From tips on metal roofing installation, to comparison guides for steel thicknesses, to detailed articles on wind uplifts, there have been a wide variety of topics produced in the Sheffield Metals Learning Center this year, each one offering something unique and valuable to our audience.
At the end of the year, the Sheffield Metals team likes to reflect on some of the best content from 2023 — pieces that helped our customers complete metal roofing projects and aided them in making important decisions on which products to buy.
Before we leave 2023 behind, let’s take a moment to look at some of the best articles published in the Metal Roofing Learning Center this year.
The 10 Best Metal Roofing Articles of 2023
#1. How to Best Prepare for Your Metal Roof Installation
While most of your focus may go into finding the right roofing design and materials for your home or building, you should also spend some time thinking about how to prepare for your metal roof installation. Sometimes, there can be confusion about the installation process and how best to approach it.
In “How to Best Prepare for Your Metal Roof Installation,” we give you a step-by-step look at the installation process, starting with the consultation and continuing all the way through until after the installation is completed. You’ll find answers to common questions such as:
- Does someone need to be at my home or building during the installation?
- How long will installation take?
- Where will contractors put their vehicles and equipment?
All of these questions and more will be answered in this detailed guide. After reading, you’ll have a comprehensive picture of the installation process and can approach the project with confidence.
#2. Buying a Metal Roof? Here Are the 8 Best Considerations to Remember
A metal roof can be a significant investment, so we like to provide buyers with accurate information and help them as much as possible throughout the buying process. At Sheffield Metals, we’ve helped countless homeowners and seen hundreds of different scenarios. We’ve refined this article to eight of the most impactful considerations to remember when buying a metal roof. A few of these include:
- Get a variety of bids or quotes
- Know the price of a metal roof can change quickly
- Know what is or isn’t covered by a warranty
#3. 2023 Color Trends: Best Metal Roof and Wall Colors This Year
Each year, metal roofing trends and tastes change. This is especially true when it comes to colors. While some colors hold firm in the industry and continue to be popular, other new options on the market may pique your interest. Whether you’re a designer looking to stay in the know or a homeowner looking for ideas for their metal roof, this article will help you get the information you need.
In “2023 Color Trends: Best Metal Roof and Wall Colors This Year”, we showcase a few of the hottest colors in the metal roofing market right now, along with some other honorable mentions, a look at future paint trends, and some tips to help you choose the best color for your metal roof or wall.
#4. 24 vs. 26 Gauge Metal Roofing: Which Steel Thickness Is Best for You?
One of the most common questions in the metal roofing industry is which steel thickness is best for certain applications. The answer to that question is not always clear and may depend on several different factors, most of them unique to your specific situation. That’s why we thought it would be helpful to put together a comparison guide detailing the difference between 24-gauge and 26-gauge steel.
In “24 vs. 26 Gauge Metal Roofing: Which Steel Thickness Is Best For You,” we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of each and look at several qualifying factors, such as:
- Durability
- Cost
- Color options
- Installation difficulty
- Best uses
- Defense against oil canning
At the end of the article, we also present specific scenarios and decide whether 24-gauge or 26-gauge would be best. This is a perfect article for anyone wondering about the differences between these types of steel thicknesses or those looking to determine what’s best for their metal roofing project.
#5. How to Prevent Voiding Your Weathertight Warranty
Weathertight warranties can help protect your roof and ensure the materials you buy are quality-grade. If you’re not familiar with these types of warranties, however, then it can be difficult to understand the details and know if any of your future plans will affect it.
In “How to Prevent Voiding Your Weathertight Warranty,” we give you a simple summary of weathertight warranties and provide actionable steps you can take to prevent voiding them. A few of the tips included in this article are:
- Call Sheffield Metals immediately if you find a leak
- Do not allow any unauthorized repairs
- Stay up to date on maintenance
#6. Best Practices for How to Handle and Store Metal Coils
Unlike other roofing systems, metal roofs are intricate systems that must be handled carefully during installation. Poor installation techniques can lead to scuffs, scratches, and more problematic issues such as leaks and structural faults. To ensure that your roofing project goes as smoothly as possible, it’s essential to understand the best practices involved and get some tips from experts in the industry.
In “Best Practices for How to Handle and Store Metal Coils,” we summarize some of the best ways to handle and store coils to defend against damage before and during installation. We provide separate sections for proper handling and storage and detail how best to approach each. In this article, you’ll find useful tips such as:
- Never lift or drag a stack of coils as a unit. You should always only move them one at a time
- When setting down a load, leave sufficient distance and spacing on all sides to allow the execution of a safe future lift
- Always store the coil in a cool, dry environment with relatively stable temperatures (even when there’s a covering or stretch wrapping on the coil)
#7. Wind Uplifts: What Are They and How Do They Affect Standing Seam Metal Roofs?
When people think about the dangers of owning a metal roof, they often think about common issues such as hail or leaks. In some cases, the most significant dangers to standing seam metal roofs are wind uplifts. A wind uplift is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the unique structure of a roof, and it can have varying effects depending on the region you live in and the specific products you buy.
In “Wind Uplifts: What Are They And How Do They Affect Standing Seam Metal Roofs?” we go over:
- What wind uplifts are
- How wind uplifts affect metal roofs
- What determines the severity of wind uplifts
- How to defend against wind uplift damage
Whether you’re a contractor, fabricator, or homeowner, this article will help you understand what wind uplifts are and how they may affect your metal roofing project.
#8. What Is Textured, Low-Gloss (TLG) Moonstone™? Features, Benefits, Best Uses
2023 also featured a big announcement for Sheffield Metals: the all-new CoreLine, which featured five new textured, low-gloss finishes, including TLG Dark Bronze, TLG Charcoal Gray, TLG Black, TLG Medium Bronze, and TLG Moonstone™.
Moonstone is the most unique finish of the five. It’s completely different from anything on our color chart, and it has impressive attributes with its shimmering, versatile appearance. It has already become a popular color and will likely continue to garner attention in the future.
To fully understand the benefits and appearance of TLG Moonstone, you’ll need to take a brief look at the details and see how it came together. In “What Is Textured, Low-Gloss (TLG) Moonstone™? Features, Benefits, Best Uses”, we talk about:
- The story behind Moonstone
- Moonstone features
- The benefits of Moonstone
- Moonstone Best Uses
- When Moonstone is not the best choice
- Where you can buy Moonstone
#9. What Are Paint Warranties for Metal Roof and Wall Systems?
We have two articles on warranties on this list, and for good reason – these warranties help protect your purchases and let you know that what you’re buying is built to last.
You’ll want to pay special attention to your paint warranty. Paint warranties will differ based on factors such as the paint system type, type of roofing material, and the environment.
In “What Are Paint Warranties for Metal Roof and Wall Systems,” we break down all the specifics of metal roof paint warranties, including:
- What metal roof paint warranties apply to
- What metal roof paint warranties don’t apply to
- Metal roof paint warranty timeframes
- Metal roof paint warranty claims
- Special cases and exemptions
- Additional legal statements
- Signature and verification
As a consumer, it’s essential to know the details of paint warranties so that you know you’re covered should anything happen to your roof.
#10. 11 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy a Standing Seam Metal Roof
It might seem odd that a metal roofing supplier would put out an article on reasons why you shouldn’t buy a metal roof. But at the end of the day, we want homeowners and building owners to make the best decision for their specific situation. And in some cases, that may mean that a standing seam metal roof isn’t right for them. It’s better to have the correct information in front of you and make an educated decision rather than regret it when it’s too late.
There are many reasons you may not want to get a standing seam metal roof – here are a few we included in our list:
- You don’t have the budget for a metal roof
- Your roofing design isn’t conducive to metal
- Your building contains contaminants that corrode metal or paint
In “Eleven Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy a Standing Seam Metal Roof,” we expand on these reasons and more. If you’re a homeowner on the fence about buying a metal roof, this is the perfect article for you.
Find More Great Content in the Metal Roofing Learning Center in 2024
As we head into 2024, Sheffield Metals is committed to producing high-quality content aimed at educating homeowners, contractors, fabricators, architects, and wholesalers on the metal roofing industry so that they can gain confidence in whatever project they’re involved in. Whether you’re a buyer looking to put a new roof on your home or a contractor wanting to find information on the latest products on the market, Sheffield Metals will have the right content ready for you.
We’ve enjoyed putting together content this year and have tried our best to keep our readers in mind with every article we publish. We thank everyone for reading and sharing our content and are grateful we have the audience we do.
We can’t wait to continue to craft great content and dive into more metal roofing topics in 2024. As always, feel free to send any questions, comments, and ideas for content you’d like to see in the upcoming year to blog@sheffieldmetals.com. And feel free to check out more of our content in the Metal Roofing Learning Center.
From the team at Sheffield Metals, have a safe and happy holiday season!
