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Apex construction was hired to demo an existing slate roof down to the deck and install a new standing seam metal roof on the entire Tanger Outlet retail shopping center in West Ocean City, MD. All the panels are site-formed, created from rolls of metal that are run through our mobile forming machines which crimp the metal into rigid panels. This project will be on going throughout the summer. Apex Construction is the contractor of choice for any commercial, industrial, or residential roofing project. Please give us a call today for a free estimate!
The small shed with the metal on it is a mock up that was done to select the standing seam metal color for the new roof at the Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City Maryland.
Not long ago, it seemed like your only economical option for roofing materials were asphalt or composite shingles. Few other options were available, and if you wanted a different roofing material, you had better be prepared to pay big bucks for it. Standing seam metal roofs were only a figment of the imagination in the minds of the average property owner no more than 5 or 10 years ago. Most of these roofs were confined to big pocket commercial buildings.
Asphalt and composition shingles do have their high points. For one, if you want to purchase a dead-cheap roofing material, asphalt and composition tend to be the way to go. One problem with asphalt is that, being derived from petroleum, prices of the shingles do vary. Another thing: if you have ever cleaned out your gutters (assuming you have asphalt shingles), you know quite well how these shingles have a propensity to slough off the upper mineral-based surface. After enough seasons of this, conventional shingles have literally been worn down to the core.
Standing seam metal roofs are a completely different animal. Not only is the material different but the size in and shape and installation method is different, too. Many homeowners find that the higher initial cost of this type of roofing will pay off in the end because of its greater durability and reliability. Before anything else, let's take a look at what this product is:
What Are Standing Seam Metal Roofs?
Not all metal roofs are standing seam; this is a particular type of metal roofing.
Origin of Term "Standing Seam": If you have looked at buildings in your area with metal roofs, they are probably of the standing seam variety. Continuous panels run from the ridge of the roof all the way down to the eaves. Between the panels are seams connected by fasteners which are raised above the level of the metal roofing. This is where we get the term standing seam, because the seam is raised or standing, as opposed to flush-mounted.
Seam Fasteners: These seam fasteners might be anywhere from 0.5" to 1.5" high. Because these fasteners are concealed, you only see a smooth continuous ridge extending from top to bottom.
Pre-Formed vs. Site-Formed: Roof panels can come either pre-formed or site-formed. Pre-formed panels are created in the factory off-site of the house. Site-formed panels are created from rolls of metal that are run through mobile forming machines which crimp the metal into rigid panels.
Composition and Width of Panels: 12 to 19 inches wide, panels are usually made either of Galvalume-coated steel or aluminum.
It should also be noted that metal roofing in general is considered a "cool roof" by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This is because metal roofing can be painted any color, including colors on the lighter end of the spectrum which will prevent solar heat gain.
Advantages
One great advantage of standing seam metal roofs is contained in the name itself: seams, the weak point in any roof and a potential entry point for moisture, are raised above the level of the roofing panel.
Because the metal panels run unhindered from the top to the bottom of the roof, not only are there no horizontal seams but in total the roof has a far fewer number of seams.
Finally, the look of standing seam roofs lends itself well to certain types of contemporary or country-style buildings and houses. Due to the sleek lines, these roofs give your building/house an "industrial" feeling, yet tempered by a modern flair. These are not the rippled tin roofs that you might remember from warehouses of the past.
Disadvantages
A fewer number of roofing contractors are willing to or able to install standing seam roofs than conventional roofing materials. This means that total project cost will be higher because competition in the market is lessened.
Standing seam roofs are not advisable for roofs with a pitch of 2:12 or less (2 feet of vertical rise for every 12 feet of horizontal rise).
As the saying goes, one man's ceiling is another man's floor. So the cool, industrial look favored by some owners may be a deficit for other homeowners interested in more traditional looks. Here, we should note that there are other types of metal roofs that mimic the style of shingle roofs.
Finally, standing seam metal roofs still offer only a limited choice of colors. If you are content to keep your roofing choice confined to earthen colors, grays, browns, forest greens, or earthy reds, then you may found find a match.
