Choosing a Metal Roof in Eastern Washington: Standing Seam or Screw-Through

Drive out past the edge of Pasco and you will see two kinds of metal roof. One has rows of screw heads running down every panel. The other has clean, flat panels with no fasteners in sight. Both are metal, both shed rain and snow, and they age in very different ways. Royal Roofing fabricates metal roofing and trim in its own shop on East Superior Street, and its standing advice for homes and businesses is to choose standing seam over screw-through.

Screw-through panels: the barn roof

Screw-through metal, also called visible fastener or agricultural metal roofing, is what most people picture on a barn or a shop building. The panels are fastened from the top, so every screw head sits out in the weather. That is simply how the system works, and it is the reason the starting price is lower.

The catch is upkeep. Royal Roofing's metal roofing FAQ explains that building movement, UV degradation, and panel expansion and contraction from temperature swings all work on those exposed screws, and that the screws need replacing every 12 to 15 years. The panels can still be sound when the fasteners give out. You end up paying for another round of labor on a roof that looks fine from the street, and if the roof is meant to last for decades, you go through that more than once.

Standing seam: locked panels, hidden screws

Standing seam uses a snap panel system. The panels lock into each other along raised seams, and all or most of the screws are unexposed, so there is very little hardware for sun and weather to chew on. The FAQ says this minimizes the need for maintenance, and that the clean, hidden-screw look is a major factor for people who want a metal roof in the first place.

Royal Roofing is direct about the cost. Standing seam runs about twice as costly as screw-through. That is the honest trade: you spend more on day one and think about the roof less afterward. For a house you plan to stay in, or a building you manage for the long haul, that usually points to standing seam. For a detached shed, the calculation may look different, which is worth saying out loud during the estimate.

How long metal lasts, and what it saves

Royal Roofing's metal page says metal roofs tend to last anywhere from 40 to 60 years, which is two to three times longer than a standard asphalt shingle roof. The FAQ is a little more cautious, saying it is not uncommon for a metal roof to last twice as long as the average asphalt shingle roof. Both statements point the same way. Metal costs more up front, and the company says it provides more value in the long term because it often outlasts traditional shingle systems.

Energy is part of the case too. Depending on the color and coating, the page says a metal roof can save up to 40% off energy costs by reducing the solar heat load on a home. Note the words "up to." Your color and coating choice decides where your own roof lands, so ask about both when you compare samples.

Fire, wind, snow and debris

These are the questions Royal Roofing answers on its metals page, and the answers are more specific than a brochure usually gets.

• Fire: metal roofs are non-combustible and have a Class A fire rating. Asphalt shingles start with a Class A exterior rating too, but they tend to lose granules over time and become more susceptible to embers. A smoother metal surface gives airborne embers less to catch on, and the advantage is biggest against cedar shakes or wood shingles.
• Wind: metal panels are secured with screws instead of nails, which raises the wind uplift rating compared with shingles. A shingle roof has hundreds of individual units, while a metal roof is full-length panels from eave to ridge, so far fewer pieces can blow off. The panels still have to be secured per manufacturer and wind speed zone specifications.
• Snow and debris: the smooth surface means far less accumulation than on shingles, shakes or tile, so there is less to maintain, and moss and lichens have a hard time growing. Royal Roofing is upfront that a metal roof is more dangerous to clean when debris or snow removal becomes necessary, so this is a job to hand to a professional rather than tackle with a ladder.

What to ask before you commit

Ask to see both panel types on real jobs. Royal Roofing's project photos include a close-up of an exposed-fastener roof and an aerial of a campus with standing-seam roofs, and looking at the two side by side tells you more than a spec sheet will. Ask, too, who makes the trim. Royal Roofing fabricates flashings, corner guards, siding, trim and custom metal designs in house, which the company says saves customers time and money.

To talk through a metal roof on your home or building, call 509.547.8475. The /metals page has the full FAQ and the fabrication details, the /residential page covers how a home project runs, and you can request a complimentary estimate at /request-an-estimate. Estimates come with a 24-hour response.