In some cases a properly installed metal roof can last up to 60 years if properly installed. Read that back – and notice it says ‘properly installed’.

‘Properly installed’ can mean a lot of things depending on the situation – for example the type of roof panel, the geometry and the like. But regardless of those factors – they all share one thing in common and that’s that they all use long-life metal roof fasteners in exposed locations.

In many respects, the lifespan of a roof fastener or metal roof clip is just as important – if not more important – than the lifespan of the panels you’ve purchased. No matter what – your roof will have exposed fasteners and it’s important that they are of the long-life variety to prevent perforation of the panels. If it’s not a long-life fastener, it’ll eventually begin to rust and it can cause rust holes in panels and severely impact the performance of your investment.

Now if you’ve already contracted out your roofing job, then you’re still ok. Just make sure that you call your contractor and tell them specifically that you want life-long fasteners to be used in any location where fasteners will be exposed to the elements. And to make sure the job’s been done, don’t be afraid to get a quick inspection or do one yourself. Long-life fasteners are often stainless steel; stainless steel capped or has a zinc/aluminum cap.

Another thing you’ll want to focus on – is that installers will sometimes use long-life fasteners during he process but inadvertently use the wrong fastener in certain locations. Sometimes this is caused simply by mixing up fasteners in their tool bag. Other times, the misuse simply comes from needing a different fastener in a specific location. Just ask the contractor whether that came up or not – as it’s usually the case.

If you do find a non-long life fastener in your roof in an exposed area, then you’re going to want to replace it with one. While we’re not here to scare you, some of the issues that can be caused by non-life-long fasteners can be extensive and shorten the lifespan of your metal roof by up to 20 years. In some cases – even more than that.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about what life-long metal roof fasteners can do for your roof, give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation.