Further Reading

If you're seriously considering a DIY standing-seam roof installation, you'd best bone up on your general knowledge regarding what is undoubtedly a great roofing solution. While successful amateur installations are not unheard of, your surest bet is to seek the help of a professional. Standing-seam roofs are made of numerous interlocking panels, which run vertically from the ridge, or edge, of the roof to its apex at the eave. The seam where any two panels interlock is raised just above the surface of the roof, allowing water to run off the roof without it dripping in between the panels. This simple structure belies numerous details of installation that, if not properly attended to, can lessen the efficacy and lifespan of the roof.

Also, should you choose to hire a professional accomplished in the craft of roofing, you're probably not going to find yourself looking at roof installation costs that are anywhere near as expensive as those of ordinary clay or fiber-glass shingle installation. Metal roofs in general and standing-seam roofs in particular are lightweight (between 1 and 2 pounds apiece), making them very easy to move around. They can also be installed over the old roof, which eliminates the time and manpower it might have required to tear the whole previous layer of roof off.

This is why a DIY standing-seam roof installation is just more trouble than it's worth. But if you're not convinced and intent to push through with your project, here's some metal roof installation tips. After you lay down your waterproof plastic membrane (an essential feature for making sure you don't let any water through your roof), you'll need to chase it with a layer of roofing paper, which you must ensure covers every nook and cranny including the spaces between the different roof surfaces (the roof valleys). One part of the job you'll definitely want to done for you (unless it's your goal to become a professional roofer and you're just practicing on your own home) is the making of ridge-cap, which is preformed to fit over the roof's peak. Once this groundwork has been laid, you're ready for the shingles.

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.

So maybe, on just this one occasion, it's the time to loosen those fists and hand over the cash for a skilled roofer's work. Indeed, if your worker as recommended by the manufacturer, or at least is recognized as qualified to install standing seam roof panels, it'll mean that your roof is subject to warranty - and that you can look forward to fifty or more years of being secure in the knowledge that you've a strong roof over your head.

So maybe, on just this one occasion, it's the time to loosen those fists and hand over the cash for a skilled roofer's work. Indeed, if your worker as recommended by the manufacturer, or at least is recognized as qualified to install standing seam roof panels, it'll mean that your roof is subject to warranty - and that you can look forward to fifty or more years of being secure in the knowledge that you've a strong roof over your head.

For more interesting articles on DIY Standing-Seam Roof Installation check out www.DurableMetalRoofs.com