Tips for Proper Installation of Metal Roofing
- Make sure your first panel is installed accurately and above all square. All other panels interlock and it’s easy for 1/8″ off to become 2″ off over 10 more panels.
- While predrilling panels will make the work go faster and make it easier to get the screw lines straight, make sure you measure accurately. You can predrill a stack of about 10 panels at a time.
- When snapping screwlines, be sure to use blue chalk. Red chalk is very difficult to get off and can stay on for months, while blue chalk will usually wash off with the next rain.
- If you need to cut panels lengthwise, you can score them with a box cutter several times, and then bend it back and forth until it breaks off, producing a clean edge. You can also use tin snips or the TurboShear Drill Attachment for cutting them.
- Screw your fasteners in straight, and don’t overtighten them. The best way to do this is to set your drill tension, preferably testing it out on a scrap piece of metal or on an area that will be covered over by a ridge cap or other flashing.
- Wear protective rubber coated gloves while working with metal roofing and flashings. This not only protects you from the sharp metal edges, it also gives you a better grip on the metal roofing.
- After you finish installing the metal roofing, make sure to brush off any metal filings / shavings that are on the roof. Otherwise they will cause unsightly rust spots where they rest on the metal roofing.