The metal roof on your shop, barn or house has been up for years, and it’s starting to drip. Maybe it’s right under a row of screws, or along a lap where two panels meet. Maybe the last hailstorm left dents and you can’t tell whether they matter. Corrugated metal roofing in the Missouri Ozarks is tough and practical, but like any roof, it has a few weak points that need attention as it ages.
You don’t want to replace a whole roof if new screws and a few panels will do. You also don’t want to keep patching a roof that’s past it. An honest inspection sorts that out.
APC Roofing installs and repairs corrugated and ribbed metal roofs on homes, garages, porches and outbuildings across southwest Missouri. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and your inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020.
What corrugated metal roofing is
Corrugated and ribbed metal roofs are made of long panels screwed straight through the metal into the framing below. Each screw has a rubber sealing washer under its head to close the hole. Because the screw heads are visible, these are often called exposed-fastener roofs.
Classic corrugated panels have soft, even waves. Ribbed panels have taller, squared-off ribs with flat sections between them. Both are common on barns, shops, equipment sheds and porches across the Ozarks, and plenty of homes use them too. They’re different from standing seam metal roofing, which hides its fasteners under raised seams.
Most residential panels are coated steel. You’ll see the thickness listed by gauge, and a lower gauge number means thicker metal. Thicker panels stay straighter and resist dents better.
Where corrugated metal roofs leak
The screws. This is the big one. Ozarks summers heat the metal every afternoon and nights cool it off, so the panels expand and shrink constantly. Over the years, that movement wears screw holes into ovals and dries out the rubber washers. Screws driven too tight crush the washer. Too loose or crooked, and the washer never sealed in the first place.
The laps. Where panels overlap side to side or end to end, wind-driven rain can work its way in, especially on lower-pitched roofs.
Flashing. Pipes, vents, chimneys and the joints where a roof meets a wall all need flashing made for metal panels. Old or poorly fitted flashing is a common leak source.
Rust. The coating on steel panels protects it. Where a scratch, cut edge or worn spot reaches bare steel, rust starts. Water that sits in debris or a low spot speeds it up.
Corrugated metal roofing in the Missouri Ozarks: weather and wear
Spring hail is the main storm threat here. Hail can dent panels and, on harder hits, crack the paint and expose bare metal. Some dents are cosmetic. Others bend trim out of place or open a lap, and those let water in. Telling the difference takes a close look.
Wind is the other. Strong storm gusts pull at the edges and corners of a metal roof first, and a loose trim piece or a lifted panel edge gives the wind something to grab.
Ice and snow slide off metal more readily than off shingles. On a house, that can mean a sheet of ice coming off over a doorway or walkway. Snow guards placed over entries and decks break it up.
Condensation is a quieter problem, mostly on outbuildings. In an uninsulated shop or barn with metal screwed straight to purlins, warm, moist air inside can condense on the cold underside of the panels and drip. That’s not a roof leak, but it looks like one. The fix is in what’s under the panels, not on top.
Repair options for corrugated metal roofs
Many leaking metal roofs don’t need replacing. Common repairs include:
- Re-screwing. Old screws are backed out and replaced with new screws with fresh washers, often one size larger so they bite into solid material. When the washers across a roof have aged together, replacing all of them at once is common practice.
- Panel replacement. Badly dented, rusted or torn panels can be swapped out individually.
- New flashing. Boots and flashing made for metal roofs replace failed ones around pipes, vents and walls.
- Lap sealing. Leaking laps can be re-sealed and re-fastened.
When rust has spread across many panels, laps are failing everywhere or the framing underneath is damaged, replacement is the better long-term choice. For more on fixing metal roofs, see metal roof repair in the Ozarks.
Replacing or installing a corrugated metal roof
If you’re putting corrugated or ribbed metal on a house, garage or outbuilding, a few details make a big difference: the right gauge for the use, the right screw type for the framing below (wood and steel purlins take different screws), screws driven to the right depth, proper flashing and trim, and an underlayment or condensation control where it’s needed. See metal roof installation in the Ozarks for how the process works.
If storm damage is part of the picture, you file the claim with your insurance company and pay your deductible. We document the damage with photos, write the estimate and work with your adjuster.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of the screws, laps, flashing and any rust or hail damage, and hear whether repair or replacement makes sense.
- Get the work done and the site cleaned up. The repair or new roof goes on, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Corrugated metal roofing questions
Can corrugated metal go on a house, not just a barn?
Yes. Plenty of homes use corrugated or ribbed panels. Over solid sheathing with underlayment and an insulated attic, it performs well and looks right on farmhouse and rustic-style homes.
Is a metal roof loud in the rain?
On an open barn with bare purlins, yes. On a house with sheathing, underlayment and an insulated ceiling, most people can’t tell much difference from a shingle roof.
Do hail dents mean my metal roof needs replacing?
Not necessarily. Many dents are cosmetic. Dents that crack the paint, bend trim or open laps are the ones that cause leaks. An inspection tells you which you have.
Corrugated or standing seam?
Corrugated and ribbed panels cost less up front and suit outbuildings and many homes. Standing seam hides its fasteners, so there are no exposed screws to maintain, and it works on lower pitches. Your budget and the building decide.
A metal roof that stays tight
Fix the screws, the laps and the flashing, or put on a well-built new roof, and your shop or home stays dry through spring storms and summer heat. Call 913-398-5020 to book your free metal roof inspection.
