Metal Roofing Systems

Metal roofing systems, whether steel or aluminum, are among the most durable and long-lasting solutions for commercial properties. With lifespans reaching up to 50 years, metal roofs deliver unmatched strength and protection.

In addition to their longevity, metal roofs offer excellent fire resistance and insulation benefits, helping regulate building temperatures and improve energy efficiency. A metal roof is a strong investment that provides lasting performance and peace of mind.

Brazen Roofing installs both standing seam and exposed-fastener (corrugated) metal panel systems, so we can match the right profile to your building’s look, budget, and roof slope. Standing seam panels use hidden fasteners and interlocking seams for a cleaner appearance and superior weather-tightness, making them a popular choice for retail storefronts and office buildings, while exposed-fastener panels offer a more economical option well-suited to warehouses, agricultural buildings, and other large-footprint commercial structures.

Metal roofing also holds up exceptionally well against the severe weather our markets see, from coastal wind and hail in Myrtle Beach and Charleston to hailstorms in Denver and Oklahoma City. Most systems are rated to withstand high wind uplift and impact from hail and debris, and many qualify for Class 4 impact-resistance ratings that can lower insurance premiums. Reflective coatings also reduce cooling costs in warmer climates like Savannah and Jacksonville.

Because metal roofs shed water and debris efficiently and resist algae, moss, and pests, they require far less ongoing maintenance than shingle or flat roofing systems, typically just a periodic visual inspection and gutter cleaning to keep them performing at their best.

If you’re considering a long-term investment in strength, fire resistance, and energy efficiency, contact us to learn more about the benefits of metal roofing for your business.

Standing Seam vs. Exposed Fastener

This is the whole decision on a commercial metal roof, and it is not really about appearance. It is about where the fasteners are.

• Standing seam hides its fasteners under interlocking seams, and the panels are attached with clips that let the metal move as it expands and contracts. Nothing penetrates the water plane. It costs more, lasts longer, and it is the right answer on anything where a leak is expensive, retail storefronts, offices, hospitality, anything occupied.
• Exposed fastener (corrugated or PBR) screws through the panel face, with a rubber washer at each screw to seal the hole. Far cheaper, faster to install, and well suited to warehouses, agricultural buildings and large-footprint structures. The trade-off is that a roof of that kind has thousands of individual penetrations, and every washer is a maintenance item.

The practical consequence: on an exposed-fastener roof, the fasteners will need re-torquing or replacing before the panels do. Panels routinely outlive their screws. Budget for a re-screw at some point rather than being surprised by one, and if the building is occupied and sensitive to leaks, pay for standing seam instead.

Thermal Movement Is the Thing Most People Miss

A long metal panel in direct sun grows measurably. Over a hundred-foot run that movement is real, it happens every day, and a system that does not accommodate it destroys itself slowly.

That is why standing seam uses sliding clips rather than fixed fasteners, why panel length limits exist, and why expansion detailing at ridges, eaves and transitions is not decoration. It is also why a metal roof installed by a crew that mostly does shingles fails in ways that look mysterious, oil canning, loosened fasteners, split seams at penetrations. Nothing about the material was wrong.

Where Metal Wins in Our Markets

• Denver, Parker and Oklahoma City. Hail. Metal dents where other systems fracture or split, and a dented metal roof is usually still a fully watertight roof. Many systems qualify for Class 4 impact ratings. How your carrier treats cosmetic denting varies by policy, so ask before you buy rather than after a storm.
• Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Wind. Metal systems carry high uplift ratings, and standing seam with concealed clips performs particularly well. The counterweight is salt air, which attacks fasteners, flashings and dissimilar-metal contacts, coastal jobs need the right metallurgy specified, not whatever is on the truck.
• Savannah and Jacksonville. Heat. Reflective coatings on metal cut rooftop temperature substantially and reduce cooling load through long summers.
• Springfield and Raleigh. Freeze-thaw and snow. Metal sheds snow and ice efficiently, though snow guards may be needed over entrances and walkways.

Full list of markets on our service area page.

Coatings, Galvanic Corrosion and Fastener Metallurgy

The parts of a metal roof that fail first are almost never the panels.

• Panel coating. Steel panels are protected by a coating system, and the grade of that coating determines how long the finish and the substrate last. This is a specification line worth comparing between quotes.
• Galvanic corrosion. Certain metals in contact with each other corrode. Copper against steel, the wrong fastener alloy, an aluminum flashing against the wrong panel, it is a design detail and salt air accelerates it dramatically.
• Fasteners and washers. On exposed-fastener systems these are the wear item. Correct alloy, correct torque, correct washer.
• Penetration flashings. Curbs, vents and equipment mounts on a metal roof have to be flashed in a way that allows the panel to move. Rigid detailing at a moving joint tears itself apart.
• Steel or aluminum. Aluminum resists coastal corrosion better; steel is stronger and less expensive. Coastal buildings are the case where the aluminum premium usually earns itself back.

Metal Over an Existing Roof

Metal panels can sometimes be installed over an existing roof on a sub-framing system, which avoids tear-off and disposal and lets the building stay fully operational. It also adds a ventilated air gap that helps thermally.

The condition is the same as always: the existing assembly has to be dry and structurally sound, and code has to permit it. If the insulation underneath is saturated, a metal re-cover hides a deteriorating deck extremely well, which is exactly the problem. We confirm with core samples and an infrared scan first.

Maintenance: Genuinely Low, Not Zero

Because metal roofs shed water and debris efficiently and resist algae, moss and pests, they need far less ongoing attention than shingle or flat systems, typically a periodic visual inspection and gutter cleaning. What should be on the list:

• Fastener check on exposed-fastener systems, and re-torquing where needed
• Sealant at penetrations, curbs and transitions, which ages faster than the metal
• Gutters, valleys and behind rooftop equipment where debris collects
• Panel and coating condition after any hail event
• Any work done by another trade on the roof, the most common source of new leaks on a sound metal roof

Our preventative maintenance program covers it on a schedule. See how often a commercial roof should be inspected and commercial repairs.

Metal is one of several options in our Commercial Roofing Systems lineup, compare it against TPO, PVC and EPDM for the low-slope portions of your building, and commercial shingle for sloped multifamily work. This service is part of our full Commercial Roofing line. On the residential side see metal roofs and GAF TimberSteel.

Frequently Asked Questions