The shop roof was fine for years. Now there’s a drip over the workbench every time it rains, a ring of rust around a few screw heads and a panel at the corner that rattles in the wind. Or you’re putting up a new building and trying to decide whether corrugated metal is good enough, or whether you’ll regret it in ten years.
Corrugated metal roofing in Republic, MO makes sense on a lot of properties. It’s affordable, it goes on quickly and it lasts a long time when the details are right. Most of its problems come down to fasteners, laps and edges, and you can plan for every one of those.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed and insured, and the inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 to have someone take a look.
What corrugated metal roofing is
Corrugated panels have rounded waves running the length of the sheet. You’ll also see ribbed panels, with squared-off ribs and wide flat sections between them. Both are called exposed-fastener panels, because the screws go right through the face of the metal into the framing below. Each screw has a rubber washer under the head to seal the hole.
The waves or ribs are what make thin metal stiff enough to span between supports. Taller ribs span farther and carry more water, which is why ribbed panels are common on bigger roofs and long slopes.
Corrugated metal roofing in Republic, MO: where it fits
Lots of properties around Republic have more than one building to roof, and corrugated or ribbed metal shows up on most of them:
- Pole barns and equipment sheds
- Detached garages and workshops
- Porches, carports and lean-tos
- Some homes, especially where the owner wants a farmhouse look
On a house, the panels usually go over solid decking with an underlayment, like any other roof. On a barn or shop, they may be screwed straight to wood or steel purlins with nothing in between. That difference affects noise, condensation and how the roof gets repaired later.
The details that decide how long it lasts
Screws and washers
This is the weak point, and it’s predictable. The metal lasts decades, but the rubber washers dry out and crack in the sun much sooner. Screws can also work loose as panels expand in the afternoon heat and shrink overnight, which slowly wears the holes into ovals. A screw driven too tight crushes its washer flat. One driven at an angle never seals at all.
Laps and edges
Panels overlap side to side and, on long roofs, end to end. Those laps need enough overlap and sealant, and they need to face the right way so water runs over them, not into them. The edges need trim fastened well enough that wind can’t get underneath and start peeling.
Slope
Screw-down panels work best on roofs with a reasonable pitch, roughly 3 inches of rise per foot or more. Any flatter and rain can creep sideways through the laps toward the screws. A lot of leaking porch and lean-to roofs are simply too flat for the panel on them.
Condensation in open buildings
In a barn or shop with no decking, warm, damp air meets the cold underside of the metal on a cool night and turns to water. It can drip like a leak even when the roof is perfectly sound. A condensation barrier, or a panel with a felt-like backing applied at the factory, helps a great deal, and it’s far easier to add during installation than afterward.
Gauge
Thinner 29-gauge panels are common on farm buildings. Thicker 26-gauge panels resist dents and foot traffic better, and they’re a better match for homes and for anyone worried about the hail that comes through southwest Missouri most springs.
Repair or replace a corrugated roof?
A lot of tired corrugated roofs don’t need new metal. If the panels are solid and the leaks come from old washers, a full re-screw with slightly larger fasteners can seal every hole again. A single torn or rusted-through panel can usually be replaced on its own, and laps that have pulled apart can be resealed.
Replacement makes more sense when rust has eaten through in many places, when the panels are too thin or too dented to hold new screws, or when the roof was put on at too low a slope to begin with. Our metal roof repair in Republic page goes deeper into repairs. If you’re weighing a different style for the house, compare it with standing seam metal roofing.
Hail damage and insurance
If hail dented or cracked your panels, you file the claim with your insurance company and pay your deductible. We photograph and measure the damage, write up an estimate and work with your adjuster. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
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. We check the panels, screws, laps, trim and framing, and you get photos and a written estimate. If a re-screw will do the job, that’s what you’ll hear.
- The work gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Your roof is repaired or replaced, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Corrugated metal roofing questions
Is corrugated metal OK for a house?
Yes, if it goes over solid decking with an underlayment and the roof has enough slope. Many homeowners pick it for the look. If you’d rather not have exposed screws on your house, standing seam is the alternative.
Why does my barn roof drip when it hasn’t rained?
That’s usually condensation forming on the underside of the metal overnight, not a leak. A condensation barrier can fix it.
How often do the screws need replacing?
It varies with sun exposure, the washer material and how well the screws were driven in the first place. Have the roof looked over every few years and after any hard storm.
Can you put up a whole metal building?
This page covers the roof itself: new corrugated roofs, re-roofs and repairs. For the frame and walls of a new metal building, talk to a metal-building contractor.
A dry building, inside and out
Whether it’s the house, the shop or the barn, you want a roof you don’t have to listen to every time it rains. Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. You can see all our metal roofing options in Republic too.
