I get the 24 gauge love, but has anyone actually had 26 gauge last a while inland? My uncle’s place is about 80 miles from the coast and his 26 gauge roof is still kicking after 12 years—no rust, just a couple dings from hail. Maybe it’s all about the coating and not just thickness? I mean, I wouldn’t touch auction leftovers either (learned that lesson with some “discount” flashing that looked like an accordion), but sometimes the local supplier prices are wild. Anyone else think warranties are a bit of a gamble too... or am I just unlucky?
I hear you on the 26 gauge. My neighbor’s got it on his shed—probably 15 years now, and he never stops bragging that it still looks decent (even after a couple hailstorms and, let’s be honest, some pretty half-hearted maintenance). I think you’re onto something with the coating. Galvalume or good paint can make a world of difference, especially when you’re not battling salty air every day.
The price jump from 26 to 24 gauge always makes me pause. I get the logic, but if you’re inland and not in tornado alley, I don’t see the point in spending double just for peace of mind. Now, warranties… yeah, I treat those like lottery tickets. If you’re not following every letter of their maintenance schedule, seems like they’ll find a way to wiggle out of it anyway.
Auction leftovers—I’ve been burned there too. Bought a “deal” on some panels once, and they were so warped I could’ve used them as modern art. Local suppliers are pricey, but at least you can actually see what you’re getting. For me, it’s all about balance—just don’t cheap out on fasteners, learned that the hard way…
- 26 gauge can definitely hold up if you’re not in a high-risk area—seen plenty of sheds and barns last decades with just basic coatings.
- Coating matters more than folks think. Galvalume’s solid, but even a decent paint job will buy you years if you’re not near the coast.
- Warranties… yeah, I’m with you. Most are written so tight, unless you’re documenting every cleaning and inspection, they’ll find a loophole.
- Auctions are hit or miss. I’ve picked up panels that looked fine, only to find hidden bends or scratches once I got them home.
- Local suppliers cost more, but at least you can check for warps or coating issues before buying. For storm-prone spots, I’d still lean toward 24 gauge, but inland? 26 is usually fine.
- Fasteners—don’t skimp there. Cheap ones rust out fast and can wreck an otherwise good roof. Learned that after a hailstorm left me patching leaks all summer...
Fasteners—don’t skimp there. Cheap ones rust out fast and can wreck an otherwise good roof. Learned that after a hailstorm left me patching leaks all summer...
That’s a point I wish I’d paid more attention to on my last project. I went with what the supplier had in stock (they looked decent, but weren’t stainless or coated), and sure enough, two years later I’m crawling around with a tube of sealant. The panels themselves held up, but the fasteners were the weak link. Lesson learned.
I’ve also noticed local suppliers tend to offer better advice on coatings, especially for our climate. I’m inland, so salt isn’t a big concern, but we do get wild temperature swings and the occasional hail. Galvalume has worked well for me, but I’ve seen painted panels chalk up pretty quickly if they’re not a higher-end finish. I guess it comes down to how much you want to spend up front versus dealing with touch-ups later.
I’m curious if anyone’s had luck with online-only suppliers? I’ve seen some pretty aggressive pricing, but I worry about shipping damage or getting stuck with panels that aren’t quite what was advertised. Auctions are a gamble, like you said—sometimes you score, sometimes you end up with a pile of “seconds” that need more work than they’re worth.
On warranties: I’ve read through a couple and honestly, unless you’re running a spreadsheet tracking every cleaning and inspection, it feels like they’re written to be nearly impossible to claim on. Has anyone actually had success getting a warranty honored for coating or rust issues?
One other thing—I’ve been looking at synthetic underlayment instead of felt for the next job. Anyone tried it under metal panels? Wondering if it’s worth the extra cost or just marketing hype.
I’ve been in the same boat with fasteners—thought I was saving a few bucks, but ended up regretting it when rust started showing up around the screw heads. The panels themselves were fine, but those little spots turned into leaks faster than I expected. Now I just bite the bullet and get the coated ones, even if it means waiting for a special order.
About online suppliers, I tried one of the big names last year for a shed project. Price looked great, but shipping was a mixed bag. The panels arrived with a couple corners dinged up, which wasn’t the end of the world for a shed, but I’d be nervous about doing my house that way. Customer service was decent—they gave me a partial refund—but it still felt like more hassle than buying local. Plus, matching colors from a screen is tricky. What looked like “forest green” online ended up more like “hospital green” in person.
Warranties are a headache. I actually tried to file a claim once when some paint started peeling after just three years. They wanted photos, receipts, proof of installation method, and even then said it was “improper maintenance.” Felt like they were just looking for reasons not to pay out. At this point, I just factor in some touch-up paint every few years and don’t count on the warranty.
I switched to synthetic underlayment on my last job (used Titanium UDL30 under galvalume panels). It went down way easier than felt—lighter, didn’t tear as much when I was moving panels around. It cost more up front, but I didn’t have to worry about it getting soaked if weather rolled in before I finished. Not sure it’s “essential,” but for me it made things less stressful and held up better during install.
If you’re doing it yourself and want to avoid headaches later, spending a bit more on fasteners and underlayment seems worth it. The little stuff adds up if you have to redo it all later... learned that one the hard way.
