How To Estimate Metal Roofing Panels
A metal roof is one of the most durable material options for your home. When ordering supplies, it is important to estimate materials correctly to allow for an efficient installation process.
Estimating the amount of metal roofing material you need starts with estimating the square footage of the roof itself.
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Whats The Total Metal Roofing Price
Metal roofing prices will vary depending upon the difficulty of the installation, location of the job, and the accessories that are required.
Heres a ballpark cost including materials and labor:
- Price Of Exposed Fastener Metal Roofing – Materials and Installation
$7 to $12 Per Sq. Ft.
- Price Of Standing Seam Metal Roofing – Materials and Installation
$10 to $16 Per Sq. Ft.
How To Install Your Roofing Sheets
This installation guide provides general advice on how to install a single skin sheeted metal roof. The advice within this installation guide is of a limited nature and should only be used as a guide. It’s not be relied upon as an exact instruction on how a roof should be safely installed which will vary with circumstances.
We have a skilled team of Customer Service advisors who will be happy to assist you with any installation queries you have, please feel free to call them on 01837 659 901. Cladco Profiles accepts no liability for any loss or injury caused by any reliance placed on this guide.
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How Do I Handle Protrusions
When protrusions are a part of your roofing process, youll need to make sure you install adequate flashing and additional framing, where required, to support the sheeting. Depending on the position of the cut through the roof, special attention should be given to roof flashings for pipes, in particular, vent pipes.
Flashings are placed around vents, skylights and plumbing pipes, among other roof protrusions, and are usually made from galvanised steel or any other rust-resistant metal. Occasionally, flashings can be made from plastic, rubber or roofing felt.
In all cases, all cuttings to make way for protrusions and roof flashings should be so arranged that adequate provision is made for the drainage of all throughs and corrugations. As above, please contact the manufacturer for flashings kit.
Disadvantages Of Metal Roofing Panels
- Less Corrosion Resistance
- Lifespan
Less Corrosion Resistance
Metal roofing panels are long lasting and corrosion resistant. However, aluminum, copper, and zinc will not corrode. Steel is an excellent choice as long as you dont live near the coast or in an environment with excessive moisture.
The Weight Of Metal Roofing
Metal roofing will weigh more than aluminum or copper roofing. This will create more of a load on your house that causes stress on the structure. Even with the additional weight metal is still lighter than most non- metal building materials.
How Long Does A Metal Roof Last?
Metal roofing lasts a long time and its considered a lifetime roof. Its designed to last 40 to 60 plus years, which is longer than most non-metal materials. The lifespan of your metal roof will be determined by a number of factors including the style of the panel profile, gauge of the steel, and the finish.
Even though metal is an excellent choice and its long lasting, it still has a shorter lifespan than aluminum, copper, or zinc.
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Laying Box Profile Roof Sheets
For a single pitch roof the minimum pitch we recommend is 4-5º. Lay Box Profile sheets in runs. Start at the eaves and in the corner away from the direction of the prevailing wind . If the first sheet is not laid perpendicular to the eaves and ridge, adjustments will have to be regularly made when laying other sheets and a saw tooth effect at the eaves will be seen. This may be unavoidable if the building is not square.
The first row of sheets should extend over the bottom purlin and the eaves so that rainwater can drain into a gutter or beyond the wall.
Sheets should be overlapped by the next sheet in the run by at least one profile or corrugation .
Please note maximum length of sheet we can supply is up to 9m. If you require a longer length, you will need to do a 2-sheet run as per image above.
You should always overlap the sheets by at least one corrugation. When overlapping sheets its recommended to use mastic lapping tape.
For side laps. It is good practice to use mastic lapping tape and stitching screws to ensure a robust weather resistant joint on side laps. Lapping tape with a section of 9mm x 1.5mm mastic should be run along the crest of the profile that is to be lapped, sheet to sheet stitching screws should then be used at 600mm intervals down the lap to consolidate the bond created by the lapping tape.
Obtain The Length And Width Of The Metal Sheet You Want To Use
Now its time to obtain the length and width of the metal sheet. You can obtain it directly by visiting a shop and directly measuring the metal panels. The standard sheet metal width is 26 inches, and the length varies from 8 feet to 24 feet.
There is also another method to determine the length of your metal panels. You need the distance from the fascia board to the peak of the roof. This space will tell you the length of the metal panel required.
Now whatever measurement you come out with, add one or two inches to it because some people want to overhang the metal panels for aesthetic purposes. Suppose you get 21 feet or 252 inches, then add two inches to it. So now, the length of each metal panel will be 254 inches.
If your metal sheet is 26 inches wide and 22 feet long, then the total area of that metal sheet is 572ft2.
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Screw Line Spacing For Metal Roofing Over Metal Purlins
This will depend upon the type of panel that is used and the thickness of the steel. An engineer will use a load chart in order to determine the spacing between metal purlins. Once the purlin spacing is determined then the metal roofing panels are typically attached to every line of purlins. If the purlins are really close it might be possible to attach the metal sheeting at every other purlin. However, that would be a decision for the engineer.
How To Calculate Metal Roof Cost Metal Roof Formulas
Although our metal roof calculator will do all the work for you, we understand that you may feel more confident if you know how to carry out the calculations yourself. Here are detailed instructions on how to calculate metal roof cost on your own.
- calculating roof area based on roof measurements: roof length * roof width = roof area
- calculating roof area based on footprint measurements: footprint length * footprint width * roof pitch multiplier = roof area
- calculating panel area: panel length * panel width = single panel area
- calculating number of panels to buy: roof area / panel area = panels needed
- calculating the cost of buying the panels: cost of a single panel * number of panels = total expenses
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How To Estimate Roofing Materials
This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 16 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 691,565 times.
Knowing how to estimate roofing materials is important. Not only will it help eliminate waste, but it will also ensure that you buy just enough for the roofing job. Youll have to calculate your roof area, or the overall size of your roof, to determine the amount of materials youll need. This wikiHow will show you how to estimate roofing materials for your next project.
Advantages Of Using Zinc For Roofing
Zinc Roofing Is Attractive
Zinc roofing panels have a striking aesthetic that makes them really stand out. Once zinc is exposed to moisture and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it will form a protective layer of zinc carbonate. The result from this process is a beautiful blue/gray patina.
Zinc Will Patina And Become Corrosion Resistant
Besides being beautiful, patina also serves a purpose in keeping the zinc from rusting. The protective layer that forms keeps the zinc roof from corroding. This makes zinc a great option to use as roofing if you live near the coastline as it will not be negatively impacted by the moisture in the air.
The Long Lifespan Of Zinc Roofing
A zinc roof will last 80-100 years or longer. Like copper, its a lifetime roof. Once you install it, you wont need to worry about installing another roof again.
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Advantages Of Aluminum Roofing Panels
An aluminum roof provides easy maintenance, a long lifespan, and comes in a variety of different colors. Aluminum roofing panels are mainly used for architectural roofing and not structural roofing.
If your job requires engineering be sure to verify that the manufacturer has load calculations that are specifically for aluminum panels.
- Corrosion-resistant
- Malleable
Corrosion-resistant
Aluminum does not rust. Because aluminum is resistant to corrosion, its an ideal material for climates with heavy rainfall and coastal applications. The sea salt spray from the water will have no effect on the aluminum substrate, whereas it would make a steel roof rust rather quickly.
Lightweight
Aluminum is the lightest roofing material and weighs as little as 5 lbs per square foot. A lightweight roof is beneficial because it puts less stress on your home structure as opposed to heavier materials.
Malleable
Aluminum is a malleable material that can be easily configured into different profiles. This gives you many different designs to choose from.
Steel And Aluminum Strengths
If you are a designer or builder considering a standing seam metal roof system you may be asking the question what is the difference between aluminum and steel as a choice for the metal roof.
Commercial and residential metal roofing is primarily made of steel or aluminum. Both products are initially produced in giant rolls at a mill. All steel roofing has a protective barrier on both sides of the sheet called a metallic coating which protects against rusting. This is underneath and separate from any paint which imparts color to the product. There are two types of metallic coatings used: galvanized, which uses 100% Zinc in various thicknesses depending upon the product usage, and Galvalume, a mixture of aluminum and zinc. These metallic coatings sacrifice themselves to protect the iron in steel from oxidation when exposed to air and moisture. Zinc is a more active metal than iron so it oxidizes first and forms a protective barrier zinc oxide, before the iron in the steel can become Ferric Oxide . When zinc is combined with aluminum to form Galvalume there is even more protection in most circumstances.
Steel residential roofing is made in thicknesses designated by gauge and is generally 24 to 26 gauge, with the higher gauge being thinner than the lower. These gauges are appropriate since most residential metal roofing applications are over a solid substrate. Aluminum residential metal roofing is designated by decimal thickness and ranges from .023 to .040 thickness.
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How Many Sheets Of Metal Roofing Do I Need
4.7/5metalroofmetalroofingmetalneededroof
Then, how many roof sheets do I need?
Divide the length of your roof area by 0.760 to determine the number of sheets you need. For example, a structure that’s 6.0m long is 6000 / 760 = 7.89 sheets.
Furthermore, how many iron sheets do I need for a 3 bedroom house? Approximately 85 roofing sheets are required to roof such a house, the price of each roofing sheet ranges from Shs25,000 to about Shs90,000 depending on the type and brand. Therefore, the average cost of the roofing sheets on this house is about Shs5m.
Consequently, how do you figure how much metal roofing you need?
Divide the length of your roof by the width of the metal. In our example we will use 24-inch standing seam roofing, so we will divide 360 inches by 24, which equals 15. This is the number of metal panels needed for one side of the roof.
How do I calculate corrugated roofing?
The standard length for corrugated metal sheets is six feet. Divide the length by six feet. For example, the distance between the peak and edge measures 48 inches, divide 6 into 48 to get 8 sheets. Multiply the number peak and edge sheets together for the total number of sheets .
Q How Well Does A Metal Roof Stand Up To Weather
A. Metal roofing will withstand hail, high winds, rain and snow better than any other roofing material. Metal doesn’t absorb water, which causes cracking and rotting of other materials, due to freeze-thaw cycling. Metal does not burn, warp, split, crack, or rot is impervious to termites and pests, and has withstood winds up to 200 MPH in tests. Metal systems have historically withstood hurricanes and othe windstorms, when other materials have failed.
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Things That Affect The Lifespan Of Your Metal Roof
Now you know the lifespan of the two types of metal roofs. But do you know what affects their lifespans?
The weather in your area and protecting the finish on the metal panels impact your metal roofs life. Continue reading to learn more about the 3 key factors that affect your metal roofs lifespan.
S To Estimate Metal Roofing
Measure the length and width of each roof section in feet, then multiply together to get the square footage.
If you are unable to crawl on the roof, you can estimate by measuring the roofs footprint and finding its square footage. Multiply the footprint square footage by the multiplier for your roof pitch to find the actual square footage of the roof. Use our roof pitch calculator to find the pitch of your roof.
Next, find the square footage of the metal roofing panels you want to use. Measure the length and width in feet, then multiply together to find the square footage. Panels are often measured in inches, so you can use our inches to feet conversion calculator to convert to feet.
Finally, divide the square footage of the roof by the square footage of the metal roofing panel to find the number of panels needed for your roof. Its a good idea to order an extra 10% to account for cutoffs and waste material.
For more complex roofs with many peaks and sections, find the square footage of each roof section and add them all together to find the total square footage. Consider ordering a few extra panels to account for more cuts and waste.
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Disadvantages Of Zinc Roofing Panels
- Expensive
- Less Availability
Zinc Roofing Panels Are Expensive
Similar to copper, zinc roofing panels are not the right choice if keeping your cost low is a top priority. While its cost is often justified by its long lifespan, its still one of the most expensive metal roofing options.
Chalking On Zinc Roofing Panels
Once zinc patinas and turns to its blue/gray color, its possible for a chalky residue to develop in areas where water runs on the roof. These white streaks are generally perceived as being unattractive.
Limited Availability Of Zinc Roofing
Zinc roofing panels are the most difficult material to purchase thats currently available. There are only a handful of suppliers in the United States and most of them import the zinc from Europe. VM Zinc is a supplier of pre-patinated zinc materials, but they dont manufacture the zinc roof sheeting.
If you want an article thats a much deeper dive into zinc roofing:
How Many Roofing Sheets Do You Need
Roofing sheets are some of the most versatile roofing solutions. Available in a wide choice of materials from bitumen, to metal, to fibre cement, and more. Each of these comes with their own unique advantages and are best suited to different kinds of roofing projects. Whether youre re-roofing your shed, revitalising your garage or finishing off a lean-to, weve got a roofing sheet thats perfect for you.
One of the most common questions we receive from customers is How many roofing sheets do I need?. This can depend on several things, including the size of the sheets themselves, the area you need to cover and the pitch of your roof. Thats why the team here at Roofing Megastore has designed our fantastic range of roof sheet calculators.
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What Do I Need To Know About Installing Purlins For My Metal Roofing Project
There are a few common questions we see arise when discussing the installation of the purlin system.
- Doubling up in the valleys Refer to the installation manual for the proper on-center spacing and be sure that the purlin is attached to the roofing truss. In the valleys, due to the angle typically produced at the valley and the use of transition flashing, it is essential that the purlins are doubled in the valleys that is, two purlins side-by-side on each side of the angle of the valley.
- Purlins need to follow the sides / edges of the roof It is important to note that in addition to the proper spacing and doubling of purlins the valleys, it is essential to include purlins along the entire perimeter of the roof. You will also need to install purlins around penetrations such as plumbing pipes, electrical pipes, and skylights among others.
- Follow the proper screw pattern The last common concern when discussing the installation of the purlin system is the screw pattern. The screws need to be placed every 2 on-center as like the diagram below, but also the screws need to be doubled at every on-center location.
We are just a click or phone call away if we can answer any other installation or product questions for you.
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