Standing Seam Metal Roof
Standing seam metal roof installation is different from that of ordinary exposed fastener metal roofs such as corrugated panels in the fact that its fasteners are completely hidden. The purposes of the standing seam in these panels are to provide stability and strength and thus help avoid oil canning; to join successive panels together across the span of the roof; and to conceal the clips holding the panels in place. There are some different varieties of standing seam metal roof products, some that are produced by machines and others that are bent up on a sheet metal brake. But in principle they are the same. The idea is to provide a way to fasten the panels to the roofing deck without having to have any clips or nails exposed.
Beauty of Standing Seams
A standing seam metal roof is quite stunning roofing material in the way it looks from the ground once installed. The lack of any nails through the panels creates a smooth and attractive finish no matter what material or color is used in fabrication. There are a few different ways these products are made. One is by hand. This process is slightly different, and there are actually a few varieties of fabrication techniques even among standing seam metal roof installers on ways to prepare and make up panels. For example, this roofing technique is dominant in the fashioning of materials for copper bays. But some companies choose to used false seams, which are separate pieces installed over top the seams to join them once the panels are installed and held into place by clips. Others still fabricate their material using a true one piece standing seam, although this technique is almost impossible on pagoda style bays with a sweep, particularly on the hips.
Metal roof companies and specialists have different products they use and techniques they specialize in to capture targeted parts of the market. Some installers focus on copper bays and even install painted steel roofs over bay windows from time to time. But others target larger jobs requiring machine rolled panels with a locking seam built in on one side. This type basically installs in one direction across the roofing surface, and the panel locks itself into place adhering to specially designed clips that are nailed directly to the deck prior to laying down each successive panel. This type of standing seam metal roof is wonderful because there are no visible clips wrapped around the seams and because it can be trusted even in high wind situations.
Metal Roofing Materials
Each standing seam metal roof is different, and different applications call for different materials. Once in a while, a roofer will be called in to install copper or copper tone steel on a weathervane pagoda roof prior to installing it over a roof ridge at the peak of a house. This is easily the smallest scale example of a true standing seam metal roof. But most jobs are obviously larger than this. In some residential applications, only a section of the house's roofing will get covered with this type of panel, with the rest just getting shingled. In most cases this is to save money since these materials are a lot more expensive than shingle roofs by the square.
Steel, copper, aluminum, galvalume, and some other composites entering the market are all used to some capacity to create standing seam roofing materials. The specific metals used sometimes depend on the application, and sometimes just varies by budget. For example, painted steel is a lot cheaper than copper, so many homeowners looking to cover their porch roofs opt for a bronze painted material to try to get that same look for less money.
Pricing Metal Roof Jobs
Whether the material is hand fashioned on a sheet metal brake or rolled out on a machine, the cost of a standing seam roof can vary according to the materials chosen, the size of the job, and many other variables. It is good to get several estimates for this work in order to make sure you get a good deal on standing seam metal roof installation for your home or business. In spite of the fact that these roofs cost more than asphalt shingles, they are a great value because they last a very long time, ranging from 40 all the way up to 100 years or longer depending on application methods and environmental conditions as well as the condition of decking at the time of the original install. Get prices on standing seam roofs using our free quote form and find out how much this project might cost you. Compare prices on standing seam metal roof installation among multiple contractors near you and make sure you end up getting a good deal on the job cost.
