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Metal Panel Roofing: More Durable Than Traditional Roofing

by Ryan McCall

The roof of a home is a key element of any building design and one of its most significant structural aspects. Value-conscious house owners seeking long-term roofing solutions that combine aesthetics and performance are increasingly turning toward metal panel roofing. According to much research, metal panel roofing has surged in popularity over the past decade.

Roofs that have metal panels have been shown to withstand all the elements and have a low level of maintenance so their lifetime cost is relatively low. Due to their popularity many manufacturers are developing a wider array of finishes, profiles and colors for the metal panels which will add to the aesthetics of the building. The metal roofing can also save you money in energy costs since the designers have improved the finish which provides a cooling formulation.

When one talks about metal residential roofing, various questions come up throughout the construction planning phase, given the wide variety of products one has to choose from today. It is crucial to comprehend the differences between the various roofing systems. Unless one selects the proper roofing system, under layering, substrate and finish, the roof will not function up to its intended potential.

Metal panel roofing has two primary categories which are designated according to how the roof withstands water and the slope of the roof. The first kind is used on roofs that have a low slope that would need water-resistant panels. The other variety, architectural or non-structural roofing, can be used on roofs with steeper slopes and is intended to get rid of the water as quickly as possible.

Typically, panels for a structural roof can spread across structural supports, which join at the building structure using clips. Thermal expansion and contraction is possible because of the floating clip system that fastens the structural panels to the roof. Structural panels and flashing need to be designed so that expansion can occur, because thermal contraction and expansion influences all materials to a certain degree.

Structural metal panel roof systems are usually fitted over a roof assembly that includes structural metal framing and purlins. In areas having heavy snowfall, high wind-loads or when the owner requires a roof assembly, panels may be installed over solid substrates, like metal decking, plywood, oriented-strand board in combination with ISO board insulation to achieve the necessary structural load of the panel system.

Roofs are very important structural features. Value aware house owners are looking for long-term roofing solutions which contain aesthetics and performance together. Everyday, more consumers are choosing metal panel roofing technology. Metal roof paneling has been proven to withstand all sort of weather, lasts a long time, and requires little to maintain. There are many questions that come up when you are talking about metal residential roofing. Structural roofing is useful on roofs with a lower pitch as the panels themselves are water resistant. Non structural roofing, which is also called architectural roofing, can only be used on steeper slopes.

Published May 13th, 2008

Filed in Other, Real Estate

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