Is all Standing Seam Roofing created equal?

If you are considering  purchasing a Standing Seam roof there are a few things that you should be aware of and watch for. Not all Standing Seam roofing is created equal so here at Classic Metals, we strive to provide you with all the information you need to make a informed decision.

Material Substrate

The substrate that steel panels are made of, is an integral part of the product and will affect the longevity of the steel. The two most common Substrates are Galvanized and Galvalume. Galvanized is basically steel that is hot dipped in zinc, and one of the main drawbacks is that the zinc coating can easily be scratched off. Galvalume is essentially a 55% aluminum to 45% zinc alloy coated sheet steel.  This blend is what makes it different than Galvanized Steel which is covered with a zinc-only coating. Galvalume Steel can be expected to provide at least TWICE the service life of traditional zinc-coatings of similar coating thickness under the same exposure conditions. This has been proven by actual exposure tests using flat coupon samples, conducted over 36 years in the U.S.A. and 15 years in Canada. These tests show that Galvalume has at least TWICE the service life versus Galvanized.

Trim Thickness

When you are discussing options with your installer or steel supplier, be sure and confirm that they manufacture the trims that you will need, out of the same steel as the panels. This is a common area that suppliers can cut costs and use 29 gauge trims on a 26 gauge roof for example. This is not only a unnecessary cutting of corners, it can lead to uneven fading of trims verses panels.

Oil Canning

Oil Canning in metal roofing is not a structural problem or a cause for rejection, however most manufacture’s and installers try to avoid it if possible. Material thickness and type of material can contribute to oil canning and install procedures also play a part, but panel design and machine settings play the greatest role. At Classic Metals we pride ourselves in maintaining high quality machinery that produce panel quality that is second to none. The picture of the two roofs to the right, show the difference between a panel that Classic Metals manufactured and a competitor. Both pictures were taken on buildings that were exactly the same, and less than 50 feet from each other.

Don’t settle for a Standing Seam Roof that is less than it could be, give us a call today and we will show you the difference.

 

 

 

The information provided is for reference only and may change without notice