Damage to Metal Roofs

It’s unpleasant to consider metal roof damage, but being aware of its causes and understanding how to avoid them can help you avoid having to make expensive repairs.

Metal Roof Damage Detection

While it’s possible that you will occasionally glance at your roof, it’s advised that a skilled, professional roofing technician complete a comprehensive examination of your metal roof at least twice a year. Disciplined inspections can lead to early identification of the most prevalent metal roof problems that cause those annoying roof leaks.

7 Common Reasons for Metal Roof Damage

• Surface rust If left unchecked, surface rust can develop into a serious issue. Rust is a flaky, reddish or yellowish-brown coating that develops on iron or steel as a result of oxidation, particularly when moisture is present. The oxides expand during rusting and take up more area than the source material. The majority of metal roofs are coated or made of galvanized metal to prevent rust, but with time, ponding water or heat from the sun can both wear down the roof’s protection. A rust inhibitor, which creates a surface on panels, should be put to any rust to prevent it from developing further. Rust should be checked at least as frequently as during semi-annual inspections.
• Deflection Panels that are crimped or bent may cause water to collect on your metal roof, which may be a direct cause of leaks and rust.
• Oil canning Most people refer to the apparent waver in the flat areas of metal panels as “oil canning.” Light-gauge, cold-formed metal products with big, flat areas naturally have oil canning. The structural integrity of your metal roof is generally unaffected by oil canning. The easiest approach to avoid oil canning on your metal roof is to have good quality metal properly installed by a reputable and skilled roofing contractor.
• Movement A metal roof should be made to be flexible in order to permit water to drain off of it. The panels will continue to move but the patch won’t if a repair material is employed that doesn’t allow for the right amount of elongation (or flexibility), leading to more problems than the initial roof leak.
• Chalking and fading Any environment can produce fading and chalking, however the degree of damage can differ. You don’t have to worry about this problem, thanks to the guarantees that are provided by the majority of metal roof manufacturers.
• Punctures Heavy foot traffic on the roof, such as during building, maintenance, or the installation of HVAC equipment, frequently results in punctures. There should be designated routes and instructions for people who need access to the roof so as to avoid crimping panels and to keep a safe distance from skylights. Additionally, a metal roof should never be traversed by equipment. Punctures can also be caused by sharp objects falling onto your roof (storm damage from a tornado). Punctures can be repaired with caulking, although this should only be a temporary solution.
• Incompatible metals There are several different types of metal roofs, including galvanized, copper, steel, and stainless steel. But not all metals function equally, and some are unsuitable when used in combination. Metal roofs should only be made of specific materials to prevent rust and corrosion. When placed together, dissimilar metals will react negatively, resulting in cracking, rust spots, and obstructions to water movement. Your metal roofing provider should be knowledgeable with metal compatibility issues to help you avoid these types of issues going forward.

It’s time to replace the entire metal roof if any of these abnormalities is the source of recurring roof leaks, yes?

No, in fact, a roof restoration might be a more practical option since it would still make the roof watertight while postponing the enormous cost and inconvenience of a replacement.

Metal Roof Damage Insurance

Insurance brokers and adjusters collaborate closely with metal roofers. They are aware of how crucial it is to develop these connections. If damages do occur, their clients’ (you) insurance policy will cover them. The restoration of your home or building to its pre-storm condition is covered by a number of provisions in your insurance policy. That’s the reason you first went through the procedure of requesting an estimate or quote, selecting a deductible, and deciding on a policy limit – to safeguard your investment.

Making sure you receive all the benefits your policy offers is the responsibility of a contractor. They cannot force your policy to perform something that is not covered because they are not attorneys. However, they have seen enough of them to be aware of the possibilities. They are also pros at determining the extent of the damage. Our network contractors typically have a lot more experience than the insurance adjuster. It’s nice that a contractor can assist adjusters in performing their duties more effectively.

All of these brokers and adjusters want to act ethically. They want you, their client, to have a positive claims experience so you can get your house or other structure back to how it was before the storm.

Damage Severity

The first thing you should do if a severe hail affects your building is to take thorough pictures of all the damage. There are two basic types of dents, dings, or punctures that are identified when a metal roof is examined for damage following a hail:

Cosmetic A metal roof’s cosmetic hail damage is a complex issue. On the one hand, insurance firms frequently assert that this kind of superficial damage doesn’t affect the roof’s ability to perform its main purpose. However, even if there were no punctures as a result of the hail damage, the building owner still has to deal with a plainly damaged roof. A reputable roofing business should be involved in determining whether hail damage to a metal roof qualifies as cosmetic or not. Only a qualified roofer can determine if a hail-damaged metal roof can be safely left alone or whether it actually has to be repaired or replaced.

Functional Functional damage occurs when locks, seams, flashing, fasteners, or other metal roofing components are compromised to the point of developing holes in the metal itself.

Most insurance policies almost always cover this type of hail damage to metal roofs, which typically necessitates sections replacements of properly gauged, painted, and coated metal.

The Metal Roof Repair Process

Spot-patching can be used to fix a variety of cosmetic and functional metal roof dents and dings.

The typical flow of this procedure is as follows:

Step 1: Thorough cleaning of the target area

Step 2: To prepare the damaged metal for cutting and sealing, a wire brush is used to scuff it.

Step 3: The damaged portion of the roof is removed, leaving at least a 2-inch space on all sides.

Step 4: A color-matched metal “patch” is positioned there and then sealed with urethane sealer.

Step 5: A final protective coating is applied to the treated area (if applicable).

There are occasionally areas of a damaged metal roof that are difficult to cut out and patch (i.e., seams or corner sections). In these situations, it is typical to “mold over” the damaged region using a fabric that has been impregnated with asphalt.

The next option would be to totally remove each broken sheet of metal and replace it with a new one from the manufacturer if there are too many damaged areas to be repaired with spot-patching.

Fortunately, the majority of producers of roofing materials can rapidly dispatch replacement metal panels and joining hardware from their back stock.

Wind Damage

Metal Roofs Provide Added Protection Against Wind and Hail

Metal roofs offer additional defense against wind and hail.

The structural integrity of conventional roofing systems can be compromised by torrential downpours, violent winds, and hail impact, leaving the underside of the roof deck exposed to the elements. Leaks from this could cause expensive damage.

When the air pressure underneath the roofing system is higher than the air pressure above, wind can damage the roof. The pressure right above the roof surface drops as wind moves over the structure or home. Due to air leaking in through fissures, internal air pressure rises concurrently. As a result, a push-pull force known as wind uplift acts in tandem to remove the roofing materials from the roof deck.

The panels of metal roofing interlock and overlap in a certain way that keeps them firmly in place and prevents wind-driven rain from penetrating. This lowers the roof system’s total danger of wind uplift as well. Look for a material that has been tested against national standards for wind and hail when evaluating your options. In fact, due to their excellent wind resistance, metal roofs are growing in popularity in hurricane-prone areas.

Contrary to popular belief, hailstones and metal roofs get along rather well. Even more so than the majority of other roof types, metal roofs can withstand hail very effectively. Even in severe weather, a metal roof will only sustain minor dents rather than being punctured, broken, or torn.

The most common cause of hail damage to a roof is water seeping through a broken roof, not the hail itself. Water can enter a roof crack and cause major interior damage to a house as well as long-term issues like mold and rot.

Hail damage can be sustained by all roofing types, including shingles, tiles, and shakes, although metal roofs are remarkably resilient. If hail damages a metal roof, it most often just results in minor cosmetic dents rather than structural issues, metal punctures, or damage of metal integrity.

Damage from Debris

A metal roof’s coating may be harmed or even destroyed by constant abrasion from bush and tree limb movement in the wind. A metal roof may sustain damage beyond just the finish if exposed to years of wind motion and a strong enough branch.

Metal roofs are made to shed rain and snow-related water and then to dry out. The edge of your metal roof may not be able to dry out if enough debris remains in your gutters. A roof that would typically last 100 years when allowed to drain correctly could become corroded as a result of this.

Foot Traffic Damage

Even though walking on most metal roofs won’t harm their functionality or beauty (in fact, it’s necessary during installation), you shouldn’t do so frequently. Keep any labor traffic to a minimal since no manufacturer wants a steady stream of workers leaving scuffs on his finely crafted roof covering. Additionally, if you or another person feels the need to walk on the roof, make sure they are at least somewhat aware with the manufacturer’s guidelines in this respect.

Ice Dam Damage

Ice damming on your roof is greatly decreased by installing a metal roof that naturally sheds snow before it can create one. Regardless of the type of roof material you have, such as tile or asphalt shingles, the best approach to prevent ice dams is to adhere to guidelines for adequate insulation, ventilation, underlayment, and elimination of any heat losses occurring from your home.

Quick Metal Roof Damage FAQs

1. What are the most common types of metal roof damage?
   The most common types of metal roof damage are caused by wind, hail, and debris. Wind can cause the metal to loosen and lift, which can then lead to the metal being damaged by hail or debris. Hail can cause dents and scratches in the metal, and debris can cause the metal to become bent or damaged.
2. What are the most common causes of metal roof damage?
   There are a number of factors that can contribute to metal roof damage. One of the most common is severe weather conditions. High winds can cause the metal to loosen and lift, while hail can dent and break the metal. Other common causes of metal roof damage include poor installation, inadequate maintenance, and manufacturing defects.
3. What are the most common symptoms of metal roof damage?
   The most common symptoms of metal roof damage are leaks, holes, and rust. Leaks can occur around seams, flashing, or other areas where the roof is not sealed properly. Holes can occur from physical damage, such as hail or falling tree limbs. Rust can occur from exposure to the elements, such as rain, snow, or ice.
4. What are the most common methods of repairing metal roof damage?
   There are a few different ways that metal roofing can be damaged, and each type of damage will require a different repair method. The most common types of metal roof damage are dents and dings. These can be caused by hail, falling tree limbs, or other objects hitting the roof. The best way to repair dents and dings is to use a hammer and dolly to gently push the dent out from the inside or using a stud welder.
5. What are the most common methods of preventing metal roof damage?
   The most common methods of preventing metal roof damage are to ensure that the roof is properly ventilated and to keep the roof clean. Ventilation helps to prevent the build-up of heat and moisture, which can lead to corrosion. Keeping the roof clean helps to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris, which can also lead to corrosion.
6. What are the most common types of metal roof coatings?
   There are several types of metal roof coatings, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. The most common types are acrylic, urethane, silicone, and elastomeric. Acrylic coatings are the most popular type of metal roof coating. They are durable, UV resistant, and can be applied in a wide range of colors. Acrylic coatings can also be tinted to match the color of your metal roof.
7. What are the most common methods of cleaning metal roofs?
   The most common methods of cleaning metal roofs are power washing, using a soft brush, and using a garden hose. Power washing is the most effective way to remove dirt, debris, and stains from a metal roof. However, it is also the most expensive and time-consuming option. Using a soft brush is a less expensive and less time-consuming option, but it is not as effective as power washing.
8. What are the most common methods of maintaining metal roofs?
   The most common methods of maintaining metal roofs are to regularly inspect the roof for any signs of damage or wear, and to regularly clean the roof to remove any dirt, debris, or build-up that could potentially cause damage.
9. What are the most common myths about metal roof damage?
   One of the most common myths about metal roof damage is that it is caused by hail. While hail can certainly cause damage to a metal roof, it is not the most common cause of metal roof damage. The most common cause of metal roof damage is actually wind. Wind can cause the metal to become misshapen and can also cause the metal to rust. Wind can also cause the metal to become detached from the roof, which can lead to serious damage.
10. What are the most common mistakes made when repairing metal roof damage?
    One of the most common mistakes made when repairing metal roof damage is not properly preparing the surface before beginning repairs. This can include not cleaning the area thoroughly enough to remove all dirt, debris, and rust, as well as not using the proper primer or paint for the repair. Additionally, not allowing enough time for the repair to dry completely can cause further damage down the line. Another common mistake is not using the right tools for the job.