The steel building industry has developed new technology to insure that steel roofs are weatherproof, durable, cost efficient and provide many years of low maintenance service. Steel is one of the most cost effective materials that you can utilize for a roof structure. But to be effective, steel roofs must provide a watertight and leak-proof interior environment from the start.

The appropriate roof panel must be selected for your steel building system. This is especially critical if your roof system will incorporate hips and valleys; the designer must be careful to select roof panels specially suited to these features. Another factor to consider is the slope or pitch of the roof needs along with the overall complexity of the roof structure.

The roof system designer must ensure that the roof system is detailed for weather tightness; this service is provided by most steel building suppliers or roofing system manufacturers. A professional designer should have information at his disposal about a myriad of steel building roofing systems to determine what style will work – and, more importantly, what style won’t for your particular design applications and requirements. This can help prevent problems from arising later in the life of the roof.

Hire only experienced installers who are trained in the installation of your particular roofing application. At a minimum, ask for proof of certification in installing all system components. The installer should also have undergone special complex installation instruction, including “hands-on” training classes.

The actual installation process of your steel roof is critical. Your installer should follow all steps carefully and in the correct order. You should engage metal roofing specialists to conduct two or three roof audits during the course of your building project. Written reports and photos must be provided, along with any descriptions of deficiencies; the recommended corrective actions should be itemized. This is especially crucial to insure water tightness, as an experienced metal roof auditor can detect even the smallest of gaps that could allow water entry into the building’s interior.

The auditor should provide the installer with the specifics of any problems and detailed instructions as to how to correct them. In order to guarantee the integrity of the steel roof, a complete removal of all components and re-installation is vital. You should request a final roof audit to be sure that all noted deficiencies were corrected. If you take the time to follow the above procedures, your steel roof will keep your building, the people and the property within it dry and protected for a long, long time.