Is 29 Gauge Metal Roof Good

A common question i receive from homeowners concerns what metal roofing guage they should purchase.

Is 29 gauge metal roof good.

26 gauge vs 29 gauge metal. Also you should only hire metal roofing pros for the job. The gauge of a metal roof refers to its thickness and the higher the gauge the thinner the metal. Below i will share my thoughts on what sort of metal thickness or gauge is best for residential metal roofing.

While those who ask this are hoping for a simple answer such as only purchase 26 gauge the answer is never nearly that simple. 26 gauge steel is the industry standard for most commercial and residential applications and 24 gauge is steel is also common for standing seam panels and buildings that will experience high wind or snow loads. Grade 80 is a hard steel used to produce metal panels of 26 or 29 gauges. Making trim from grade 80 however will cause tiny cracks in the metal exposing it to rain and eventually rust.

For example standard 29 gauge steel roofing made in long panels is about 0 36 millimeters thick and the 26 gauge version is slightly thicker at 0 48 millimeters. In most cases metal buildings are constructed with a steel gauge no higher than 28. Each gauge represents a nominal decimal range. Manufacturers express the thickness of metal panels as their gauge with 22 gauge being the thickest and 29 gauge the thinnest of traditionally sold metal roof and wall panels.

For example 26 gauge could be a steel as light as 0179 or as heavy as 0217. Metal roofing is produced from different hardness grades. Avoid 29 gauge steel as it s too thin and hence poorly suited for residential applications. The lower the gauge the thicker the metal.

Many homeowners choose to install a 29 gauge roof with trim that is 26 gauge which can be more cost effective than a 22 gauge roof. Most metal roof and metal siding panels on the market are between 20 29 gauge with 20 gauge being the thickest and 29 gauge being the thinnest panels sold. Also make sure that a minimum panel thickness for your metal roof is in the 24 to 26 gauge range. This combination of thickness and hardness is great for metal panels that require dent resistance.