As an Altoona commercial metal roofing contractor, we install standing-seam roofs, replace failed panels, and frame retrofit metal over worn roofs.
Altoona commercial metal roofing work falls into three kinds of jobs. The old roof and the structure decide which.
New metal over the old roof
Keep the existing panels
Old roof removed first
Adding metal over an old roof changes height and weight, so we review edges, drainage, gutters, and the support path down to the purlins before recommending a retrofit.
Metal roofs wear at their connections first. These are the signs we look for.
Expansion and contraction loosen exposed fasteners, and old washers dry out. Each loose screw is a leak path.
Water traveling along end laps or side laps means the sealant is gone or the panels have shifted.
Cut edges and laps rust first. Surface rust can be cleaned; holes mean the sheet comes out.
Metal curbs and old skylights sit where most roof leaks begin. New curbs tied into the rib pattern stop them.
Heavy wet snow and iced gutters force meltwater back under panels. Eave trim, gutters, and snow retention need review.
Metal work has more parts than panel coverage. We list each one.
The panel type, gauge, and finish, plus clips or fasteners matched to that system.
Sub-framing height, spacing, and attachment to the purlins when new metal goes over an old roof.
Any added insulation in the retrofit cavity and the underlayment under the new panels.
New curbs, pipe flashings, and skylight frames tied into the panel layout.
Eave and rake trim, gutters, downspouts, and snow retention where people or vehicles pass below.
Panels are one line. Framing, trim, curbs, access, and season make up the rest, and the inspection sets each one.
Schedule Your Free InspectionRetrofits and tear-offs share the same core steps.
We check washers, holes, laps, rust, and the connections below so the plan reflects the real condition of the attachment.
Purlin spacing and condition get measured, and an engineer reviews loads when the work adds weight or height.
Long panels arrive on a schedule, and lift spots are set around docks and doors.
Framing goes on first for a retrofit, then clips and panels are seamed in order across the roof.
Curbs, eaves, and ridges get trimmed and sealed, and the final walk records each detail.
How the roof reads after the new metal is seamed and trimmed.
Flat sections and attached buildings often need one of these.
Welded white single-ply for flat roofs and low additions beside a metal building, including the transitions between the two roof types.
Read about TPO
Black rubber membrane for low-slope roofs on older shops and halls, with taped seams and rubber flashing at every opening.
Read about EPDM
Reroofing on plants and shops planned in phases, with protection for lines, stock, and staff working below.
Read about industrial roofingSix answers on retrofits, price, roof life, and snow.
Often, after an investigation of the old materials, trapped moisture, and how the new framing reaches the purlins. Drainage, edges, and equipment also change with the added height. The old roof should never hide active deterioration under the new panels.
The full assembly and the labor to install it: roof size, system and gauge, insulation, tear-off layers, deck or framing repair, trim, flashing, equipment, access, staging, and season. Panel coverage alone misses transitions and the condition of what sits below.
A flat rate misses too much. Two roofs with equal area can differ in framing, trim runs, curbs, and access. We price each item after the inspection, so the cost per square foot comes out of the scope rather than going into it.
Life depends on the panel coating, fasteners, and connections, plus how water and snow leave the roof. Good panels with failing attachment still leak. We judge remaining life by inspecting washers, holes, laps, and supports along with the metal itself.
Choosing metal says nothing on its own about how much snow the building can carry. Panels, connections, and the structure work together, and a retrofit adds weight. We flag where a structural assessment is needed before construction starts.
Where sliding snow can land on people, vehicles, doors, or lower roofs, snow retention is worth adding. Guards are sized and spaced for the panel profile and attached to the seams, and gutters below them get reviewed at the same time.
Tell us about the building, the panel type, and where it leaks. We will inspect the fasteners, laps, and framing, then write a metal scope that lists every trim and curb detail.