What is an Exposed Fastener Metal Roof? (3 Things to Know About It)

Before deciding if a metal roof is right for you, there's a lot to learn. While the two types are both made of metal, they are completely different roof systems. 

That’s why you need to know key information about both to truly know you’re making the right decision. To start you on your metal roof research journey, we’ll be breaking down the more affordable option, an exposed fastener metal roof.

For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners find the right type of roofing material for their replacement. Because of this, we’re going to help you figure out if an exposed fastener metal roof is right for you.

This article begins with a basic understanding of what an exposed fastener metal roof is. After that, we’ll get into the 3 things every homeowner needs to know about this type of metal roof, including cost, lifespan, and maintenance. 

By the end of this article, you’ll have a good idea if an exposed fastener metal roof is right for you.

What is an exposed fastener metal roof?

An exposed fastener metal roof (also called screw down panel) is just what it's called; the fasteners are exposed. The metal panels are fastened down using screws and washers screwed through the face of the metal.  

Because the screws (fasteners) are screwed through the panel, there’s no room for expansion and contraction when the metal panels go through thermal expansion. Due to the lack of expansion and contraction, exposed fastener metal roofs are better suited over a carport, garage, back screened-in porch, barn, or anywhere that’s not a heated living or workspace.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t install one on your home. However, you need to be aware that the lack of expansion and contraction will lead to a leak down the road without proper maintenance. 

3 things to know about an exposed fastener metal roof

Now you know what an exposed fastener metal roof is. But there are still a few things you need to know about this type of metal roof. 

Below are 3 things every homeowner needs to know about an exposed fastener metal roof. 

1. The maintenance needed for an exposed fastener metal roof

Remember, an exposed fastener metal roof can’t expand and contract freely. The problem is, pressure caused by the lack of expansion capabilities causes the holes in the washers to get wallowed out by the screws as the roof ages. 

(Screws coming out of metal panel)

Because of this, your roofing contractor will have to maintain your roof by coming out every 5-10 years to replace the screws. If you wait too long to do this, it will cause roof leaks in the interior of your roof and bigger problems, like a strong storm tearing the metal roof off. 

Unfortunately, you won’t know it’s time for this type of maintenance until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to get your exposed fastener metal roof checked out at least once a year. 

2. The lifespan of an exposed fastener metal roof

The lifespan of your exposed fastener metal roof is the number of years you get out of it. Properly installed with no maintenance, you should get 20 years out of your exposed fastener metal roof.

With the periodic maintenance we discussed in the last section, you could stretch it to 30 years. Of course, there are circumstances where an exposed fastener metal roof won’t reach its maximum lifespan.

This could be from storm damage, improper installation, or lack of maintenance. But as long as you hire a great roofing contractor, you should get as much life as possible out of an exposed fastener metal roof. 

3. The cost of an exposed fastener metal roof

Now to what homeowners consider the most important information to know about an exposed fastener metal roof, how much it costs. Keep in mind, no two roofs are going to be the same price. 

So, it’s impossible to give you an exact price without a roof assessment. However, I can give you an idea of how much an exposed fastener metal roof costs per square foot.

You can expect an exposed fastener metal roof to cost around $4.50 per square foot. Depending on your area and your roofing contractor, the price could be less, more, or spot on.

But remember, this price is for educational purposes only due to all the cost factors that go into a new roof. 

How does an exposed fastener metal roof compare to a standing seam metal roof?

Now you know the 3 things every homeowner needs to know about an exposed fastener metal roof. Remember, I recommend this type of metal roof over a non-heated living space. 

If you’re seriously considering a metal roof for your residential home, I recommend a standing seam metal roof. However, you can still choose to go with an exposed fastener metal roof. 

But before making your final decision, you need to know how the two types of metal roofs match up to each other. That’s why we wrote another article that compares them on key factors, like the ones in this article. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality metal roofing services to homeowners in Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. You can count on us to give you a metal roof that lasts for decades, and we provide a lifetime warranty on our workmanship to back it up. 

Check out Metal Roofs: Standing Seam vs. Screw Down Panels to see how the two types of metal roofs compare to each other.