Roof material for low pitch

BILLB | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 30, 2003 06:40am

I am getting ready to start construction of a house for myself and I will be the general contractor. I have some construction experience but I am not an expert. My queston is about the roof. I will have several areas where the roof will have very low pitch (1/12) and I am trying to determine if I can use standing seam metal on these areas. I live in Oklahoma where we do have heavy rain at times and I do not want a leaky roof. But the rest of the house (5/12 pitch) will use standing seam and I would like the duribility of steal on the whole house if possible. Thanks for your help.

Replies

DPS | Sep 30, 2003 09:29pm | #1
Bill:

Just a quick check of the International Residential Code had a standing seam metal roof panel at a minimum of 1/4"/ ft slope, but PAC-CLAD (peterson's) a roofing manufacturer had a minimum of 1/2"/ ft. slope. Other systems like a snap together (or snap-clad - Peterson's) will have a minimum of 3:12 slope. Check with the metal roof manufacturer to make sure you get the correct system, gauge thickness, and detailing for your pitch. Most likely you will be able to complete you entire roof with metal. Let the manufacturer do some work for you.

dps
CombatRescue | Sep 30, 2003 09:34pm | #2
You should be good with a metal standing seam. The one's I've dealt with allow 1/2:12 minimum pitch, but check with your manufacturer's specs to find out for sure.

Andy
buildboy | Oct 01, 2003 12:26am | #3
Be careful. Most standing seam roof panels are not designed for that low of slope. Their are some available though. Note that the height of the "standing" seam typically increases when the slope decreases.
seeyou | Oct 01, 2003 03:23am | #4
Lateral seams are also a problem on low slope standing seam. Is the area below heated or not? Is there a large steeper pitched roof dumping on the low pitched roof? Do you get a lot of snow and sustained below freezing temperatures?
Piffin | Oct 01, 2003 05:09am | #5
Several areas - lowpitch - building yourself

Are you also the designer by chance? I don't want to get personal but it sounds to me like the designer could have done a better job on the roof configuration.

contacting the manufacturer of the SS roof product is the besat way to find a true answer - get it in writing.

Most of them have PDF of their tech sheets online.

Another thought - are you definitely talking about standing seam. I have heard way too many people call any metal roof a standing seam roof whether it is or not. The kind you screw right through the panel is not good for less than a 2/12 pitch, IMO

.

Excellence is its own reward!

Edited 9/30/2003 10:14:57 PM ET by piffin