Helpful Hints for Installing Steel Metal Roofs

Fasteners

• Metal roofing panels are fastened with exposed or concealed fasteners. Exposed fasteners are best if you’re installing your roof yourself, as you can fasten with screws; you don’t need specialized tools.

Fitting Panels

• The flashing on the gable or rake, the edge of the roof, is designed to attach to a specific part of a metal panel. Depending on the flashing, this could be a ridge or the flat section between the ridges. If you lay the panels directly on the roof, the edge may not match the flashing after you trim it. If that happens, you have to order new flashing, which could possibly mean a two-week wait; otherwise, you have to unscrew the panels, shift them, and trim the panel on the opposite side of the roof. To avoid all that, plan in advance. Lay the panels on the ground to determine how much you have to cut from each side to make them fit the flashing.

Cutting Tips

• You can cut the panels with a metal snip, but that’s difficult. Professionals sometimes use a heavy-duty utility knife to score and break flat areas. The easiest way is to use a jigsaw with a metal-cutting blade or power metal shears. Cut metal panels have sharp edges. Wear protective gloves; they’re hot, but you need to protect yourself. Remove the burr from the cut edges before you install the panels.

General Tips

• Store your metal panels flat on the ground before you install them. To avoid kinking or distorting, carry them with the edge side down. Once you get them on the roof, make sure they won’t slide down. If you can, install valleys and built-in gutters first. The underlayment of felt saturated with asphalt is what actually makes your roof waterproof, but you need to be careful in fastening the panels into place. Do not drive home screws or nails too tightly. Metal panels expand and contract with heat and cold. If your nails or screws are too tight, they can stretch the metal, causing unnecessary leaks. Nails and screws should just touch the metal, no more.