Difficulties associated with metal roof installations

Metal roofing has many benefits, but installation can come with various challenges. 

Home and building owners continue to choose metal roofs for their steep- and low-slope roofing needs. Metal roofs have numerous advantages, including their durability, energy efficiency and lifespan. However, metal roofs can provide a few challenges during the installation process. The experts at McElroy Metal have compiled a list of the top difficulties contractors may face during the installation process. Here are some of the things they recommend paying special attention to. 

Plan the layout 

Many are eager to start the roofing process, but it’s important to come up with a plan first before anything is installed to avoid potential problems later. Because metal panels have major and minor ribs, “It’s essential that roofing penetrations hit the panel's flat (or at least a minor rib) instead of a major rib,” according to McElroy Metals. 

Account for cover width 

During installation, it’s common for metal panels to expand or contract. If this isn’t taken into account, it may be difficult to line up panels and can even affect the performance of the entire roof system. It’s important to account for cover width, and also check the cover width throughout the installation process so you can make slight adjustments, like shrinking or stretching the next panel to avoid larger problems. 

Choose the right underlayment for your project 

Both felt and synthetic underlayments can be used with metal roofing. However, the experts at McElroy Metals have found that contractors are choosing synthetic underlayments more because of their performance. While felt underlayments can withstand UV exposure for a few days, which requires a quick installation, synthetic underlayments can be left exposed for months and even up to a year. This prolonged exposure time allows for a flexible timeline for installation. 

These are just a few of the installation challenges contractors can face when working with metal panels. For more information about exposed fasteners, insulation and ventilation and other difficulties, check out this guide from McElroy Metal.