When a house is being built, much care is taken to make sure the whole building looks like it’s made from one piece. The truth, of course, is that each structural element works together to ensure the home is solid, secure, stable, and safe.
When you look at your roof, it uses the same approach. The shingles on a shingle roof are all individual, and so are the sheets of a metal roof: Observe them from afar, though, and it seems like they’re a single, powerful whole.
No matter how you construct a roof, however, some points will be weaker than others. Over time, those are the areas that are more likely to warp or spring leaks, leading to repair bills later.
The biggest culprit here: The fasteners used to secure different parts of the roof.
For example, nails are used as fasteners for many types of roof shingles. The quality of the nail material and the way they were installed are almost as important as the shingles in determining the strength of the roof. In metal roofs, you have fewer fasteners – and thus, fewer weak points.
To strengthen your fasteners and give true longevity to your metal roof, you want fasteners that are reinforced, hidden from the elements, or both. Standing seam metal roofing provides just that, and more.
The Difference Between Standing Seam and Screw Down Roofing
No matter what roofing style you select, metal roofing is generally more durable than shingle. That’s because metal easily resists damage from rain, snow, and hail. Even so, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting the best metal roof for your home.
Let’s look at the differences between the two main types:
Screw Down Roofing
With screw down roofing, the screws that secure the panels in place are visible and exposed. This is the least expensive option, but it has serious durability issues. Metal cap neoprene washers on the screws can reduce the likelihood of leakage in the short term. Special sealant can be used to strengthen the screws, too. In the long run, however, failure of the screws is a virtual certainty.
Standing Seam Roofing
Standing seam roofing uses concealed fasteners supported by raised seams. The fasteners are safe from UV, moisture, and wind. They are less likely to withdraw, since the system allows panels to expand and contract with temperature. This also reduces noise associated with the roof. This type of roof can use higher quality paint systems for a “like new” look for a longer period of time.
A sleek, modern, clean look has made standing seam roofing the most popular metal roofing for advanced architectural applications. Thanks to its versatility, standing seam is appropriate for sophisticated building designs and shows up in high-value residential construction.
Standing seam is also engineered to higher standards than other varieties of metal roofing. Several industry associations set strict testing standards in areas like wind uplift, air leakage, water penetration, and impact resistance – perfect for areas facing wind storms.
To learn more, contact Longhorn Roofing.
