How to Install a Metal Panel Roof With Instructions

Metal roof panels are an alternative to traditional shingled roofing and reside on both residential homes as well as on sheds and commercial structures. The panels consist of rust-resistant steel and have a rippled design allowing them to overlap each other and form a watertight seal. The ripples also create channels to drain off rainwater. The metal panels are installed using only screws and a final application of sealant to all exposed screws.

Ladder
Work gloves
30-pound building felt
Staple gun
Galvanized staples
Utility knife
Metal roof panels
Self-tapping wood screws with rubber gasket
Power drill
Jigsaw with metal-cutting blade
Silicone caulk

Instructions

- 1
  Position a ladder under the eaves at one end of the roof edge, since you begin the installation at the bottom edge of the roof. Don work gloves before beginning; the panel edges are very sharp.
- 2
  Place a roll of 30-pound building felt at the lower edge of the roof perfectly aligned with the roof edge and the left side of the roof. Secure it using a staple gun and galvanized staples spaced at 12-inch intervals.
- 3
  Unroll the felt across the roof, securing it as you go, and cut the excess off using the utility knife at the right side of the roof. Repeat the process to install additional rows of felt, overlapping them by one inch.
- 4
  Place one metal panel on the left bottom edge of the roof with the ridges positioned vertically. Slide the left edge until it is even with the left edge of the roof. Slide the bottom edge down until it overhangs the roof by one inch.
- 5
  Insert self-tapping gasket-head wood screws into the panel along the left edge at the base of a ridge. Space the screws six to 10 inches apart and secure them using a power drill. Insert the screw until the washer compresses but use caution not to overtighten. Insert additional screws along the top, bottom and right edges in the same manner.
- 6
  Place the second metal panel in place next to the first, overlapping the side ridges. Slide the panel down until it overhangs the eaves by one inch and secure it using additional self-tapping screws. Position the screws over the ridge that overlap the first panel, spacing them at 6- to 10-inch intervals.
- 7
  Continue installing additional panels until you reach the right side of the roof. If needed, trim the last panel down using a jigsaw and metal cutting blade so that it fits.
- 8
  Start the second row of metal panels by aligning the left edge with the left side of the roof and sliding the bottom down one inch over the top of the first row. Secure the panel in the same manner as the first row and proceed to complete the remainder of the installation.
- 9
  Apply a 1/4- to 1/2-inch-diameter bead of exterior-grade silicone caulk over all screw heads to further waterproof the metal roof panels.

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