I get the appeal of factory seconds, but I'd be a bit cautious. Last year, I grabbed a discounted bundle for my garage roof—looked like just minor scratches at first glance. But once we started installing, we noticed a few sheets had slightly warped edges. Nothing catastrophic, but it did slow us down a bit trying to straighten them out. Still saved money overall, just saying it's worth giving them a closer look before hauling them home...
- Factory seconds can be hit or miss—warped edges are pretty common.
- Usually manageable, but extra labor can eat into savings.
- Did you notice if certain brands or suppliers had more consistent quality than others?
I've been down this road recently... thought I'd save some cash by grabbing factory seconds, and honestly, the warped edges were a bigger headache than anticipated. By the time I factored in the extra trimming and hassle, I'm not sure I saved much at all. Ended up grabbing a few sheets from a local supplier—paid a bit more, but the difference in quality was noticeable right away.
One thing I've wondered since then: is it just about brands or suppliers, or could it also depend on the specific gauge and coating type? Like, are thinner gauges or certain finishes more prone to warping issues? Might be worth considering before committing to any specific supplier or deal. Curious if anyone's noticed patterns there...
I get what you're saying about factory seconds, but honestly, I've had pretty decent luck with them. Picked up some thinner gauge sheets with a basic coating last summer for my shed roof, and they were surprisingly straight—maybe I just got lucky? I wonder if storage conditions or handling practices at different suppliers might play a bigger role than gauge or finish... just a thought. Either way, it's probably a bit of a gamble.
Yeah, I've noticed the same thing about factory seconds. A couple years back, I picked up some discounted metal sheets from a yard sale at a local supplier—nothing fancy, just standard painted steel. Honestly, I was expecting some dents or twists, but they were pretty decent overall. Got chatting with one of the warehouse guys, and he mentioned sometimes sheets end up as seconds just because of minor finish inconsistencies or slight color variations that most folks wouldn't even notice once they're up on a roof.
Makes me wonder if there's a big difference between suppliers in how carefully they handle inventory. Maybe some places are just better at stacking and storing their sheets properly—keeping them flat, off the ground, and covered from weather exposure. Could be why some batches turn out straighter than others.
Still, like you said, it's always a bit of a dice roll. Guess that's the trade-off for the savings...
