Learning Objective

Learn how to install standing seam metal roofing system.

Standing Seam Metal Roof Installation

For most homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, a standing seam metal roof installation is not a do it yourself project. But for those few who dare, let this serve as an introductory educational guide on how to install metal roofing on a small shed or a free standing garage. if nothing else, you can still benefit from the basic conceptual understanding of metal roofing installation process provided by this guide.

Materials and Tools you will need

* Sheet metal hand seamer/folder/crimping tool.
* Drill/Driver
* Wood cutting: For minor wood repairs, a cordless reciprocating saw.
* Hammer, rubber mullet, tool belt, metal snips/shears, tape measure.
* Safety rope, anchor and harness, and knowledge/experience using it, work safety plan, and first aid kit.
* Safe to use and adequate Ladder.
* Tear off/roof stripping tools, heavy duty contractor bags, and a dumpster to dispose of old shingles.
* Pre-measured and Pre-cut Standing Seam Metal Roofing panels at work site.
* System specific screws and flashing details for your roof.
* Roofing Underlayment, Ice and Water, nails with colored caps.

Hand Seamer a must have tool for a metal roofing job

Step 1 – Measuring Your Roof and Sketching a Diagram

Take multiple pictures of your roof from different angles, then measure your roof and draw a diagram that you can take with you to a roofing supply warehouse where you can order metal roofing materials for the job.

You will need to take precise/accurate measurements of your roof deck, and come up with an accurate/readable sketch/diagram of your roof; Ridge length, gables lengths (all sides), eaves lengths (all sides), valleys, dormers, chimneys, and skylights.

Roof Sketch Diagram

Image Credit: http://www.roof-repair-houston.com/fix-my-roof-leak-leaking-ceiling.html

Although in theory, you can install standing seam metal roof over your existing asphalt shingle roof, I would advice you to tear off the old roof before installing standing seam due to a common effect of telegraphing of lines of asphalt shingles underneath the standing seam metal roof roof. Note You can get away with telegraphing of the shingles underneath, if you choose to install a metal shingles roofing system.

Step 2 – Ordering Metal Roofing Panels

Order metal roofing panels called standing seam metal roof at your local roofing supply warehouse. They will ask you about the length of panels you need, type of profile you would like, and a color of your metal roofing system.

Hand over your roof diagram with all the details and roof dimensions, and show them pictures of your roof. Based on the information you provide, roofing supply shop will order the panels and flashing for your job. Here you can also buy all the necessary metal roofing installation tools, and safety equipment.

In addition you will need to buy a roll or two of roofing underlayment for the job. I recommend that you spend a little extra, and go for a breathable synthetic roofing underlayment that will be installed underneath your new metal roof.

Step 3 – Preparing Roof Deck for Installation

Once you have all the necessary tools, and materials on site, You will need to prepare your roof deck for the installation of a new metal roof. It is generally recommended that you perform a complete tear off of your old/existing roof so that you can get an opportunity to replace any rotten wood or plywood underneath the asphalt.

Roof Deck with anchor safety system attached at the ridge of the roof

Step 4 Installing Ice-and-Water and Roofing Underlayment

Install your roofing underlayment in a horizontal fashion. You will start at the eaves with a slight overlap of the roof deck, and nail down the first row of your roofing underlayment.

(If you live in a northern climate, then install one layer of Ice-and-Water right underneath your roofing underlayment, adhering it (Ice-and-Water) straight to the roof’s deck with a half an inch of overlap past the eave’s edge.) You will also need to install ice and water in the valley/valleys of your roof.

You will then continue installing your roofing underlayment in an upward fashion with a six inch overlap over the previous layer until you reach the ridge of the roof.

roofing underlayment installation

Step 5 – Installing Metal Trim, Drip Edge, and Gable Flashing

Now it is time to install metal flashing at the eaves. The flashing being installed over the edge of your roof’s eaves is called starter trim. You will have to follow manufactures recommendations, but generally you would install your starter flashing leaving 1/4 of an inch of space from the eave, and securing it in place with system specific screws (that you should order along with materials) every 12 inches on center. Then, follow the same steps to install your gable flashing.

Drip Edge Metal Flashing Installation

Watch the Video Below:

Step 6 – Installing Metal Roofing Panels

Once all the necessary metal trim/flashing is installed, you can begin installing your first metal roofing panel. You will have to cut, and bend about an inch of the panel underneath (forming a hook) so that we can hook it onto the starter trim/drip edge.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing panel with a hook

Then, the metal roofing panel will be secured by the special screws at the top. After that, you can secure the panel by installing special holding brackets/metal clips, and secure them with the screws to the roof deck. You will find that metal clips will have two holes, one will be closer to the metal roofing panel, while the other will be farther away. I recommend that you only use one screw to secure the metal clip through the farther/outside hole that is away from the panel. This will help prevent dents in the panel due to thermal expansion and contraction of the panels.

If your home is located in hurricane zone, you would want to put two screws into each clip. Never put two screws if you have solid boards underneath instead of plywood. Both screws can easily split the board, which will compromise security of panel attachment to your roof deck. (The holding brackets attach to the panel on a side every 12 inches or so.)

The follow on panel will be installed in a similar fashion. You have to lock the follow on panel into previous panel using the locking mechanism called the seam (SnapLock standing seam panel mechanism).

Use a rubber mallet, or a rubber handle of your hammer to snap the seams of the roofing panels together. You can also snap the follow on panel with the palm of our hand starting at the ridge/top of the panel and working your way down until the entire panel is connected/attached via the snaplock method. Then repeat the whole process again until you reach the gables/ends on both sides.

Watch the Standing Seam Metal Roofing Installation Video Below:

Step 7 – Installing Z – Bar Flashing

Note: If you are using a combination of ridge and soffit vent system on your roof, then make sure that your roof has sufficient pitch, to prevent a wind driven water from getting inside your attic through a perforated z-closure.

Cut your z-bar so that it is the same width as one of the panels to which it will be fitted. Make sure that it fits well, but not too tight as to scratch the locks of the panel. Usually you will want to go about a 1/4 inch less than the nominal width of the panel. This gives you enough room for a snap lock of the next panel to fit in. You will also end up with only minimum gaps between the edges.

Z - Bar Installation for a Standing Seam Metal Roof - Top View

Cut a small piece of ridge cap (about two inches wide), align it so that it is in the center of the ridge, laying perpendicular with the locks. Mark the outer edges on the top of each rib. You will align your z-bars and the ridge cap to these.

Z - bar installation on a standing seam metal roof - side view

Use your first piece as a template, then cut enough z-bars to accommodate every panel on your roof (have enough z-bars for both sides of the roof). Using double-sided peel-n-stick foam, or some type of the exterior grade caulking sealant, caulk the connection area between the panel and the z-bar. I recommend that you use a clear (or color matching) Solar Seal 900. It works great. Attach z-bar with three screws, and caulk the side gaps so that any wind driven water will not get in.

standing-seam ridge-cap installation over z-bar

Once all of your z-bars are up and sealed, take a section of the ridge cap, and cut a 2-inch line down the center bend, at the end of the cap. At the same end, cut off 2 inches of the lock and bend down the two flaps. This will be your end-piece.

Align the flaps you have just made with the gable trim, and hook in one side of the ridge cap into the z-bar. If your z-bar is spaced too widely or narrowly, you can bend it in or out so that it fits your ridge cap. Hook the second (unclosed) lock into the opposite z-bars all along the length of the cap. Once it is completely clipped in, use your hands to close the opened lock (lip) on one side of the cap, and then using the hand-seamer crimp down both sides of the cap.

Tips

* I recommend that you first practice installing metal roofing on a small structure such as shed, or a free standing garage before taking on your home’s roof. It would also be helpful if you can get another person who has experience with home improvements to help you out with your DIY metal roofing installation project, and make sure that things go smoothly.

Warning

* Doing any type of work on your roof is inherently dangerous. There is always a danger of falling of the roof, or from the ladder. You will want to wear special shoes with rubber soles, have and use a properly secured ladder, and know how to properly use your safety equipment including rope, anchor, and wear the safety harness.

Metal roofing is an environmentally safe building material. Metal roofs contain a significant proportion of recycled metal content. When the time to replace your metal roof, which may never be the case in the first place, metal roofs are fully recyclable and the recycled metal can be readily reused for other purposes.

Many modern metal roofs are rated by a cool roof rating council, which assigns cool-roof ratings to various metal roofing systems. A cool roof and an energy star rated metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat, which lowers the temperature of the roof and prevents the transfer of the heat inside the house.
By helping to lower the interior temperature of your home, metal roofs result in energy savings on your cooling costs. A reduced air conditioning load results in a cleaner and healthier environment.
Many metal roofing systems carry a class “A” fire rating, in which comes in handy in the area that is prone to forest fires.
Metal roofs are extremely durable and can withstand the hurricane winds with speeds of up to 110 miles per hour. In fact, there are some metal roofing systems rated for the wind speeds of over 150 miles per hour. This can be a very important factor in the hurricane prone areas. Consider that metal roofing costs far less than a concrete slab roof that some people opt for to find protection against hurricane winds.
Metal roofing systems are not only strong and durable, but also flexible in terms of expansion and contraction ability, which is necessary to accommodate for the rapidly changing temperatures. Unlike an asphalt shingle roof that is likely to crack due to a thermal shock, a metal roof is designed to expand or contract to mitigate the effects of thermal shock.
Metal roofing can be a great remedy against ice dams on the roof. Coated with especially designed coating, metal roof causes the snow to slide down the roof before it has a chance to form and build up to become an ice dam.

This, and a range of other reasons help explain why insurance companies offer significant insurance premium reductions for the homes with metal roofs.
Metal roofing features a great variety of colors and styles ranging from modern looking standing-seam metal roofs, to easy to install metal shingles, and traditional Cedar Shake look alike metal shakes roofs that have non of the splitting of the shingles, cracking and discoloration problems.

Consider an upraised home value, and green building tax credit savings, and you will see why a metal roof is truly an amazing remodeling decision for a homeowner.