, ice, hail, dust storms, or even earthquakes. Too light a gauge may also buckle under the weight of an exceptionally heavy unit, so we insist on using the correct weight of steel for the job. Better to spend a little more on stronger materials than be forced to replace a weak curb adapter later on.
As for the threat of corrosion from years of exposure to weather, G90 will hold up to moisture and air pollutants just fine. We also coat our welds with a galvanized paint, heavy on the zinc, to protect them from oxidizing. Zinc coatings actually react with oxygen, moisture and carbon dioxide in the air to form a tough, impermeable layer of zinc carbonate — a second skin that the elements can’t eat into any further.
The shape of a curb adapter — the arrangement of ends and folds that give it the desired three-dimensional form — also contributes to structural integrity. Think of a cardboard box — it’s just a floppy piece of material until you turn those tabs in and create something that holds itself together. We know how to fold sheet metal to get the maximum amount of strength out of it. That’s why you can trust Curbco to fashion a curb adapter that will stand the test of time.
