Corrugated metal roofing is a metal sheet that is roll formed into a metal panels. These panels are than attached to the roof with screws. Corrugated metal is an exposed fastener panel, meaning that each fastener is visible on the panel’s surface.
The traditional shape of corrugated sheet metal is round and wavy. It is low cost, light weight, durable, energy efficient, long lasting, and easy to install. Corrugated metal roofing is an excellent alternative to asphalt shingles or clay tile roofs. The durability of corrugated panels makes them a fit for both commercial and residential applications when used for metal roofing and metal siding projects. They are even used in other areas of the home including the ceiling, wainscoting and as fencing.
The term corrugated metal roofing is a bit tricky. People in the roofing industry will only refer to an “ S “ shaped wavy panel as corrugated. In simple terms it is anything round and wavy and NOT square or boxy. However, the term corrugated could mean any type of metal that is formed into grooves and ridges. It could literally mean any type of metal roofing including the more square and boxy looking panels.
Sheets of metal are made stronger by corrugating, or folding the metal to make grooves and ridges. Steel already has a higher tensile strength than wood, meaning it’s more resistant to breaking under tension. The corrugation process further increases the tensile strength of steel. This means that a light gauge metal like aluminum, copper, or steel, which may otherwise be flimsy, can be made into a strong panel. It creates a panel with high strength-to-weight ratios that can hold up to years of punishment in all kinds of weather.
Corrugated metal roofing is made from steel coils. Typically, the steel will have an underlying layer applied that is normally galvanized or galvalume. The material is either left unpainted or sent to a painter. These coils are then shipped to a metal roofing supplier and they will corrugate the panels.
How Is Corrugated Metal Made?
The corrugation process is accomplished by roll forming. This means that the sheet metal is pulled off of huge round metal coils and than it passes through rolling dies that form the panel into a corrugated sheet metal. After the corrugated metal sheets pass through all of the rollers, it is sheared off at the correct panel length.
Corrugated steel originated in the 1820’s and was invented by Henry Robinson Palmer. He worked at the London Dock Company and designed the corrugated steel panel so that workers with minimal construction skills could install it quickly. It became popular immediately as it was prefabricated and inexpensive.
Post time: Mar-01-2023