Metal roof panels, and more precisely, corrugated iron roof panels are popular among masses because of their simple and lightweight design and longer durability. If you have installed it properly, it could last you for years to come since they are not the kind to worsen easily and also not prone to the extremes of the weather condition. Hence metal roofing is effective and so widely used. However, having said that, they need to be cut, installed and maintained appropriately as well. When you cut metal roofing they need to be handled with care as the galvanized zinc coating could be scratched or damaged, which could make it open to rusting. This is why the right technique is needed to be used along with the right set of tools. In this article, we share with you a step by step guide on how to cut metal roof panels in the correct way. 

● A flat, strong and steady surface

● A combination square to measure

● Power shears for cutting

● A measuring tape

● A marker

● Corrugated metal roof panels

● Good set of screwdrivers

The first step to cutting a metal roof panel is to begin with the process of preparation and measurement. So ensure that you find a flat sheet or a strong and flat surface which can be kept underneath so that you can easily cut through the metal without letting it slide. When you begin to measure it, the first thing you have to do is ensure that you begin square, which means that every vertical line has to run in square evenly. The reason for this is because the first panel will be slightly tilted while the other panels after it will also be tilted a bit. This is why precision is important when you are measuring it. Once the surface is laid well, make sure that you have a measuring tape and a marker to mark the points where you have to cut. Once this is done, place the combination square on the marked areas accordingly. When the combination square is dragged along the cut line, the precise measurements will be drawn accordingly. 

This step could be slightly painful but it is not going to be a difficult one, that is assured. One thing that you need to know before the corrugating process is that you need to handle it with utmost care. If that is not considered well, there will be damages on the panel surface. So to begin with, get the right cutting tools that can perfectly cut through the corrugated metal, and one such ideal tool is power shears. 

Once you have perfectly aligned the measurements, begin cutting the metal panel. You could even make use of a rotorazer saw which has a metal cutting blade to cut the metal panel. To add to that, you also need to wear hearing protection. 

Make sure that they perfectly align with your measurements, and remember that being even a tiny bit off can cause irreparable damage to your corrugated sheeting. Once you are satisfied with your measurements and alignment, start cutting the metal. The good thing about circular saws is that they can even cut through thicker roofing but ensure that you pay attention to the diameter of the saw blade and that it matches the bore on the saw as well. 

This stage to the process of cutting a metal roofing involves making use of a cutter such as a power shear and then slowly and gradually pushing it along the corrugated panel. This might sound easy to you but there will come points when you might feel that the power shear is coming to a dead end. If that happens, you need to move the blade at a different angle from the one you have been at and then carefully cut through the section putting in enough force to thrust is forward. If you are careful enough, you will cut through the corrugated panel in perfect straight lines and make it look like flawless metal roof panels over your house. 

Once you have cut the panels well, you can now install the panels and ensure that they are square so that each panel you install is straight. Post this, put screws over them to fasten the strip and keep them steady. The spacing between each fastener on the metal roofing should be approximately 12 inches and they should be tight. Now install the fasteners through the sealant tape creating a watertight seal. You need to attach three fasteners, one on each side and the third one in the center and your metal roofing will be perfectly cut and installed. 

Cutting metal roofing might seem like intimidating if you have not done it before but in reality, it is actually quite easy provided you have the right set of tools and have a good understanding of the basic processes.