Details About A Metal Roof Installation You Might Not Know
If you're getting a new metal roof to replace your old one or to switch from asphalt shingles or another roofing material, you may wonder how the installation process works. The exact process depends on the type of metal roof you get. The two popular metal panels include exposed fastener roofing and standing seam roofing. Here are some metal roof installation details you'll want to know.
The Metal Panels Are Often Custom Made
The fewer seams on your metal roof, the better. That's because there will be fewer places for the roof to leak. The horizontal seams can be eliminated if you have the metal panels cut to the exact length of your roof. You may need to have the panels cut and delivered whole or the panels might be cut on the job site.
The Work Starts By Examining The Deck
In order to examine the deck, the roofer has to take off the old roofing. No matter what kind of roof you have, the roofer will take it off and haul it away. They may even recycle as much of it as possible. With the old roofing gone, the roofer can check the deck over closely so they can remove and replace areas that have moisture damage.
This step is important since moisture damage will cause the roof to rot and you don't want to take the panels back off in a few years to repair the deck. Once the deck is repaired if needed, the roofer may apply underlayment. This has an adhesive that allows it to stick to the deck. The surface is waterproof so if rain gets under a metal panel, it will roll down the underlayment and not cause harm.
Panels Are Applied In Two Ways
Exposed fastener panels are screwed to the deck with rows of screws. This type of metal panel is called an exposed fastener because the screws are visible once they're installed. However, the screws and the washers are the same color as the metal panel, so they blend in and aren't all that noticeable.
Standing-seam panels are installed in a different way. The panels attach to each other vertically with standing legs. A leg from one panel is attached to the deck with a clip that's screwed to the roof. Then the leg is covered with a leg from the next panel. This method of metal roof installation keeps the fasteners hidden under the panels so they're protected from ice, snow, rain, and the sun. The two legs on the panels that join together are then folded down over each other. This seals the seam to keep the rain out. The legs can be folded once or twice. A standing-seam double-folded metal roof is one of the most watertight metal roofing options due to the way it's installed.
Contact a local metal roof installation service to learn more.
