Curved Metal Roofing

A Guide to Selecting the Right Metal Roof Panel

With the great variety on the market, one of the main questions we, as metal roof panel manufacturers, get from customers is “How do I select the right panel for my project?” The answer can generally be found by examining a number of criteria, including the properties of the roof, the region and climate, geometry, slope, warranty type…among other key factors.

Slope— Slope is the first consideration as just this one aspect will eliminate certain panels, making it easier to narrow down options right from the start. The two types of roof slopes are low slope and steep slope.

A low-slope roof, commonly found in commercial applications, is one whose slope is less than 3:12. The benefits include a simpler geometry that is often much less expensive to construct, and the requirement of fewer materials than a steep slope, thereby reducing material costs.

A steep slope roof, more common in residential construction, is one whose slope is greater than 3:12. Steeper slopes are ideal for areas that have higher snow loads and will also prevent the possibility of ponding water on the roof. Since the roof is a visible part of the structure, choosing a metal roof for residential construction often skews more toward aesthetic considerations.

Location/Climate— The location and climate of the project is a factor, specifically when looking at certifications/regulatory product approvals, which will limit the panels you can you use within specific regions. This is most relevant to Dade County, the state of Florida, and the Texas Coast, as well as certain snow regions.

How to Choose a Metal Roof

Metal can be formed into a variety of roofing materials, including these stone-coated steel shingles from Boral. Metal’s market share is on the rise, now accounting for about 14% of the total residential re-roofing market.

Metal roofing has a long history in the U.S. but until 20 years ago it was a bit player in residential construction with just a 3.6% share of the reroofing market. That number has roughly quadrupled since then, according to an industry trade group, as metal claims an increasingly larger slice of the pie

What happened? Product offerings are more extensive than the simple corrugated panels that have long been used on barns and sheds. Metal roofing is available in a range of styles — from several kinds of standing seam to a variety of stamped metal shingles that look like slate, clay tile, and even asphalt. Paint and stone coatings are more sophisticated and more durable, giving roofing a very long service life while appealing to homeowners with a variety of aesthetic preferences.

The industry also is working harder to win over consumers who once thought that metal roofing was too hot, too heavy, noisy, or prone to rust, says Dick Bus, president of ATAS International and head of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “Those myths are gone, and people want to reroof with something that has some permanence to it,” he said. “Metal roofing that’s properly installed can last upwards of 50 to 60 years or more.”

Metal roofing may never catch up to asphalt in the residential arena simply because of cost. Light gauge, through-fastened panels might be competitive with asphalt on a simple roof shape, but the industry acknowledges that a standing seam or metal shingle roof can be two or three times the initial cost of asphalt. Still, manufacturers think they can continue expanding on the strength of other attributes: long-term performance, recyclability, high fire resistance, and low maintenance.

CHOOSING A METAL ROOF – FIVE MISTAKES YOU MUST AVOID

Unless you’re involved in the roofing or construction business or you’re one of the few outside the industry that have purchased more than one metal roof, it’s likely that your initial investigation into the topic leaves you bewildered at the great variety of choices. We routinely get emails and contact forms with questions in the comment section asking, “How much for a metal roof?” Unfortunately, that’s a little like asking, “How much for a new car?” The answer to both variable – what are you looking for? We supply metal roofing that costs anywhere from $1 a square foot to over $20 – and in every case it’s fair to say, “You get what you pay for!” The reason for the tremendous range is that there literally hundreds of choices that are all “metal roofs.”

Assume all metal roofs are the same.

They are NOT. They vary by metal type, thickness of metal, finish, and profile. Metal roofs come in more shapes, sizes, types, finishes, thicknesses, and those differences can affect performance, lifespan, durability and price

Assume all roofers know about metal roofing. 

This is simply not true. While most roofers and roof contractors claim to be able to install ANY roof – including metal – the fact of the matter is that most of them don’t have much experience with metal roofing systems. Since composition shingles are the most common roofing material by a wide margin (no coincidence they’re the cheapest by a wide margin!), that is the product with which most roofers are experienced. I can tell you from many years of first-hand experience with the finished jobs that there is a GREAT difference between the finished job of an experienced and properly trained metal roof specialist and that of the average “roofer.” If you’re going to hire someone to install your carefully selected roof, make every effort to make certain that they have years of sheet metal practical experience. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.

Buy the wrong metal roof for your application. 

As good as metal roofs can be, they must be matched to the job. For example, while metal roofs can be excellent in snow country, the wrong metal roof can “hook” moving snow and ice and cause damage, while a properly chosen and executed metal roof will shed snow and ice without damage. Similarly, there are many metal roof materials that work well in locations near salt water, but choosing the wrong base metal and premature orrosion can result, dramatically reducing the life span of the roof.

Buy a metal roof based on price alone.

Just as you wouldn’t buy a car (or house or television or refrigerator, etc., etc.) on price

alone, the same applies to metal roofing materials. There’s a reason one metal roof is cheaper than another, and it’s usually because the material is thinner, the metal is cheaper (and less corrosion resistant), the finish is poor or the profile is weak. To ensure you get good value for the money you’re spending, make sure you’re spending enough to get a metal roof that will do the job you’re expecting.

Key Considerations for Selecting the Right Metal Roof

Selecting the right metal roof for your home can be a challenge. Once you’ve decided on metal for protecting your home, there are still many decisions ahead about which products will best meet the demands of our local climate, look great, and be the easiest to maintain

Industry-leading PVDF coating technology. Many people choose metal roofs in order to avoid the streaking and staining that attacks granulated-surface shingles. Kynar 500® and Hylar 5000® PVDF resin-based finishes offer the best resistance to streaking and staining. These finishes are available in many colors and even multi-hued shades, offering the best combination of durability and fade resistance.

“Self-Cleaning” Valleys. Let’s face it, a lot of debris ends up on your roof; tree leaves, pine needles, seed pods, ice, and snow. They all travel down your roof and end up in any valleys the roof may have. Many metal roofs have “closed” valley systems with hidden waterways to channel water off of the roof. These hidden waterways, however, will clog up with debris and then the water path is blocked and bad things (leaks!) happen. “Self-Cleaning” valleys carry the water and debris on top of the roof and can’t clog.

Premium Certified Products. The Metal Construction Association has developed a Quality Certification Program which recognizes products and manufacturers that meet high levels of standards in terms of raw materials and processes. We strongly encourage products and manufacturers that are part of this program. Kassel and Irons products all meet this certification.

Special Flashings. Many roofs have areas which require special care, including special flashings. Unlike temporary roofing solutions, you can’t just depend upon sealants for metal roofing. If your roof has dead valleys, skylights, chimneys, flared gables, or other unusual things, make sure that you understand exactly how these will be handled by your contractor.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Metal Roofing Supplier

As a manufacturer of specialty residential metal roofing, we’d love to have the opportunity to work hard for your confidence. However, whether you consider us or not, we want to share with you the key things to consider when choosing a metal roofing supplier

Types and Styles of Metal Roofing

As you research metal roofing suppliers, it will not be unusual to find that different suppliers focus on providing different types of metal roofing. A common distinction is whether they focus on vertical seam metal roofing or modular panel metal roofs that look like wood shakes, slate, tile, or other materials. However, amongst the vertical seam products, you will find further differentiation with manufacturers producing exposed fastener products, nail hem panels, true clip-fastened standing seam panels, and mechanically-seamed standing seam panels. Amongst the modular panel manufacturers, you will find companies specializing in painted products, usually using the industry-leading PVDF technology, and stone-coated products. As you start to zero in on the style of metal roof that best meets your needs and the architectural design of your home, we suggest choosing a supplier and manufacturer that has significant experience with your preferred style of metal roofing.

Taking into account the “ship-to” location of your new roof is important. Here’s why:

If the choice for your home is a vertical seam roof, the panels will likely be ordered in custom lengths sized from the bottom of the roof to the peak. On many homes, these panels can be from 15 – 30’ in length or even longer. Shipping these panels over long distances can be quite costly. While shipping a long distance may be necessary for Premium Grade panels, lower grade panels are produced regionally and may only need to be shipped 50 miles or less depending on where you live. The required shipping distance will impact your cost as well as the embedded energy in your roof’s environmental footprint.

Experience

The experience level of your metal roofing supplier is very important. There are things that companies learn to do better over the years, especially in the areas of flashing design and installation details, that impact a roof’s long-term performance. Additionally, your metal roofing manufacturer will provide the product warranty for your roof and you will want to seek a manufacturer with proven history and stability that indicates their ability to support any future warranty claims. You will also find that the more experienced and stable manufacturers will usually play industry leadership roles with highly educational websites and active participation in industry trade associations such as the Metal Construction Association and the Metal Roofing Alliance.

Raw Materials

Be certain to confirm the quality and grade of metals and coatings used by the manufacturers and suppliers you are considering. Many manufacturers are using non-North American metals for their roofing systems as these metals are less expensive. If buying a roof made from USA-produced raw materials is important to you, you can seek out companies that produce their products only from domestic raw materials. An additional way to determine raw material quality is by seeking out suppliers that meet or exceed Metal Construction Association’s Certified Metal Roofing program requirements.