The first step of standing seam metal roof installation requires a thorough inspection of the roof.
A standing seam metal roof can add an incredible amount of beauty to your home. It’s a roofing system that has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s one of the most durable roofing systems available.
- To get started, you’ll need to inspect the roof for damage and leaks. Look for holes or gaps that could result in the metal panels being improperly installed. Look at the flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys as well as any other openings in the roof to make sure they are properly sealed against water intrusion.
- You’ll also want to check all areas of your roof that have plumbing vents, air conditioning units or antennas so you know where these items will be placed before installation begins. This will allow you to plan accordingly and avoid potential problems during installation time by taking into consideration all these items before starting work on your new standing seam metal roofing system.
Roof hatches can also pose an obstruction while installing a standing seam metal roof, so it’s important that you carefully measure out and mark their locations before beginning installation work too quickly here with this type of obstruction may cause damage which will only lead back up again later on down the line after spending money now on repairs!
Next, any existing roof must be removed.
Next, unless the roofing structure is new construction and there is no existing roofing material to remove, it’s time to remove any old roofing materials in order to prepare for the installation of a standing seam metal roof.
A professional metal roofing contractor will have all of his or her equipment and be trained and experienced at safely removing existing roofing materials. The experts know exactly how to get the job done properly and efficiently, so it’s extremely important that you leave this step up to the professionals.
A metal deck or plywood is installed to provide a solid foundation.
Next, a metal deck or plywood is installed to provide a solid foundation. Metal decking provides a stable platform to attach the roofing while also allowing direct wood-to-metal attachment if the current roof has wood sheathing. Plywood is a good alternative if you don’t have an existing metal deck, and will often be used as it provides better insulation than metal decking. It’s also useful if you want to install solar panels on the roof, as it makes for an easier attachment point for panels.
Ice and water shield material is applied in all valleys.
Ice and water shield is a rubberized membrane that prevents water from seeping into your home. When installing a standing seam metal roof, the ice and water shield material is applied in all valleys where two roof planes meet. It’s also installed around the perimeter of the roof, typically 6-12 inches upslope from the interior wall line of your home.
The roof is ventilated by installing ridge vents along the peak of the roof, thereby creating continuous airflow from soffit vents to ridge vents.
The roof is ventilated by installing ridge vents along the peak of the roof, thereby creating continuous airflow from soffit vents to ridge vents. Other ventilation options include turbine vents, louvers, and gable-end vents.
All low spots are patched with additional plywood or OSB sheathing where needed.
The metal panels need to be installed on a solid foundation, so you want to make sure the deck is solid. You know what I mean by that? You don’t want any low areas where water would pool up. All low spots are patched with additional plywood or OSB sheathing where needed.
Lath is installed over all seams and fasteners in boards, as well as along all eaves and rakes, to prevent cracking during expansion and contraction cycles in metal panels.
Lath is a thin strip of material used to reinforce a seam, usually in metal panels. Lath is typically made from galvanized steel, although it can be made from aluminum. The lath is installed with specially-designed clips, which keep it snugly in place. In order to prevent cracking or expansion during extreme weather conditions, the lath covers all seams and fasteners in boards, as well as along all eaves and rakes. Lath can either be one piece or several pieces that attach to each other through their respective clips.
Metal panels are then laid according to measurements taken from the structure during step 1.
You should now measure the roof, using the measurements taken earlier to determine where each panel should be installed. The panels are then laid accordingly, with proper spacing between them. It’s also worth noting that metal panels must not sit on top of lath but rather be installed over it.
The panels on either side of a seam are overlapped, with each panel fastened through its top-front side.
At the top of each seam, the top panel is lifted to the ridge and fastened to a clip that is attached to the roof deck. The bottom panel on this seam is fastened to a clip that is attached to the roof deck. When installing the next panel, it should overlap at least three inches with the previous panel and then be fastened to these two clips. After all panels have been installed, you can install your hip flashing.
Next, clips are installed — one near the bottom of each panel segment and one near the top — and then connected together with special fasteners that penetrate through the face of both panels at once. This creates a strong connection between adjacent panels, but also allows them to expand and contract in response to temperature changes without popping loose or buckling.
The seam can also be quite difficult to achieve when installing curved or intricate rooflines, requiring painstaking attention to detail. The distinct look of exposed fasteners is common on this type of metal roofing, which can detract from its otherwise clean design aesthetic.