Metal Roofs

[showcrop]

The leaking roof thread over on tool talk got me thinking. Around here many people have re-roofed their houses with metal. From what I have gleaned from conversation about them the standard metal roof is only as good as the seal of the screw, which does not last as long as a fiberglass-asphalt shingle roof. It has to be a standing seam metal roof to last. A year ago a house with a fifteen year old metal roof was getting a new asphalt shingle roof. I stopped to talk to the roofer who turned out to be the new owner as well. He told me that a lot of the rubber seals were gone and inspection in the attic and other places where they could get at it showed lots of water damage. I wonder what home owners who have had these roofs for over fifteen years are seeing.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I don't buy that for northern states. We have some old steel roofs with the lead headed nails and they don't leak been on there over 45 years. Got all steel roofs here. You do have to do maintenance on them as any roof. If you see a screw up or if the roof gets damaged from limbs you need to repair it.
For anybody that wants to put the screws in the groove or on the flat is one of the biggest reasons for leaks. We have always put the nails/screws on the top of the ribs. Water collects in a valley just like in a field.

 

[SuperHank]

It may seem obvious but the pitch of the
roof is critical. I have three buildings at
my farm all steep pitch and rain moves so
fast off leaks have not occurred in twenty+
years of five v crimp use. At another house
the roof is less steep and ends on a porch
and I have a real problem with ten year old
galvalume screwed down on the flats.

 

[ditchwitch]

That actually makes sense. Never thought of it that way but i sure can see it that way

 

[Leroy]

I also believe on top of the ribs. Only on flat if for some reason 2 sheats don't fit tight at a lap to tighten joint.

 

[Mike M]

I hope mine lasts. They supposedly used screws from a company that offer a lifetime warranty on them. I'm betting if they give out that company will be nowhere to be found. My shingles sure did not last.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

We roofed this old house nearly ten years ago, still
perfect. Trying to swap out all the old windows now,
fun never ends.

 

[Texasmark1]

I have a Morton building constructed in 1981 with nails, not screws using the Neoprene (seems to be) washers. Have yet to have a problem with
backing out or leaking. Screws, unlike nails will stay the course better as anyone knows that has built a tin barn with screws rather than
nails....BTDT

My next house roof may have been metal till I realized that it will probably outlast me. That has given me something to think about.

 

[kcm.MN]

Another thing that is helping "all" different roofing materials are these new membranes that go down in place of felt. The membranes are self-sealing, and the steel or other roofing protects it from UV degradation.

I have a low-pitched roof on each end in this house. One end doesn't leak, but have had a horrible time with heat loss on the other end causing ice dams. The people who put the roof on the house were doing it at that time to an old, abandoned house, so I'm sure the level of care wasn't the greatest. However, they used nails, and properly installed on the metal ridges. But being a low-pitched roof, the roof rake snags on the nails quite often. This'll be a temporary patch job (...you know, until the next time it leaks *LOL*) as I've got too many other projects ahead of that. Eventually, will replace their less-than-stellar job on that end with new steel - but up here, steel is the best way to go by far!

I just wish they still sold the older corrugated steel up here. Can get it in the southern states, but haven't found it locally.

 

[db4600]

Here's some thoughts.
On the farm our pig barn had a metal roof that was
24" wide, flat pan. 1" standing seam. It got nailed
down with 16 penny nails. We took it off after 50+
years because the building was out of vogue with
our need.
I also agree with Hank that pitch makes a big
difference in in performance of any roof. I inherited
a one car garage that was a 12/12 pitch and had
shingles over cedar shakes. At the time the shingles
had backed off and the cedar shakes were cracked
enough you could see stars through the roof. It
didn't leak as much as you would expect because
the water would migrate down the steep roof before
it would come through the cracks. We put tin on it.

Shingles have less of the good stuff today then
ever. I've changed out too many 35-50 shingles at
15 years to feel good about asphalt shingles. My old
house dies not vent like the new houses and my 15
year old shingle roof is going to be replaced with
steel. My neighbor's house is 17 old and I helped
him put tin on inplaxe of his shingles 3 years ago
because his shingles were cracked and failing. His
house is new, vented attic, moderate shade, and
good wind protection.

At this time I think steel is a better roof option than
asphalt. I've done both the ag-profile 36" sheet and
the narrower hidden fastener standing seam. I
would agree that the residential standing seam
probably looks and performs better, but the ag-
profile is more cost effective.

 

[1130Leo]

Ours has been on for about 10 years now, no problems. I will say, if I start to see leaks, I will buy bags of new screws and replace them. Still better than dealing with shingles flying off every time the
wind picks up. And the steel still looks like new, 20 year shingles by now would be showing their wear. I for one will never go back to shingles. Steel is the only way to go.

 

[Steve@Advance]

A house gets a different roof than a barn.

Called "standing seam". No nails or screws through the steel. It's held on with clips, the seams are crimped.
Stending Seam Roof

 

[W_B]

(quoted from post at 13:47:26 03/21/17) I don't buy that for northern states. We have some old steel roofs with the lead headed nails and they don't leak been on there over 45 years. Got all steel roofs here. You do have to do maintenance on them as any roof. If you see a screw up or if the roof gets damaged from limbs you need to repair it.
For anybody that wants to put the screws in the groove or on the flat is one of the biggest reasons for leaks. We have always put the nails/screws on the top of the ribs. Water collects in a valley just like in a field.

Yep, Fabral specifies for roofs that the fastener goes into the top of the rib with the washer compressed securely against the metal.

 

[ddbar3]

All these steel roof's would be just fine, if people would just put down ice and water shield first. The screws seal them self's going
through the membrane.

 

[fixerupper]

Any barn type steel roof with exposed screws has a chance of leaking. Every one of those hundreds or even thousands of neoprene gaskets is a leak possibility. One small kink in a seam might let water get through the seam. Any screw tightened too tight on a seam ridge might buckle the seam just enough to create a leak. Every building on my farm has a steel roof so ai am well aware of the leak possibilities from a steel roof.

The house roof has steel put on with screws but I put it over shingles with 2X4 furring strips so the shingles underneath catch any drip that might come from the steel. My latest project was a cattle shed I converted into a heated shop. The old galvanized steel roof had a few drips, not good when attic insulation is below it so I nailed down 2X4 furring strips on top of the old galvanized steel and screwed down regular barn steel roofing on the furring strips. The old steel might catch the few drips from the new steel and I am hoping the two layers with a 1 1/2 ' gap between the two will suppress condensation. My old shop, built in 1982, is pole construction with steel roof and side walls. The gray blown in insulation is now matted down from condensation drip from the steel roof and a few rain leaks.

 

[PJH]

The metal roof on our house is 25+ years old. I'd have to do some digging to figure out the exact year I put it on. No leaks. Original paint shows no signs of failure. Zero maintenance.

Your story is interesting - there are lots of asphalt to metal re-roofs in our area. I can't think of one metal to asphalt re-roof.

 

[WGM]

The only guarantee that comes with metal roofs is that they all will leak eventually and makes your home look like a mobile home. Standing seam,
concealed fastener metal roofs will give a lttle more service life but they will leak also. Guys that brag about getting a 20 year warranty had
better check that warranty carefully. It is for color fade only. Manufacturers don't warranty against leaks, only the installer does that. And
chances are that installer will be long gone when that metal starts leaking.

 

[WGM]

Properly installed quality shingles do not fly off and will provide a longer service life than any metal roof.

 

[RBoots]

We just lost some on a 10 year old roof with 35 year shingles on it last week with our 60+mph winds. Folded a few right over, pulled the nails through the rest. Installed them myself, used to do construction but must not have known what I was doing.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

showcrop,
google metal roofs. You will find some people that swear by them and others
that swear at them.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 13:55:22 03/21/17) showcrop,
google metal roofs. You will find some people that swear by them and others
that swear at them.

I have already had a pretty good involvement with them.

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

This topic has turned into a red green type opinion.The neoprene washer failure may be a something to consider but if it happens then I'll have new screws put in. I've yet to have a shingle roof to last more than 15 years. The jury is still out on my metal roof but it's been on 7 years with no problem. I have a rent house that I had a shingle roof put on about 8 years ago and it's already showing substantial wear. I'll replace it with metal.

 

[RBoots]

I think the newer style screws with the cup
type washer that pretty much covers the
rubber seal probably really helps.
Especially over the old ring shank nails
with the seal fully exposed.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 15:18:57 03/21/17) This topic has turned into a red green type opinion.The neoprene washer failure may be a something to consider but if it happens then I'll have new screws put in. I've yet to have a shingle roof to last more than 15 years. The jury is still out on my metal roof but it's been on 7 years with no problem. I have a rent house that I had a shingle roof put on about 8 years ago and it's already showing substantial wear. I'll replace it with metal.

The life of shingle roofs increased dramatically when fiberglass came out.

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

(quoted from post at 19:19:53 03/21/17)

(quoted from post at 15:18:57 03/21/17) This topic has turned into a red green type opinion.The neoprene washer failure may be a something to consider but if it happens then I'll have new screws put in. I've yet to have a shingle roof to last more than 15 years. The jury is still out on my metal roof but it's been on 7 years with no problem. I have a rent house that I had a shingle roof put on about 8 years ago and it's already showing substantial wear. I'll replace it with metal.

The life of shingle roofs increased dramatically when fiberglass came out.

Maybe, but I've seen a lot of 5 year old shingle roofs replaced in the last couple of years.

 

[in-too-deep]

Metal Sales in Detroit Lakes makes it.

 

[MikeL.]

We have both the metal roof barn sweats
really bad. All my tractors get wet. It's a
Morton building, it acts as if it rains on
them. Won't get one again... other people
like said on here already swear by them,
well we swear at this one. Just my personal
experience.

 

[John - OH]

Problem lies with putting the screws in the flats and not on the rib

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 10:09:47 03/21/17) Properly installed quality shingles do not fly off and will provide a longer service life than any metal roof.

There is no such thing as "quality shingles" anymore. All shingles are garbage.

The big thing now is this stone-coated steel which looks like shingles and installs like shingles with concealed fasteners. It's NOT "barn steel." Knowing what I know now, I would have done that back in 2009 when I put the roof on my house.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 09:42:54 03/21/17) The leaking roof thread over on tool talk got me thinking. Around here many people have re-roofed their houses with metal. From what I have gleaned from conversation about them the standard metal roof is only as good as the seal of the screw, which does not last as long as a fiberglass-asphalt shingle roof. It has to be a standing seam metal roof to last. A year ago a house with a fifteen year old metal roof was getting a new asphalt shingle roof. I stopped to talk to the roofer who turned out to be the new owner as well. He told me that a lot of the rubber seals were gone and inspection in the attic and other places where they could get at it showed lots of water damage. I wonder what home owners who have had these roofs for over fifteen years are seeing.

No way. I agree that if you have Bubba screwing on the roof and squishes every single screw so that that the gasket is torn you will have issues. But if you at responsibly and use your head it's not an issue. I've seen metal roofs that last 50-75 years with no leaks. Single roofs, even the 25 or 35 year jobs, don't last like that. And if you live where it's windy you WILL have single problems, it's not if, it's when.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 21:48:04 03/21/17) We have both the metal roof barn sweats
really bad. All my tractors get wet. It's a
Morton building, it acts as if it rains on
them. Won't get one again... other people
like said on here already swear by them,
well we swear at this one. Just my personal
experience.

That's a ventilation issue, not a roof issue.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Mike,
You will never see a metal roof on my buildings. I grew up on a farm and learned the lesson you described. Condensation is a real problem where I live. Some may not have that big of problem, depending on climate, but I have live with it .
geo