Standing Seam Metal at Pitched Roofs

A few weeks back and other times in the past, here on our blog, we’ve taken a look and studied some of the standing seam roofs here in Washington DC and nearby areas. Particularly, today, we’re taking a look at some of the prominent, and visually apparent standing seam roofs which can be seen from the street and have an architectural impact in a nearby historic neighborhood close to Washington, DC.

The picture below shows a standing seam membrane on a gable roof with three prominent dormers. The chimney capping and flue termination are also painted red where exposed, to aesthetically match the color of the roof. Together, the visual aesthetic and blend of matching elements looks very good. It’s a visually effective historical design.

aluminium standing seam metal at pitched roofs

The roof, both at the eave at the lower end of the non-gable end of the roof end at the projection above the gable end of the dormer, does not provide much overhang and therefore little protection from water running back to the vertical face of both the dormer and the main wall of the building below. Roofs are intended to at least slightly project beyond the face of vertical walls, like many architectural details in buildings, this projection provides a bit of overhang and relief from typical low wind precipitation conditions. With just minimal wind, if a roof is directly in line with the wall below, water will just run down from the roof along the wall which increases the chance and occurrence of hydration of the wall which leads to accelerated deterioration and eventually rot and destruction of the wall.

durability of standing seam metal at pitched roofs

Instead, a slight protection will protect the wall. The dormer lacks that protection, the metal only passes by the edge of the gable face of the dormer by about 1 inch. At least in the case of the main roof, at the eave, there is a gutter that allows a bit more of an overall protection to give a cover from rain landing directly on the wall but it’s not much of a projection at all.

modern standing seam metal at pitched roofs

Another building with a visually prominent standing seam metal roof is shown in the next photo below as well. There’s a big difference though with this type of roof compared to the ones above. The roof in the picture below is called a hip roof. This type of roof does not have any gables.

panels for standing seam metal at pitched roofs

A hip roof is characterized by slopes on all four sides, which generally meet at the corners to form a ridge at the top. Each side of the hip roof slopes downwards towards the walls, like the roof shown in the photos above and below, providing a uniform, almost pyramid-like shape. This design makes hip roofs more a bit more stable and resistant to high winds, as there are no flat sides, like Thales gable roof, for the wind to push against. The inward slope on all sides also allows for better water runoff, reducing the risk of leaks and water damage.

design of standing seam metal at pitched roofs

A gable roof, on the other hand, has two sloping sides that meet at a central ridge, forming a triangular shape at each end of the building. These triangular sections are called “gables”. Gable roofs are simpler, quicker to frame, and more cost-effective to construct compared to hip roofs. They provide more attic space which can be useful in a city environment where even storage space cones at a premium, and gable roofs generally offer better ventilation options due to their straightforward design. However, the vertical ends (gables) are more susceptible to wind damage since they present a flat surface for the wind to push against.

standing seam metal at pitched roofs

The buildings shown in the image below have three skylights added across the longer run of the roof and a single skylight in the shorter side of the building’s roof. Although those skylights are relatively small in comparison to the overall size of the roof, they likely add a high amount of light and luminosity.

A skylight can also significantly increase the solar gain and heat load of a building because it allows direct sunlight to enter through the roof, which typically receives the most intense sunlight. Unlike vertical windows, skylights are positioned to capture maximum sunlight exposure throughout the day, leading to higher levels of solar radiation entering the space. This increased exposure can raise indoor temperatures and contribute to a higher cooling demand, especially in warmer months. The glass used in skylights can also amplify the greenhouse effect, trapping heat inside and further elevating the building’s heat load.

Solar gain refers to the increase in temperature within a building due to the absorption of solar radiation through windows, skylights, and other transparent or translucent surfaces. It is the direct effect of sunlight entering the building and being converted into heat. This can be beneficial in colder months by reducing heating needs, but it can also cause overheating in warmer months, leading to increased cooling requirements. Heat load, on the other hand, encompasses the total amount of heat energy that needs to be added or removed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. It includes all sources of heat gain, such as solar gain, as well as internal sources like occupants, appliances, lighting, and external factors such as ambient temperature and humidity, and solar gain as well, in this case. The heat load determines the capacity requirements for HVAC systems to adequately cool or heat a building. In summary, solar gain is a specific contributor to the overall heat load, which represents the total heating and cooling demands of a building. Although the skylights probably add a beautiful natural light to the top floor of the building, without a blind to close in the summer they would probably add a significant amount of overall heat load.

installation of standing seam metal at pitched roofs

We recommend every building owner in DC who values the longevity of their roof (and their investments) and building use a contractor who values the simple and important principles of proper roof construction like Dupont Roofing DC. Learn more about our company and the proper techniques of working with roofing on historic buildings in Washington DC here on our blog at DupontRoofingDC.com, and you can call us at (202) 840-8698 and email us at dupontroofingdc@gmail.com.

On Key

Related Posts

Reverse Coping Case Study

Reverse Coping Case Study

Reverse Coping: Insights from a Case Study Today, in our weekly blog article, below, we’re looking at a bunch of pictures from different angles at