What is a Metal Roofing System?
When you take a look at your roof, you are not seeing the full roofing system. Instead, you are just seeing the outmost layer of the entire roof. What is a metal roofing system, and how do all the parts work together to protect your home?
Let’s take a closer look at what comprises your metal roof.
What Makes Up Your Metal Roofing System?
So, what exactly is your metal roofing system? This refers to all of the different parts that hold your metal roof together, and work to keep the elements out of your home. In a metal roof, the parts will comprise of the roof deck, the underlayment, the flashing and ventilation, the fasteners holding it together, and the metal roofing material itself.
As you can see, there is plenty more than the metal roof itself that actually makes up the entire roofing system.
Roof deck: This is where you would start with any roofing installation, as it is the structural foundation of any roof. It will typically be made of plywood or similar materials and works as the stable surface to start attaching the rest of the roof system too.
Underlayment: Once a roof deck is in place, then the underlayment can be added. This is a vital part of your roof, as it creates a layer of protection against water and other issues that could make their way through the roof deck. The exact materials are the layers are different depending on the kind of roof you have installed. If you are getting a metal roof system, then it will typically be felt paper, synthetic underlayment, or a peel and stick synthetic underlayment.
Ventilation: It is hard to stress exactly how important ventilation is to your roof. No matter what kind of roof you are getting installed, it needs to be properly ventilated in order to protect your home. With the right ventilation, your roof will have a good balance of both air intake and air exhaust. This helps avoid a lot of potential issues that will damage roofs if not prevented.
For example, if a roof is ventilated properly, then it will help maintain a consistent temperature. This ensures that ice dams do not form on your roof, as well as ensuring that you will not have to pay more energy costs to heat or cool your home over time. Also, with proper ventilation it will help reduce how much moisture is built up in the attic, which will in turn ensure that water damage and rot don’t happen to your roof timbers.
Metal roofing material: This is going to be the part of your roof you can see when you have it fully installed. With metal roofs, you will find they typically come in corrugated or standing seam panels. For residential buildings, standing seam panels are the more common choice.
A metal roof may be installed as is, and then coated with a specific paint or other coating to help protect it from the elements and give it a specific color. You also have to choice to pick metal roof panels that mimic other roofing types, such as clay tiles or even wooden shingles.
Flashing: Flashing for roofs is a thin piece of metal, which is used to seal seams between different panels. It also works to seal the gap between a metal panel and another part of the roof, such as the chimney. This is another essential part of the metal roofing system, as it will ensure that water stays out of the roof and into the gutters, rather than getting between the joints.
Fasteners: Finally, these are the fasteners which help secure the metal roof panels to the roof deck itself. Fasteners should be non corrosive screws or nails, to keep them in the best condition even when they are exposed to the elements.
Installing A Full Metal Roof System
Now you have an understanding of everything that makes up the metal roof system, and how it all works together. If all of these parts are going to work together effectively though, you need to have them properly installed. Improper installation can lead to more issues with your roof down the line, so it’s incredibly important to have it properly installed so you don’t have to spend more later on.
To install a metal roof system, the roof deck needs to be prepared first. That will include removing the existing roof and repairing any damage to the deck itself. Once this is done, a new underlayment will be added to the roof deck.
Flashing is then added around the areas where it is needed, such as the chimneys or events. Once that has been done, the roof panels can be added to complete the roof.
If you are considering having a metal roof system installed, then you need to have a professional roofer handle the job. Again, this is because you want to have the roof installed properly the first time, so you don’t have to worry about any issues coming from improper installation.
Why Pick A Metal Roof System?
You have lots of choices as to what kind of roof you have installed, so why would you go with a metal roof? They offer a lot of benefits that homeowners can take advantage of. They are highly durable, being able to withstand high winds and even fire, thanks to a class A fire rating. That is why you will see a lot of people who live in wildfire prone areas having metal roofs installed.
You will also see that they are able to last for years with the right care. Typically, you can see up to 70 years out of a metal roofing system when it is properly maintained.
With all of the right parts, a metal roofing system will last a long time and ensure your roof is fully protected from the elements. If you are interested in having one installed, talk to your local roofer.
If you live in Virginia areas such as Warren, Fairfax, Winchester, or Leesburg, Piedmont Roofing will be happy to help you with your roofing needs.