Where to Place Screws on Metal Roofing and the Advantages of Each Placement Method

Spread the love

Metal is one of many roofing material options available. It is popular amongst homeowners due to its exceptional durability. The installation process is an essential key to longevity of this particular material, as the most concerning source of possible issue is barely the metal itself, but actually the roofing screws. Find out how and where to place screws on metal roofing correctly below.

Two Ways of Metal Roofing Screw Placement

Incorporating the correct set of equipment is the first step into any proper installation process of metal roofing, which includes screws to anchor the shingles or panels to the roof structure. To make sure that secure seal is created, it is recommended to use properly compressed self-tapping sheet metal screw. The reason why screws work better for metal roofing compared to nails is because they won’t get loose or bend when being exposed to extreme condition such as hot weather, as nails tend to contract and expand frequently.

To install the roof fittingly, you need to know where to place screws on metal roofing. The placement of metal roofing’s screws can be quite challenging, because it depends on the conditions of the metal siding and roofing locations. As if it wasn’t confusing enough, different metal roofing manufacturers may have different manuals and opinions of the right screws placement.

Essentially, however, there are two common methods regarding screw placement of metal roofing. Depending on your certain circumstances, either can be the most appropriate method to choose.

  • First method is to install the screws in the higher part of the corrugated metal roofing. This provides of benefits if your location have less debris and less water. However, some may say it offers lower secure connection.
  • Second is to install the screws in the lower part of the corrugated panel. This offers an advantage of more secure connection, but it is not ideal if your area is frequently exposed to extreme weather. It also provides the advantages of better compression and less chance of panel distortion when the screws are installed.

As you may have concluded from the above list of methods, in general, you can reap more benefits of installing the screws on the lower part of the rib instead of the top. This ensures a properly tight seal. Moreover, screw installment in the higher part of the panel may cause them to tilt, therefore making the hold stretch out, which will potentially break the installment.

In addition, installing the screw on the higher part of the corrugated metal roof panel provides more risk of pulled out screws when the wind is loud. In terms of easiness, you can also achieve easier installment process if you’re just fastening the screws below panel.

Aside from the placement, it is also important for you to learn about the specific distance it requires for each screw. Commonly, the screws are placed on every third or metal roofing panel’s corrugation. For more detailed where to place screws on metal roofing guide according to the particular conditions of your building and area, you may consult to a roofing professional.