5 Common Standing Seam Metal Profiles
As a standing seam or metal roofing contractor, you want roofing products that are high quality, cost-effective, easy to install, and low maintenance.
With multiple options available for metal roofing, however, it is sometimes difficult to know which products work best in specific applications.
Which standing seam works best for a large commercial roof versus a smaller commercial roof?
Are some seams easier to engineer than others?
Are some standing seam products best to avoid in potential snow or ice conditions?
To answer these questions and many more, the SnapZ team took a look at the five most common standing seam profiles and an effective standing seam ridge vent.
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Snap-lock Profile
The snap-lock profile is a popular choice for standing seam roofs because it does not require any special tools to join or crimp the seams.
Instead, the metal panels are roll-formed with one edge having a male attachment, and the opposite edge having a female attachment.
The panels are attached to the roof deck by using a separate snap-lock clip. This clip goes over the male edge of the metal panel and is fastened to the roof deck.
After the snap-lock clips are in place, the female edge of the next metal panel is placed and snapped onto the male edge.
Snap-lock panels are popular because they install quickly and don’t require additional tools.
Many snap-lock panels come pre-engineered for a variety of applications. However, most of them are not designed for low-sloped roofs and need a minimum of a 3/12 roof pitch.
Mechanical Lock Profile
Similar to the snap-lock profile, mechanical lock profile roof panels have a male edge with an opposite female edge.
Mechanical lock panels are also fastened to the roof deck by using a mechanical lock clip that secures the male edge to the roof.
So what makes the mechanical lock different from snap-lock?
Instead of the female edge simply snapping over the male edge, a mechanical seamer is required to complete the seam.
Mechanical locks come in two different styles:
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90-degree seams, also called single locks, mean there is only fold in the metal seam.
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180-degree seams, also called double locks, mean the metal seam is folded and crimped twice.
Because mechanical panels are securely seamed together, it is critical to use expansion clips to accompany the metal’s natural expansion and contraction.
While mechanical locks take more time, tools, and work, they do last longer and work better in cold weather. Snap-lock panels sometimes come apart with the natural freeze/thaw cycle, but mechanical lock panels do better at staying fastened.
Batten Panel Profile
Standing seam batten panels are roll-formed and designed to mimic the older batten roof style. Traditional batten roofing provides a fixing point for the tiles or shingles and created a unique roofing aesthetic style.
Standing seam batten panels function similarly: the metal panels come together at a fixed point where they are fastened and seamed together.
Unlike other designs, batten panels do not have male and female edges. Instead, both edges have a perpendicular leg. These legs are brought together side-by-side and fastened to the roof deck with a clip. A metal cap is attached over the perpendicular legs to create and secure the seam.
Batten panels are either mechanical or snap-caps. Mechanical seams require a seaming tool, while snap-caps snap together.
The batten panel profile is generally used for a more traditional metal roof style. It is also commonly found in modern and contemporary designs.
Nail Flange or Fastener Flange Profile
Nail flange, also called fastener flange, has panels with both a male and female end designed to snap together.
Like a snap-lock profile, nail flange panels are made to have faster installation times due to the snapping edges.
What makes nail flange panels different?
Nail flange roofing does not use clips to attach the panels to the roof deck. Instead, the panels have cutouts where they attach directly to the roof.
The absence of a clip brings advantages and disadvantages to nail flange roofing.
Advantages: With fewer clips and other accessories, nail flange is one of the cheapest standing seam roofing options in materials and installation. For this reason, it is often found in residential standing seam roofs.
Disadvantages: Because the panels are fastened directly to the roof, there is more potential for the panels and seams to become loose or detached. Nail flange systems typically require more maintenance to ensure the panels remained securely fastened to the roof deck, making it less appealing for large commercial roofs.
They are also challenging to engineer and are not recommended on low-pitch roofs.
Flush Wall & Soffit Profile
Flush wall & soffit combines elements from many of the previous standing seam profiles we have already discussed.
They have male and female edges that allow the panels to snap together. However, the seams are flush with the panel instead of having a perpendicular leg or edge.
To achieve this flush appearance, flush wall & soffit is similar to a nail flange system because clips are not used, and the panel itself is directly attached to the roof deck.
Unlike nail flange systems, however, flush wall & soffit panels can be engineered for many types of weather and roof designs.
Flush wall & soffit roofing is relatively expensive. Two things make it more expensive - the additional engineering required and the additional labor needed to install it properly.
Standing Seam Ridge Vent
All the standing seam profiles we covered are ways to cover the main parts of the roof, but they are all missing an important part of the process - properly covering the roof’s ridge vent.
The problem is many available standing seam roof ridge vents are difficult to install, inefficient in waste and material, and have high maintenance issues.
To help metal roofs be more efficient and profitable, SnapZ has designed a standing seam ridge vent with the following features:
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Efficient to install
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Maintenance-free
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Critter-proof
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Weather-proof
