Haha, your lawn mower story made me laugh—mine finds every lost screw and nail in the yard too. Good call on going local; it definitely pays off when someone actually takes time to explain stuff. Did the local guy mention anything about storm ratings or wind resistance when you were picking out your sheets? I'm curious because I've seen a lot of roofs damaged after storms, even when folks thought they'd picked sturdy materials. Wondering if there were specific recommendations or coatings he suggested to handle rough weather better. Always interesting to hear what the pros recommend...
Local shops are great, but honestly, storm ratings aren't always the full story. I've seen roofs rated for high winds still peel back after a nasty storm because installation wasn't done right. The local guy probably knows his stuff, but I'd pay just as much attention to fasteners and underlayment as the sheets themselves. A good hidden-clip system or screws with neoprene washers can make a huge difference... sometimes more than the metal gauge or coating alone.
"A good hidden-clip system or screws with neoprene washers can make a huge difference..."
Totally agree—just learned about neoprene washers after my first DIY disaster (oops). Turns out the fancy metal sheets don't help much if they're flying into your neighbor's yard mid-storm... lesson learned.
Glad you caught that early on—metal roofing can be tricky if you're not used to it. Did you figure out if the issue was more about the fasteners or the installation method itself? I've seen situations where people assume any screw will hold metal sheets down, but without those neoprene washers or a proper clip system, wind uplift can be pretty unforgiving.
Another thing worth considering: did you check your spacing and placement of screws or clips? Sometimes even having the right hardware isn't enough if they're spaced too far apart or not aligned correctly. I learned this the hard way myself a few years back. We had a contractor install some roofing sheets on one of our properties, and they looked great at first glance... until we got hit by a nasty storm. Turns out they'd skimped on fasteners, spacing them way too far apart to save time and money. Ended up with several sheets flapping around dangerously close to parked cars—talk about stressful.
Glad you're getting ahead of it now, though. Have you thought about checking local roofing supply places rather than big-box stores? In my experience, specialty suppliers often have better quality materials and can give you solid advice on exactly what you'll need for your specific roof type and local weather conditions. Might cost a bit more upfront, but it'll save headaches (and neighborly disputes) down the line.
Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track now... good luck with your project!
Definitely second the recommendation for specialty roofing suppliers over big-box stores. Seen too many roofs fail after storms because folks went cheap on materials. Quality fasteners and proper spacing are non-negotiable if you want your roof to survive serious weather... trust me on this one.
