What is Standing Seam Metal Roofing? A Complete Guide
If you’ve been researching metal roofing in Nova Scotia, you’ve likely come across the term “standing seam” without a clear explanation of what it means or how it differs from other metal roofing systems. This post explains the basics.
This guide covers everything you need to know about standing seam metal roofing in Nova Scotia: what it is, how it works, how it differs from other metal roofing systems, and whether it’s the right fit for your project.
The Definition
Standing seam metal roofing is a concealed fastener panel system. Panels run vertically from the ridge of the roof to the eave, and adjacent panels interlock at raised vertical seams. The fasteners that hold the panels to the roof structure are hidden beneath those seams, completely out of sight and out of the weather.
The name comes from those raised seams: they stand up from the surface of the roof, creating the clean, linear profile that standing seam is known for.
How it Differs from Other Metal Roofing
Most metal roofing is an exposed fastener system. Panels are screwed down through the face of the metal, leaving the screw heads visible on the surface of the roof. Every screw penetrates the panel, and every penetration is a potential failure point. The rubber washers under those screws compress and crack over time. When they fail, the roof leaks, even if the panels themselves are in good condition.
Standing seam eliminates that entirely. There are no screws through the face of the panel. Panels attach via concealed clips along the panel edge. The adjacent panel folds over the clip and is mechanically seamed at every joint. Nothing penetrates the surface. Nothing is exposed to Maritime weather.
The Two Main Types of Standing Seam
Mechanically Seamed (Mech-Lock)
Mech-Lock panels are folded and locked together using a mechanical seaming tool that runs the length of the seam. This creates the most weather-tight connection available in metal roofing. It is the recommended system for low-slope roofs, coastal properties, and any project where wind and water resistance is the priority.
KLAD’s Mech-Lock panels are available in single lock (seam folded once at 90 degrees) and double lock (seam folded twice at 180 degrees). Double lock is recommended for high-wind areas and waterfront properties.
Snap-Lock
Snap-Lock panels connect without a mechanical seaming tool. The male and female panel edges snap together, making installation faster and better suited to steeper pitches. It is still a fully concealed fastener system with no exposed screws, and still significantly more durable than any exposed fastener alternative.
What Standing Seam is Made From
Most standing seam panels installed in Nova Scotia are Galvalume steel, a steel substrate coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy that provides excellent corrosion resistance.
