The roof over most any all-steel structure offers more advantages than just keeping the wind and rain out. Today’s architectural demands expect a rooftop to match the local surroundings, and complement the aesthetic beauty of the building. Of course, the steel roof must also keep bad weather out and help support the rest of the building.  

The growing popularity of pre-engineered steel buildings for almost any application has also fostered great improvements in steel roof design.

Steel buildings including steel roofs have been built for a very long time, but 21st century steel roofs are very different from older styles. Because they are almost maintenance free and usually come with a substantial warranty, contemporary steel roofs are very appealing. Thanks to current technology, some roofs may last for 50 years or more, requiring only minor repairs.

Any steel roofing’s value can be measured by its ability to stop moisture from getting inside. Similar to the way that regular shingle roofs are dependent upon severe inclines to rapidly remove water, so too are steel roofs. A water-shedding roof should have a minimum pitch of “three on twelve,”� which is a slope configuration with design appeal.

Steel roofs that are classified as watertight, also called “hydrostatic,”� are engineered to function well with occasional water ponding. Minimally pitched styles are frequently utilized in waterproof roofs. Prolonged water pooling on horizontal roofs may cause water seepage which is why a certain pitch of the roof is needed with this construction. At key locations such as eaves, ridges, and rakes, regardless of the pitch, water barrier roofs are not considered “watertight.”� For a steel standing-seam roof to be classified as “waterproof,”� it must have no less than a “one on twelve”� pitch. In harsher climates, even a greater slope is recommended for better drainage ability.

The purpose of most steel roofs is viewed as either predominantly aesthetic or structural. Today’s structural steel roofing can fulfill many design requirements and is available now in a vast assortment of shapes and finishes. Structural roofing is often referred to as “waterproof.”� Even without assistance from decking, it can span the distance for widely spaced roof purlins. Elevated pitches are the best choice; however, structural roofing can be employed with extremely shallow inclines.

“Roof decking”� is a term that refers to a particular structural roof scheme. In order to meet this criterion, the roof must sustain a construction worker’s weight of 250 lbs. and conform to certain wind uplift requirements. Roof decking or closely spaced sub-purlins also provide the rooftop support to any nonstructural or architectural roofing.
An architectural roof is very similar to that of a water-shedding roof for practical purposes. The smart visuals that this type roof furnishes contribute considerably to its favor among all-steel structures. Severely pitched roofs are feasible with this type of application, but considerable structural reinforcement plus superior sealant quality are crucial as critical additions to this roofing design. To accentuate the features that are desired in this style of approach roofs that are colored are also purchasable. Today’s architectural roofs can match the desirable qualities of structural roofing, with the added benefit of curbside appeal.