When folks around Aledo start pricing a metal roof, one of the first forks in the road is how the panels are held down. Either the screws are hidden under the seams, or they go right through the face of the panel where you can see them. Both are real, proven roofs. They just ask different things of you over the years, and that’s what this post is about.
I’m Blake Snow. I’ve been roofing for 30 years, I’m the third generation in a family roofing business that goes back 75 years, and our crews have completed over $80 million in roofing projects. We install both kinds of metal roof, so I don’t have a reason to push one over the other. Here’s how I explain it on a driveway.
Two ways to hold a metal roof down
Hidden fasteners (standing seam). On a standing seam roof, each panel is held by clips that are screwed to the roof deck. The next panel locks over the clip, and the seam stands up above the flat of the roof. The screws are under the seam, out of the sun and rain. The face of the panel has no holes in it.
Exposed screws (R-panel and PBR). On R-panel or PBR, the panels overlap at the ribs and are screwed straight through the face into the framing or deck. Each screw has a rubber sealing washer under its head that keeps water out of the hole. PBR adds a small extra leg at the overlap for more support on purlin-framed metal buildings.
What upkeep looks like on exposed screws
Every screw on an exposed-fastener roof is a hole in the roof with a washer sealing it. That works, and it’s why so many shops and barns around Parker County have screw-down roofs. But those washers sit in the Texas sun every day, and a roof heats up and cools down all year long. Over time, a few things can happen:
- A washer dries out, cracks or flattens and stops sealing.
- A screw backs out a little as the metal expands and contracts.
- A screw that was overdriven or driven at an angle at install never sealed well to begin with.
None of that means the roof is bad. It means the roof needs someone to walk it now and then, check the screws, and tighten or replace the ones that need it. On a shop or barn, that’s often a fair trade for a roof that goes on fast and covers big, simple roof planes well.
If you already have a screw-down roof that’s started leaking, that’s usually a repair, not a new roof. We fix leaks at screws, seams and flashing all the time. See our metal roof repair page.
What upkeep looks like on standing seam
With the fasteners under the seams, there are far fewer exposed spots for water to find. The clips also let the panels move a little as the metal heats and cools, instead of working against a screw through the face. That’s a big part of why owners choose standing seam on their homes: fewer places to maintain, and clean lines with no rows of screw heads.
Standing seam isn’t “set it and forget it,” though. Any metal roof still has trim, flashing and roof penetrations. Pipe boots, vents, chimneys and skylights are where I look first on any roof, metal or not. After a big storm, it’s still worth having someone take a look. No roof is hail-proof, and metal can dent.
Why panel length matters too
Fasteners aren’t the only spot water can get in. Every place two panels lap end to end is another seam to seal. We run our own roll formers and a standing seam machine, and our own crew installs the panels. We form panels to the length of each slope, so on most roofs that means one piece from ridge to eave with no end laps. You can read more about why we form panels on site.
Gauge matters as well. 26-gauge steel is our standard on standing seam and R-panel, and 24-gauge is available. Thicker steel holds a screw better and shows less waviness on long, flat panels. Whoever you hire, ask for the gauge in writing. Our post on 26 vs. 29 gauge explains why.
So which one is right for you?
Here’s how it usually shakes out:
- Your home, especially one you plan to stay in: a lot of owners pick standing seam for the hidden fasteners and the clean look.
- A shop, barn or equipment building: R-panel or PBR is often the practical pick. Our barndominium, shop and ag roofs page covers those buildings.
- A house and a shop on the same property: some owners put standing seam on the house and R-panel or PBR on the shop in the same color, so it all looks like it belongs together.
Standing seam costs more than R-panel or PBR up front. We’ll price both on your roof, side by side, so you can weigh the cost against the upkeep and decide for yourself. Our post on standing seam vs. R-panel on a ranch house goes deeper on the comparison.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is this a concealed-fastener or exposed-fastener panel?
- On exposed screws, what screw and washer are you using, and how many per panel?
- What gauge is the steel, and is it on the estimate?
- Are the panels one piece from ridge to eave?
- How are the pipe boots, vents and chimney flashed?
- What’s the workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
About the photo
The photo isn’t from Aledo. It’s a gray standing seam roof our crew installed, shown close up with the vent stacks and pipe flashings painted to match. It’s a good look at what a hidden-fastener roof looks like up close: smooth panels, raised seams, and no screw heads across the face.
Nearby towns
We roof homes, shops and barns all around Aledo, including Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Annetta, Weatherford and Benbrook. See all our options on the metal roofing page.
Let’s look at your roof
Whether you want a new standing seam roof on the house, an R-panel roof on the shop, or just a few leaky screws fixed, we’d be glad to come out. Every inspection comes with a free digital photo report. We’re A+ rated on the BBB, and our Google ratings are 5.0 at all three offices: 86 reviews in Bridgeport, 13 in Decatur and 3 in Rhome. We serve the entire DFW Metroplex and towns within about 65 miles of Bridgeport.
Call (817) 733-9228 or request an estimate, and we’ll set up a time to walk your roof with you.