If you want a steel roof placed on your home, then you have a wide variety of options available to you. Metal roofs are becoming popular due to their durability, since a metal roof can last 60 years or more. If leaking is your big roofing concern, then make sure the roofing options you pick are made to reduce leaks as much as possible. Keep reading to learn about some good options so you can ask your metal roof manufacturer or roofing expert about them.
Standing or Sealed Corrugated Seams
Steel roof parts come in shingles or panels, and there are two separate types of panels that can be chosen. These panels are standing seam and corrugated varieties. Corrugated roofs are made from solid sheets of steel, and the edges of each sheet overlap one another. These large panels are secured to one another with steel screws. Each screw is fitted with a small rubber washer. This allows each steel panel to move slightly as your house shifts, without stripping the screws. However, the washers can crack over time and the screw holes can provide an access point for water.
Steel roofs with standing seams do not have the same leak risks as corrugated roofs. These roofs are formed from similar panels as the corrugated varieties. Screws or washers are not needed though, because the seams use concealed clips that slip together. Each clip will have a small amount of adhesive along the bottom edge. Once your roofing expert snaps the clips together, the edge is clamped down to adhere the adhesive. In many cases, a few pancake head screws will be needed to secure each roofing panel. However, the screws will sit flush against the steel. This means that water will be unable to get underneath the fastener.
Layered Paint
Metal roofing panels are made from stainless steel and coated with a type of paint. Some inexpensive roofing panels will have a single layer of baked-on enamel. Unfortunately, the enamel can be scratched and this will leave the stainless steel exposed. As the galvanized zinc coating on the outside of the steel breaks down, the steel will form corrosion. Rust, holes, and leaks will then follow.
It is best to choose steel roofing panels that are covered in a coating system. These systems are added in layers, and the layers are meant to protect the steel from damage. An example of a coating system is a steel roof with layers of zinc, passivation, primer, and finish. The zinc layer helps the steel resist corrosion, and so does the passivation and primer layer. Primers typically contain rust-inhibiting compounds to keep rust at bay. Once the primer layer is cured, a baked-on enamel is added.
If you want a steel roof that resists sun degradation, then you can choose a steel roof with a stone coating system. These roofs are painted and stones, like the ones placed on asphalt roofs, are sprinkled over the top of the steel panels. The stones are then secured with a top coat of acrylic sealer or a film. The stones, which are made from minerals, reflect the rays of the sun.
Elastomeric coatings are an option as well, and this type of paint is flexible and durable. This is a good option if your home is in a hurricane or storm area where flying debris may hit the roof. The pliable paint absorbs the stress from the debris instead of chipping or flaking off.
Steel roofs are a great investment, but you will need to choose the right type of panels for your home. If you are confused about all of the choices available to you, make sure to work directly with a metal roofing manufacturer who can find the right products for your needs.
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