Corrugated roofing is one kind of metal roofing that uses wavy patterned metal sheets. It is one of the oldest metal roofing sheets the United States ever produced. In fact, this type of roofing is popular for garage, shed, shop, boathouse, and any type of outdoor building.

How to install corrugated roofing you might wonder. Well, the process is quick and easy. And you can do it by yourself at a low cost.

Now, we will walk you through the process so that you can make a long-lasting and durable shed for your outdoor buildings yourself. Let us make your roofing experience amazing and memorable.

Just before we start the installation process, let’s discuss why corrugated metal roofing should be your first choice.

Reasons to Install Corrugated Roofing:

To be fair, there are hardly any disadvantages of corrugated roofing. The installation is a lot easier than shingles. The cost is also very reasonable.

Corrugated roofing panels have long durability. It can easily last longer than 40 years. With proper care, it can even last a lifetime. But for this durability, you have to choose the right materials.

You should spend a bit more on collecting the best panels. But not to worry, this is already a cheap roofing system.

This type of material can withstand a lot of obstacles for its wavy construction. It has great fire resistance as well. The snow and rain will not affect it much.

Metal roofs have a number of advantages, one of which is their energy efficiency. A properly built corrugated metal roof will help restrict heat movement into and out of a building, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable interior temperature.

Now, let’s jump to the requirement segment to install corrugated metal roofing.

Required Materials and Tools:

You will need some basic roofing tools and materials for corrugated metal roofing. Here are the required tools and materials for completing your roofing:

1.  Gloves and safety goggles (for safety reasons)

2.  Measuring tape

3.  Metal panels (tin or galvanized steel as you prefer)

4.  Snips

5.  Hammer

6.  Ridge peak

7.  Roofing cement

8.  Roofing nails

9.  Roofing staples

10.  Screwdriver

11.   Staple gun

12. Washers and screws

13.   Sealant

If you do not like the pre-painted sheets, you can change them anytime to your favorite color to match your outdoor scheme. In that case, you’ll need paint and a paintbrush along with the essential materials and tools.

After managing the tools and materials, you can start your installation. Now, we will discuss the process in detail.

Step by Step Guide to Install Corrugated Roofing:

Installation of the corrugated roof is quite simple to follow. Yet, we have divided it into a few steps to make it easier.

1.  Measuring the Roof: You need to measure your roof before buying the sheets. Simply measure the length and width and multiply them to get the measurement in sq. feet. You should measure both sides if your roof has a peak.

Don’t forget about overlapping areas. Add around four more inches for every overlap with the original measurement.

2.  Buying Corrugated Roofing Panels: After measuring your roof, you need roofing panels in a suitable size. You can buy a long panel of 32 feet in length. Or, you can buy pre-cut panels which are 10-12 feet in length.

3.  Cutting the Panels: It is highly unlikely that you will get perfect measured panels for your roof. So, you will need to cut it in the right size. Aviation snip, tin snip, angle grinder, circular saw, nibbler are some of the options for the tools to cut the panels.

Tin snip and aviation snip are safer to use. Tin snip may take a longer time to cut. Nibbler is also a good option if your material is right for it.

An angle grinder is one of the fastest options, but it is not as safe as snips. You must wear a hearing and eye protector before using it. To prevent rust, you need to paint or prime cut the edges. The instructions for the circular saw are quite the same as the angle grinder. But it is slower than the grinder.

4.  Pre-Drilling Holes in the Ridges: Some of the panels have pre-drilled holes. If your panels do not have them, you have to do it by yourself. You can use a half and a quarter-inch drill bit. The holes should be 6 to 8 inches from the ends and side panels.

5.  Laying the Roofing Felt: The roofing felt aim is to produce an insulating layer. You might not even need this insulation layer if you’re placing a corrugated roof on a structure like a patio cover.

(Alternatively, you can just fasten the metal roof to the wooden beams.) With a utility knife, cut the roofing felt to fit.

The roofing felt will be laid horizontally on the roof’s plywood deck. Roofing staples are used to secure the roofing felt. Make sure each layer is at least 4 inches apart.

6.  Laying the First Roofing Panel: Start laying the panel from the bottom corner of the roof and work your way across. After you’ve finished each row of panels, you’ll need to start a new row that’s at least 4 inches longer than the previous one.

This procedure can be compared to walking across the bottom of a roof and then gradually climbing higher and higher until you reach the summit.

When you start with the first metal panel, make sure it has at least a 4-inch overhang on the edge. Slide a washer onto a 12-inch wood screw and secure it to the roofing plywood with your screwdriver.

As a general guideline, it should be snug enough to keep it in place, but not really so tight that it dimples the metal. Then, add screws around every 8 inches along the outside border and bottom of the panel.

7.  Completing the First Row: When it’s time to lay another metal panel, make sure it’s at least one rounded corrugation wider than the preceding one. This will aid in the roof’s weatherproofing. Screw each consecutive sheet’s overlapped edge and bottom with screws.

You may need to clip the last panel of each row to fit, keeping in mind the necessity for overlap. This can be done with a saw or tin snips.

8.  Completing the First Side of the Roof: After finishing the first row, start the second row with a minimum of 4 inches overlapping. It will help to keep the water out. Do it as per the previous instructions.

9.  Installing the Other Side of the Roof: You can repeat the processes for the first side to complete the other side of the roof.

10.   Attaching the Peaked Ridge Cap: Add a peaked ridge cap that matches the form of your roof to finish off the top. Install this peak element on top of the roof, overlaying the metal row below. With the metal panels, you’ll need washers and screws to fasten them.

11.   Sealing the Roof: Use roofing cement and make sure to cover every seam so that there is no exposure. Let the cement dry. It may take as long as 12 hours.

If you follow these steps, you can easily install a corrugated roof. Now, you may not like the color the panel has. In that case, bring out your paintbrush and paint of your desired color and start painting.

The paint sprayer is also often used instead of a paintbrush. You can use a clear-coat polyurethane sealant to offer your corrugated roof even more longevity.

Now, to follow the process safely and more efficiently, we have some tips and warnings for you.

Tips and Warnings:

  • Check local building codes to see if there are any restrictions on installing corrugated roofing on your property before you go ahead and install it.
  • Place the panels on the ground in the order that they will appear on the roof. This aids in the installation of the panels’ laps.
  • Roof trusses should not be more than 24 inches (61 cm) apart, and purlins should not be more than 36 inches (91 cm) apart while framing the roof.
  • When installing panels for a patio cover, use roofing sealant to attach a corrugated roofing wall connector panel to a wall. For the sealant application, follow the manufacturer’s directions.
  • You can combine the two forms of corrugated roofing to create panels that allow light to pass through, such as a skylight made of transparent or white fiberglass corrugated panels. 
  • Avoid standing or walking on the panels by working from the sides with ladders or portable scaffolding.
  • To avoid leaks, avoid drilling screw holes in the valleys of the ridges.

Conclusion:

How to install corrugated roofing? We hope the question has been answered as you expected.

Without the need to install metal shingles, corrugated metal roofing can be a convenient and relatively inexpensive solution to give protection of your roof. A corrugated metal roof is also extremely durable, lasting for decades.  

When it comes to corrugated metal roofing, all you have to do is make sure you have the correct supplies. You can ensure that your new corrugated metal roof will last a long time by carefully installing it and ensuring that there is sufficient overlap between each row.

Author

As a civil engineer and roofer, I love to share the experience that I have gained through the last couple of years. In the roofing industry, practical experience is a very crucial fact that can help you a lot. Hence, I want to help you with my blog.

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