Most roofers will tell you to nail it through the rib / ridge. If you want to screw it...you screw it in the valley. Why??? I do not have a clue. When ever I do it I always screw it with screws that have neoprene washers on them in the field or valleys. Trying to screw or nail through the ridge and keep the panels straight and not spread out is very difficult for me (and I have put on a lot of metal).

When you go through the ridge...if you tighten down the screw too much the panel flattens out and spreads. Then the roof gets off from top to bottom because you are not tightening each screw down the same. If you screw or nail in the field or valley...the panel does not move or spread.

JMHO...Brian

Thanks for your input. Years ago we used rubber washers under the nails/screws for barn roofing but they never held up. Curious if neoprene washers would hold up any better. We are looking for a low/no maintenance once this roofing is on.
Does the color on this product hold up?

Nancy

Any place you buy your metal from will have the proper screws / nails with the washers. I have never had a problem with the screws or nails. You just have to make sure you do not tighten the scews down too tight. I have seen where the nails will back out over time due to expansion / contraction of the metal though. Screws are my preference.

I have never had any issues with paint peeling of the metal...but it will fade over time. The weather / sun is cruel! You can buy metal with 10-yr / 20-yr "no fade" gaurantees...but they are just more expensive. In the long run...all metal will fade. If you can get them to back the product they will just throw you a couple dollars to repaint it. Also they will send someone out to make sure the metal was installed "EXACTLY" like the manufacturers instructions. If it wasn't...and I gaurantee they will make something up even if you did...they will not even give you the couple bucks.

My suggestion is to buy the "residential or seconds" grade. It is just as good and it is cheaper!

I built my house 5-years ago and put green metal on my roof. The distributor I bought the metal from told me there was absolutely "zero" difference between his $45 per square and his $90 per square material. One came with a gaurantee and the other one didn't. Both fade over time...it is a fact of life.

Brian

Having built and roofed several barns professionally, I can attest to the above advice being sound. I'll repeat what I think is important:

*No difference in guaranteed coatings and "seconds" in my experience, especially with galvalume. If there was an unheard-of bad spot, you could easily paint over it with aluminum coating. Save your money.

*Definitely use screws with neoprene washers. The reason they started recommending screwing near the rib on the flat (instead of on top of the rib, where it really should be) is because most people can't put all the screws to the ideal torque, which is when the washer just makes contact. Two things about that: 1) as mentioned above, if the screw is too tight, the rib will flatten somewhat, widening the sheet at that point, which will throw off the layout; and 2) if you screw them down too tight the washer is damaged and will eventually leak. Well, the washer will get damaged and leak if screwed too tight on the flat as well, the difference being that it will leak in a worse place, but you will not have layout problems... and you will spend less on the shorter fasteners. My suggestion is to do the labor yourself and take your time with good variable speed drills so the washers don't get put on too tight, or educate the crew who does the labor on this key point.