A house's roof is a major part of any construction plan and one of the most important structural aspects. Homeowners who are concerned with getting the most for their money and who are looking for long-term roofing alternatives which are both beautiful and practical are gravitating more and more to metal panel roofing. Copious research has shown that this option has become enormously popular in the last ten years.

Roofs that have metal panels have been shown to withstand all the elements and have a low level of maintenance so their lifetime cost is relatively low. Due to their popularity many manufacturers are developing a wider array of finishes, profiles and colors for the metal panels which will add to the aesthetics of the building. The metal roofing can also save you money in energy costs since the designers have improved the finish which provides a cooling formulation.

In discussing metal residential roofing numerous questions arise during design development and with the abundance of metal roofing products on the market, it is very important to understand the complexities of the various roofing systems. Only by specifying the appropriate roofing system, underlayment, substrate and finish will the complete potential of a metal roof be realized.

Metal panel roofing has two primary categories which are designated according to how the roof withstands water and the slope of the roof. The first kind is used on roofs that have a low slope that would need water-resistant panels. The other variety, architectural or non-structural roofing, can be used on roofs with steeper slopes and is intended to get rid of the water as quickly as possible.

In a structural roof, panels can easily be fastened to the building structure and are able to reach across necessary structural supports. The panels are attached using a floating clip system that allows for thermal expansion and contraction when needed. These thermal changes influence all materials so the structural panels are made to accommodate the roof accordingly.

If your roof is compiled of structural metal framework and purlins then it is likely that a structural metal panel roof system would work for you. You want to be able to support the structural load that will be placed on the roof so if you live in an area prone to high winds or heavy snow then it is easy to install the panels over the existing material such as metal, plywood or an oriented-strand board combination.