The List of the Best Way to Cut Metal Roofing on Your Own

Having worked with metal roofing for years, I’ve found that choosing the right method to cut metal roofing is crucial for efficiency and safety. Often, manufacturers provide large sheets that must be cut to fit specific roof sections. This task can seem daunting, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s manageable even for those new to metalworking.

How to do that? Read the information down below.

Best Way to Cut Metal Roofing

When you buy a sheet of metal for the roofing material at home, you will have to cut it out, so it matches the coverage area of the roof. There are tons of ways and methods to cut the sheet.

These are some of the methods. Choose from the list below, and you won’t find the cutting hard to do.

1. Using Nibbler

From personal experience, using a nibbler provides the cleanest and most precise cuts, especially for straight lines. However, securing the metal sheet properly before cutting is essential to avoid movement, which can cause jagged edges. One professional tip is double-checking your measurements and markings before cutting, as accuracy is key for a smooth finish.

2. Using Electric Drill

Cutting the metal sheet will be harder when there are curves and circular patterns to cut. That is why when your roofing contains a lot of curves, you also need to prepare an electric drill. Cutting the metal sheet from above using an electric drill is harder, but the result is satisfying, and sometimes, you can produce a perfect circle shape or curves using the tool.

3. Using Tin Snips

Tin snips are a reliable option for those concerned about safety. I’ve found them invaluable when working in confined spaces or when precision is required around tight corners. Although cutting with tin snips is more time-consuming, they offer greater control and reduce the risk of injury from metal sparks, making them ideal for smaller, detailed cuts.

Read also: How to Cut Tin Roofing

Best Way to Cut Corrugated Metal Roofing

Metal sheet for roofing is available in the good old-fashioned flat type and the corrugated type. Essentially, the corrugated one will be harder to cut due to its texture and design.

Cutting corrugated metal with a jigsaw and everything else can be learned below. There are tools to ensure that the corrugated sheet is cut properly.

Read also: Corrugated Metal Roof Screw Pattern and Placement

1. Using Aviation Snips

Aviation snips are like regular tin snips, only more powerful. Usually, they have a green handle and a red handle. When used together, they cut the corrugated metal, and one of them lifts the metal cutting and removes it from the rest.

2. Using Angle Grinder

The cutting angle on corrugated metal can be pretty hard, especially when the angle is quite extreme. To deal with this, use an angle grinder. This is the most powerful tool as it will easily cut the metal sheet at any angle you want.

3. Using Circular Saw

If you don’t have any of the tools above, the last tool to use is probably a circular saw. You have to be really careful with this one, as it’s super sharp, and you must bring the metal sheet to the saw. So, it is a bit heavier than other methods.

How to Cut Metal Roofing Panels

After learning to cut metal roofing, you have to learn how to do the actual cutting. The tips below will help you to do that. Follow these tips, and you will find out that metal cutting is not so hard to do, as long as you have previous experience with the attempt. Here they are:

1. Prepare the Safety Equipment

To prepare for the metal-cutting attempt, you need safety equipment, including industrial glasses, earplugs, and thick gloves. You will also wear a thick vest and helmet. Ensure the cutting is done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

2. Leave to the Professional

Remember, when you have zero experience with metal cutting, it is better to leave it to the professionals. This attempt will require a lot of tools and power, and they know better about the cutting, and the result will be better.

When using any cutting tool, it’s crucial to wear safety gear, including industrial glasses, earplugs, and thick gloves. Additionally, long sleeves can protect against metal sparks and sharp edges.

Using the right tools ensures precision and makes the metal cuts easier and more efficient, reducing the time and effort required for the job.

Those are some of the best suggestions and tricks to cut metal sheets for your roofing material. If you have done this metal cutting thing before, you must select the best way to cut metal roofing and do it again.