If you are thinking about installing a metal roof, then you should know (and learn) about the correct screw pattern for metal roofing. Screws may be small and seem unimportant, but even such small items can make a difference between a long-lasting roof and a flimsy one.
Moreover, roofing is one of the house’s most important and expensive parts. With proper installation, you won’t have to worry about spending unnecessary costs that can cost you a fortune.
Why Metal Roofing?
Metal roofing is gaining popularity within the last few years. It’s quite understandable considering its great benefits, such as:
- Affordability
- Long-lasting quality that can go from 40 to 70 years
- Sleek aesthetics
- Low maintenance
- Fire resistant
If you want your metal roof to deliver these benefits, you need to ensure you install it correctly. This is when the screw pattern for metal roofing comes in use. In fact, there is a specific pattern that you need to follow to ensure success and to avoid leaks.
What Is the Screw Pattern for Metal Roofing?
As mentioned before, a proper screw pattern will ensure that your roof has been installed properly and correctly. People used roofing nails for the asphalt shingle installation in the old days. But nowadays, screws are viewed to deliver more benefits and perks:
- Contraction and expansion resistance. Thermal movement (the contraction and expansion of the metal roofs because of temperature fluctuation) is mainly responsible for the nail to loss. With screws, however, you won’t have to worry about thermal movement because the screws won’t loose.
- Leakage prevention. Screws don’t experience contraction and expansion, which results in more effective roof leakage prevention.
- Durability and strength. When compared to nails, screws have better support for the metal roofs. They can hold the materials much longer. After all, nails are naturally smooth, which means that they are easily loosened and then be pulled out just like that.
How Many Screws for Metal Roofing?
Because metal roof installation would be better with screws, there are some techniques and proper calculations for the installation. This is one of the reasons why you should let the professionals do the work. This isn’t a job for beginner DIY enthusiasts.
You see, there are generally 80 screws for every roofing square. A roofing square is around 100 square feet. To really understand how many (and how far apart) to install the screws, take the square footage of the roof and then multiply it by 80%.
For instance, if your roof square footage is 2,000 square feet, multiply it by 0.8. the results would be 1,600 screws.
Read also: What is a Square of Shingles and Square Footage
Another way is to multiply the roofing squares’ total number by 80. For instance, it means 20 roofing squares x 80 screws, similar to 1,600 screws.
How Far Apart Should You Put Screws in a Metal Roof?
A screw pattern for the standing seam roof would be directly installed on the top side of the seam. The seam itself falls at the center of every 20 to 30-inch of panel. Screws are usually hidden within this roofing style, making the result more aesthetic and visually pleasant.
The screws should be installed within a 45-degree angle (from the shingle edge) from bottom to top. You shouldn’t place the screws more than 24 inches apart.
Final Words
Don’t be cheap with your screws. Your roof may not hold up if you don’t have enough screws. It would be prone to water leakage, and your roof won’t last long.
Read also: How to Apply Paint for Galvanized Metal Roof
Knowing the proper screw pattern for metal roofing and the right placement can help you have successful results with your roof.
