Resources provided by RE-Oakton.com

Roofs are one of the most crucial aspects of any type of building design. Roofs are very important structural features. Value aware home owners are looking for long-term roofing solutions which provide aesthetics and performance together. Everyday, more consumers are choosing metal panel roofing technology. Based on many studies, metal panel roofing has become very popular over the last ten years.

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.

The two basic types of metal panel roofing are differentiated by their method of water resistance. The pitch of the roof is the most important factor. 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. On these slopes, water will shed quickly.

Normally, in a structural roof, panels are capable of spanning between structural supports, and are joined by clips to the building structure, The floating clip system that fastens the structural panels to the roof allows for thermal expansion and contraction. Since thermal expansion and contraction influences all materials to some extent, structural panels and flashing must be designed in such a way to accommodate that same expansion.

If your roof is compiled of structural metal framework and purlins then it is likely that a structural metal panel roof system would work for you. You want to be able to support the structural load that will be placed on the roof so if you live in an area prone to high winds or heavy snow then it is easy to install the panels over the existing material such as metal, plywood or an oriented-strand board combination.