Further Reading

Standing-seams roofs are made up of many shingles or panels that interlock on the vertical axis, running from the roof's edge to its eaves. The point where two panels interlock (the seam) is raised a little off the flat roof surface, which allows water to run off the roof without any seeping between panels. Based on seemingly simple structural principles, the complexities of installing a standing-seam roof are not to be underestimated, the reason that DIY standing-seam roof installation will seem like a risky proposition to anyone in the know.

And indeed, while getting hold of the roof components might be a bit expensive, the installation is the exact opposite. Indeed, metal roofing panels of the standing seam variety are very light - often no more than a pound - and as such your contractor's not going to charge you anything near the rates he would installing heavy traditional materials. If he does, well, he's trying to stiff you, and you need to shop around for a new contractor. When you don't even need to remove the old roofing materials to install a new layer, there can be no cause for amplified up costs beyond the belief that you're dealing with affluent, gullible customers.

This is why, if you've already got your roofing materials, that trying to do a DIY standing-seam roof installation is going to be so much more trouble than it's really worth. If this sounds like a load of codswallop to you, and you intend to forge on no matter what the challenges, then here's a couple of metal roof installation tips. First off, after everything's been covered with a protective plastic membrane to prevent unexpected water seepage from entering the house, you should put down some roofing paper. Scratch that - lots of roofing paper. In fact, it needs to fill just about every bit of roofscape you can find, including the roof valleys (these are the spaces in between roof surfaces, which often resemble gutters). On top of that you'll need to lay a ridge cap, a preformed cover that fits over the roof's peak. The edges of this will be covered by your shingle, but it rounded apex will still peak out from the shingles, giving the roof it its essential character.

You should find a professional at your local hardware or construction outlet to demonstrate just how to fit the shingles together. The most visually stunning configuration you can arrange panels in is a staggered pattern. You can find panel solutions, such as those made by Permanent Roofing Systems, that take a lot of the guesswork out of this process, as they can pretty much be clipped together by hand. Designed for the construction amateur, these four-way shingles often come pre-assembled in multi-shingle sheets, greatly reducing the labor you'll be required to undertake. Go to permanentroofing.com for a downloadable PDF full of DIY standing seam roof installation tips.

If your roof is irregularly constructed - with features like skylights, dormers or chimneys - then you need to reconsider what your goal is in doing this job on your own. In such cases, pre-made shingles just aren't going to be enough to cover the entire roof surface. The irregular areas are going to require custom-cut shingles, and working with a saw and some chalk just isn't going to be enough. What's needed is hydraulic shear called a break, a portable device used by professionals to shape standing-seam panels on-site, a feat that would take a human ten times as long to replicate.

Should you attempt to do the job yourself, the most likely result will be a standing seam roof that either looks slapped together or else is easily damaged by leaking or swelling ice caught between panels. This is when the cost of DIY standing-seam roof installation can actually outstrip that of professionals - because you'll probably need to redo the entire job at some point.

So don't be tight-fisted now. Well installed standing seam roofs often come with manufacturer-warranties of up to fifty years - assuming the roof was installed by a certified professional. A once-off payment now could be the key to a home that retains its value for decades.

For more interesting articles on DIY Metal Roof Installation Tips check out www.DurableMetalRoofs.com