Corrugated metal is the wavy-panel roof you see on barns, garages, shops, porches and more and more houses. If you’re considering corrugated metal roofing in Kansas City for a new building or a re-roof, or you’ve got an older panel roof that’s started leaking around the screws, you want to know what you’re getting into before you spend the money.
Corrugated metal is tough and goes up fast. It also has one weak point every owner should understand: hundreds or thousands of exposed screws, each sealed by a rubber washer that wears out with time.
APC Roofing installs and repairs metal roofs, including corrugated and ribbed panels, standing seam, metal shingles and stone-coated steel. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and inspections and estimates are free. Call 913-398-5020.
What corrugated metal roofing is
Corrugated panels are sheets of coated steel or aluminum rolled into regular, rounded waves. Ribbed panels are a close cousin, with squared ribs and wide flats between them. Both are exposed-fastener systems. Screws go right through the face of the panel into the framing below, and a rubber washer under each screw head keeps water out.
That’s the big difference from standing seam metal roofing, where hidden clips hold the panels and nothing pierces the roof surface.
Where corrugated metal makes sense
It’s a natural fit for outbuildings, garages, carports, porches, pole barns and workshops. On homes, people choose it for a farmhouse or modern look, or simply because it’s durable and goes on quickly.
A few trade-offs to weigh. Corrugated usually costs less than standing seam, but it asks for more upkeep over the years because of those exposed screws. It works best on roofs with enough pitch to shed water fast, and lower slopes call for taller ribs, sealed laps or a different system. And on a house, some people find it louder in a hard rain than shingles, though solid decking and insulation underneath take care of most of that.
Corrugated metal roofing in Kansas City weather
Hail. Metal doesn’t crack or shed granules the way shingles do, but hail can dent it. Small dents are often cosmetic. Bigger hail can dent panels badly enough to damage the coating or loosen fasteners. Some insurance policies treat cosmetic dents differently from damage that affects the roof’s function, so it’s worth reading yours or asking your agent.
If hail did damage your metal roof, you file the claim and pay your deductible. We document the damage, give you an estimate and work with your adjuster.
Temperature swings. Steel grows on a hot afternoon and shrinks on a cold night. On a long panel that movement adds up, and over the years it works screws loose and wears out the washers. Kansas City’s swings between seasons, and sometimes within one spring day, speed that along.
Snow and ice. Metal sheds snow well, sometimes all at once. Snow guards above doors and walkways keep a sliding sheet of snow off whoever’s below. Ice at the eaves can still back water up, so trim and flashing at the edges matter.
Rust. Coated steel holds up well until the coating gets scratched or cut. Cut edges, scratches from foot traffic and spots where wet debris sits are where rust starts. Aluminum doesn’t rust, which is one reason some owners pick it.
Installation details that make it last
- Panels lapped in the right direction so wind-driven rain runs over the laps, not into them
- Screws driven snug enough to seal the washer, but not so tight they squash it flat
- Screw type and length matched to what’s underneath, wood or steel purlins
- Closure strips at the eaves and ridge to keep out blown rain, birds and wasps
- Real flashing at walls, chimneys and pipes instead of a bead of sealant
Maintenance: the re-screw
Washers on an exposed-fastener roof tend to wear out together. When they do, the usual fix is a re-screw. Each old screw comes out, and a new, slightly larger one with a fresh washer goes into the same hole so it grips solid material. That stops leaks at the fasteners and pulls down loose panels. It doesn’t fix rusted-through panels, split laps or bad flashing, so those get checked too. For leaks and storm damage, see metal roof repair in Kansas City.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request an estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos and get a written estimate, plus a straight answer on whether corrugated or another metal system suits your building. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up.
On an older panel roof, a few leaking screws don’t seem like much. Over a couple of seasons, though, that water rots wood framing or rusts the purlins under the panels, and that’s when the cost climbs.
Corrugated metal roofing questions
Is corrugated metal good for a house in Kansas City?
It can be, for the look and the durability. Plan on periodic fastener maintenance, and consider solid decking and insulation underneath for a quieter, more comfortable house.
Do you tear off the old shingles first?
Yes. We tear the old roof off down to the deck before any metal goes on, so we can see and fix the wood first.
Steel or aluminum?
Coated steel is stronger and more common. Aluminum is lighter, won’t rust and usually costs more, but it dents more easily.
How do I know my panel roof needs a re-screw?
Leaks at screw heads, cracked or missing washers and screws that have backed out are the signs. Rust streaks running down from the fasteners are another.
Talk to a metal roofer in Kansas City
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. See all your options on our Kansas City metal roofing page.
A well-built corrugated roof sheds rain, handles our winters and asks for little more than a check now and then. You end up with a roof you can count on and a clear idea of what it’ll need down the road.
