Metal Roofing & Siding Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Expansion and contraction should be taken into consideration when installing a steel roof. There are several variables involved, but one can expect a steel roof or siding panel to grow (or shrink) approximately 1/8” for every 10ft in length.  A 40-foot-long panel can change length by more than ½”.  If possible, allowing panels to grow and shrink with changing ambient conditions will help reduce chances of panel distortion, damage, etc.

When installed and maintained properly, metal roofing can last as long as fifty years or more and still maintain its beauty, while other traditional shingle and shake roofs need replacing after an average of 10-15 years.

Not for many years if proper precautions and maintenance are followed. Most ASC BP steel roof and siding panels have a ZINCALUME® coated substrate, a metallic coating combination of zinc and aluminum.  A zinc-aluminum coating provides upwards of 2-3 times the corrosion protection of similarly coated zinc or galvanized coatings.

ASC BP steel roofing is a very strong, yet lightweight material compared to other roofing products.  It depends on panel shape and panel gauge, but typically runs somewhere between 12oz/sq-ft to 1.5lbs/sq-ft.  This is substantially lighter than asphalt shingles or clay tile that may weigh 3lbs/sq-ft to 6lbs/sq-ft respectively.

First steel is made from recycled material. About 25% to 30% of the steel used in an ASC Building Products metal roof is melted down from recycled steel. Unlike other roofing products, steel roofs can be recycled at the end of their useful life. Finally, steel roofs with Cool Colors can save your home up to 40% in summer cooling costs and steel roofs are highly emissive (they cool off quickly after the sun goes down) which can reduce air temperatures in urban cities. Combined, these benefits mean less dependence on energy resources and less general air pollution in your neighborhood. Steel roofing is considered a “green” product.

Performance and aesthetics.   Standing seam panels like our Skyline Roofing and Design Span hp have hidden attachment fasteners.  The hidden fasteners help maintain the very clean look of the metal roof and assist in addressing thermal expansion and contraction.  In addition, hidden fasteners are less susceptible to the potential of water intrusion. See all of our concealed fastened panels here.

Exposed fastener panels, are great products as well.  They install fast, provide an alternate look to the roof, and are generally more economical. See all our exposed fastener panels here. 

Metal is one of the best roofing materials for the collection of rainwater, however we take the position, it is not recommended for use in potable water applications.  There has been some independent testing done which indicates that water runoff from painted metal roofs does not leach appreciable amounts of hazardous materials into the water however this does not take into account all factors – environmental, regulatory, etc.

The cost of a metal roof will vary depending on the roofing panel width, thickness/gauge and the shape and pitch of your roof. An experienced metal roofing contractor can easily determine the right profile and gauge that will be best for your building. They will also be able to provide material and labor estimates. Check with a nearby roofing distributor or lumber yard for a qualified contractor in your area.

The cost of metal roofing is very comparable to other high-quality roofing materials.  The extreme durability and longevity of metal roofing makes it a very worthwhile long-term investment. Metal roofing may be slightly more expensive in the short term, but cheaper in the long term.

ASC Building Products has a network of reliable metal roof and metal siding distributors, lumberyards, and home improvement merchants throughout the Western United States. Visit our Distributor Search for assistance in locating a distributor near you or you can request a quote by submitting a Product Inquiry.

When properly installed and maintained, metal roofing will last many years with very little maintenance.  The primary maintenance required is the occasional removal of debris that may accumulate up on the roof surface (leaves, pine needles, etc). On the ASC Building Products website, check out our Roof System Care and Maintenance technical bulletin which details good practices for cleaning and maintaining your metal roof.

On the ASC BP website, check out our Roof System Care and Maintenance technical bulletin which details good practices for cleaning and maintaining your metal roof.

It is acceptable to walk on a metal roof if the entire roof assembly, including substrate, has been properly designed to withstand foot traffic and other associated building loads.  Before installing a metal roof, understand what loads may be applied to the roof – wind, snow, equipment, foot traffic, etc. – and ensure the roof assembly has been appropriately designed and installed to withstand these loads.  Seek the help of a design professional as required and be sure to follow applicable building codes.

Each roofing material has its pros and cons.  Metal roofing excels in providing excellent protection from the elements (rain, snow, hail, wind), comes in many shapes and colors, and is by far the lightest roofing material available – without compromising strength.  Having a sleek metal roof that can provide many decades of continuous strength and beauty is an appeal to many potential customers. Check out our Benefits of Metal Roofing to learn more advantages.

In general, no.  The pigments used in metal roof coatings are specifically designed to reflect the sun’s energy, as well as effectively shed any excess heat that may develop. Learn more about the cool colors we use by reading our blog, Energy Efficient Cool Colors in Today’s Metal Roofing.

We offer metal roof coating warranties. Please refer to our coatings and warranty information on our website or click here to view warranties. The length of warranty will depend on the product/paint system chosen. Our warranties range from 25 years to limited lifetime.

Many people are familiar with Zinc coated (galvanized) metal parts.  Most of ASC Building Products’ metal roof and siding panels are furnished with a ZINCALUME® coated steel substrate. A ZINCALUME® coated substrate incorporates an aluminum alloy within the zinc coating to greatly enhance the corrosive resistance of our metal roofing products.

A ZINCALUME® Plus finish is the natural zinc-aluminum coated substrate, coated with a clear, low gloss acrylic. This coating allows ASC Building Products to produce a panel with the beauty of a bare metallic coated panel, with some of the benefits of a painted product.  One of the key benefits is that the coating helps maintain a uniform finish that can be difficult to maintain with a bare metallic panel.

Cool colors reflect paints designed with infrared reflective (IR) pigments. These pigments are altered chemically and physically to reflect infrared wavelengths while still absorbing the same visible light. Compared to UV and visible light, near infrared light creates heat buildup within a structure. The purpose of these pigments is to minimizes heat buildup, reducing the cooling costs of the structure. This also means, darker colors which are typically less reflective are still able to embody reflective characteristics. However, note that a lighter ‘cool’ color will still offer superior reflective properties compared to a darker ‘cool’ color.

Silicon Modified Polyester (SMP), also known as Enhanced Polyester reflect a more UV resistant version of a polyester paint system commonly used in residential metal roof and wall products.  SMP systems include a silicone intermediate that is reacted with the polyester to enhance exterior weatherability. SMPs are often selected for their combination of performance and economical cost underpinning their common use in residential applications. SMPs offer good exterior weatherability and improved resistance to chalk and fade compared to standard polyesters.  Check out our blog, Good, Better, and Best Paint for Metal Roofing & Siding for help in deciding which paint system is best for your project.

The metal roof paint coatings utilized today are significantly more resistant to paint chalking or fading compared to roofs many decades ago.  ASC Building Products metal roof and siding panels are highly resistant to chalking and fading. ASC Building Products Dura Tech xl coatings are even backed by a limited lifetime warranty. See all the colors and paint systems available by checking out our Interactive Color Chart.

While metal roofing can be installed by a homeowner, we strongly suggest the installer be thoroughly comfortable with all the elements of panel installation and any associated building code requirements, etc.  Metal roofing installation can be slightly more involved than with asphalt shingles, and proper installation is key to roof integrity and a watertight assembly.  A metal roof can be a lifetime investment.  We always recommend working with a qualified metal roofing installer if possible.

ASC Building Products steel roofs may be installed over other roofing materials however it is always recommended that the existing roofing material be removed so the roof sheathing and roof penetrations may be inspected for any damage or dry rot.  In addition, the cleaner and flatter the metal roofing substrate, the better the chance of a stress-free installation.  Metal roofing is a long-term investment.  It’s always best to start with a good, flat, secure foundation for your roofing material.

Within ASC Building Products’ code compliance reports, installation guides, and other literature, we provide recommended minimum slopes for our roofing products.  These recommended minimum slopes are defined to ensure effective rainwater removal while helping the roof panel joints stay above the water line and remain as watertight as possible.

That said, some customers do install our products below our recommended minimum slopes.  Please note that this does go against our recommendations.  Also be advised of any minimum slope requirements that may exist with your building codes.

It is generally recommended to follow the installation concepts we present to best insure a good, sound, installation.  We call these ‘guides’, vs. ‘manuals’ for a reason.  We present our installation details to help ‘guide’ the installer to a sound, metal roof or siding installation. We understand that every project is unique, and there may be alternate ways to achieve the end goal.

Metal roofing can be installed with basic tools such as metal snips and shears, cordless drills, caulking guns, and sheet metal pliers.  Sheet metal edges are sharp, and cut resistant gloves and clothing are always recommended.

ASC Building Products is first and foremost a metal roofing manufacturer.  While our goal is to provide the best possible product and product data to the market, we are unable to provide project-specific design assistance.  We recommend reaching out to design professionals, or qualified metal roofing suppliers and installers for specific assistance for your projects. You can also always reference our Installation Guides found in our Documentation Library

All ASC Building Products metal roofing products can be installed over solid substrates (plywood, OSB,..) or over closely spaced supports, like skip-sheathing.  Some products may also be installed over spaced supports (rafters, purlins, etc..).  Actual limitations are dependent upon project conditions, so it is advised to consult a design professional as needed.  Skyline Roofing and Skyline Roofing hp are two products we recommend only installing over solid substrates.

Our recommendation is to work with a design professional to best understand the building loads for your project. These include primarily wind and snow loads, but there may be others.  Once the load requirements are defined for the metal roof or siding panels, our IAPMO-UES building code compliance report can be consulted to determine what attachment type and spacing is required for your particular project.  Links to this code compliance report and associated performance tables can be found on our website.

There are many underlayment options available today. As a starting point, ASC Building Products requires a minimum 30# felt (or equivalent synthetic) be utilized as a metal roofing underlayment.  ASC Building Products recommends (and sells) a rubberized, cold-applied membrane as a higher quality protective barrier.  Some underlayments are required to address particular building code requirements.  A very important one is projects that are required to meet a Class ‘A’ fire resistance.  A Class ‘A’ fire resistant roof assembly requires a non-combustible roofing substrate under the ASC Building Products metal roofing panel.  For installations over wood decking, GAF “VersaShield Underlayment”, Firestone CLAD-GARD SA, or ¼” min G-P Gypsum DensDeck is required to obtain the Class ‘A’ fire rating.  Above all, please review local codes and regulations to ensure the roof assembly is properly installed with an acceptable underlayment.

ASC Building Products coated steel roof panels have been classified as non-combustible through ASTM A136 testing and have zero flame spread propagation as evaluated through ASTM E84.  It is important to note that a ‘Class A’ fire rating is a complete roof assembly fire classification and includes the metal roofing, underlayment and substrate, all evaluated together.  Since metal roofing panels are a good conductor of heat, the panels need to be installed on a non-combustible substrate for the entire roof assembly to achieve the Class A fire rating.  For installations over wood decking, the addition of GAF “VersaShield Underlayment”, Firestone CLAD-GARD SA, or ¼” min G-P Gypsum DensDeck is required to obtain the Class ‘A’ fire rating.  Please consult local codes and regulations to ensure your project meets any other requirements that may apply.

Yes.  Our metal roof and siding products are acceptable for use in IWUIC governed projects.

Yes, most ASC Building Products metal roof and siding products have been stringently tested and evaluated by an independent, certified code compliance approval agency.  ASC Building Products products are certified by IAPMO-UES, one of the two most prominent code approval agencies in the U.S.  Our products are certified to be code compliant to International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), California Building Code (CBC), and California Residential Code (CRC).  Many jurisdictions accept one of these code models or a variation thereof.  Most competitive products have not taken these steps to ensure their products fully certified to building codes and associated standards.

To allow Skyline Roofing to thermally expand and contract due to outside ambient temperatures, one end of the panel is ‘fixed’ to keep the panel from sliding off the roof, and the other end of the panel (under the ridge cap) is allowed to move with changing temperatures.  In conditions where high snow loads occur, there may be extra fasteners at the eave to resist these downslope snow ‘drag load’ forces.

A drag load is the force imposed upon a sloped roof panel by gravity loads, most notable is the accumulation of snow on the roof. Some roof panels are designed to freely float to accommodate roof thermal expansion/ contraction. If these roof panels are not fixed at one end of the roof panel, the panel could slide (be dragged) downslope due to the loads. Generally, this is managed by either one row of fasteners along the top edge of the roof panel (under ridge cap), or along the eave. The type and number of fasteners needed to resist drag load forces is determined by investigating the substrate material, roof slope, panel length, panel width, and geographical snow load.  In heavy snow country it is recommended a design professional review drag load resistance to ensure the adequate number of drag fasteners are utilized. Note corrugated metal roofing panels are typically installed with many fasteners across the surface area of the panel and therefore can more readily accommodate drag loads.

Like what occurs on the surface of a bathroom mirror after a hot shower, warm moist air will condense on cooler surrounding surfaces.  In nearly all metal roofing applications this is not a concern.  There is either a layer of an insulating material between the underside of the roofing and the moist air, or the metal roofing will be utilized in an unconditioned building like a barn where the inside and outside air is the generally the same temperature and opportunity for condensation is very minimal.

No. Just the opposite, with ASCBP’s “Cool Colors”, homes and attics will remain cooler longer compared to homes with conventional non-cool composition shingle roofing, reducing energy costs during the hot summers months. Our DuraTech®xl paint system is formulated with special pigments that reflect rays from the sun. An ASC BP metal roof in Cool Winter White can reflect as much as 70% of the sun’s rays, keeping your home cooler during hot summer days. A study by Oakridge National Laboratory showed that a “cool” white metal roof reduced energy bills in the summer by up to 40%.

This is a very common question about metal roofing. This question often stems from those who have experienced rain hitting an open, uninsulated barn or shed. If the roof is installed over Oriented Strand Board or Plywood decking, and/or over an insulated space, the sound of the rain will be essentially no different than any other roofing material.

Lightning attraction has more to do with building height and geography around building (ie., hilltop vs valley) vs roofing material. Because metal roofing is conductive, the relatively large metallic surface of an ASC Building Products steel roof will provide at some assistance in dissipating any lightning strike.  In addition, the non-combustible metal roofing will also assist by not supporting combustion. For areas prone to lightning strikes, the use of a lightning protection system is recommended, just like they would be for any other roofing construction material.

There are several products in the market that are good for snow retention.  Steel roof panels, especially standing seam roofing panels, are ideal roofing products for attaching snow retention devices.  Please be advised that ASC Building Products does not recommend or promote one retention device over another.  Also be aware of any impacts these devices may have on paint/coating warranties.

There are several key things to consider when installing roofing in snow country.  Most of these apply to all roofing materials, not just metal roofing.  Inward (gravity) loads from snow can easily surpass 200lbs for every square foot of roof in some parts of the country.  Ensure the entire roof structure can support these loads.  Snow loads also impart drag forces on metal panels.  These are downslope forces that act to pull the metal panels off the substrate. A proper amount of panel fasteners is required to ensure the panels stay on the roof.  Ice damming can also be an issue.  Pursuing options to avoid ice dams from occurring and using a premium rubberized underlayment like the one ASC Building Products offers will help ensure water intrusion and damage does not occur.

ASC Building Products metal roofing panels have all been impact (hail) tested through UL2218.   All UL listed products have a Class 4 rating.  A Class 4 hail rating indicates a roof panel has survived a 20ft drop of a 2 inch steel ball with no evidence of cracking or tearing of the metal panel.  Please note that during hail events, roof panels can still become damaged depending on severity of storm.

We have several options to consider. Our Design Span hp and Skyline Roofing hp metal panels are great standing seam (concealed fastener) products to consider.  If extremely high wind loads must be designed for, corrugated metal roofing is always an option as well.  They can be highly wind resistant, although the exposed fasteners will increase the risk of water penetration vs using a standing seam (concealed fastener) panel.

There are several factors that go into developing the wind load forces for a roof, and wind speed is one of them.  Once those wind load forces are determined, then our building code compliance reports ER-0309 and ER-0550 can be used to determine which panel and substrate combinations would work best for your application.

Yes!  However, like most building materials, there are certain limitations to be aware of. Corrosive environments, like those along the coast, will accelerate the corrosion of any metal.  ASC Building Products has warranty limitations regarding coastal installations, primarily those within 1000 feet of the water.

Metal can be installed in severe marine environments and coastal environments, but may require an upgraded paint system to provide the required additional corrosion resistance. Severe marine paint systems typically include a high build primer and an additional layer of clear coat over the top to provide additional protection. The needs of these particular systems will depend on the unique environment and the proximity to salt water – ASC Building Products can provide guidance on recommendations for your specific install.