01Define the exact system behind each label
Begin with the manufacturer, product name, panel profile, seam or lap configuration, metal substrate, thickness, finish and stated roof-slope range. Standing seam generally hides its primary field attachment while exposed-fastener systems place fasteners through the panel, but those descriptions do not resolve clip type, panel width, lap treatment, trim or accessory compatibility. Require current technical documents for the exact product instead of relying on a generic brochure or a sample from a different series.
- Record document revisions
- Keep accepted samples
- List every accessory
02Match the system to the roof geometry
Lay each proposal over the same roof plan. Review hips, valleys, short planes, low-slope areas, walls, dormers and transitions to adjoining roofs. A long uncomplicated plane may suit a different fabrication and handling approach than a roof divided by openings. Ask which panels are site-formed or delivered, where end laps occur, how appearance expectations are discussed and which geometry requires special details rather than standard trim.
- Use one numbered roof plan
- Identify panel-length constraints
- Flag non-standard transitions
03Compare attachment and substrate requirements
Record whether the proposal uses clips, direct fasteners, battens or another approved attachment, then identify the required deck or support. Ask what substrate evidence is needed, how fastening zones are determined and how perimeter or corner conditions differ from the field of the roof. Attachment spacing and structural adequacy belong to the selected system, building and applicable design review. They should not be copied from another roof or inferred from appearance.
- Name the substrate
- Show attachment by zone
- Route structural questions to qualified review
04Resolve movement, seams and water paths
Metal changes dimension with temperature, and each system manages movement through its own panel, clip, fastener and detail configuration. Ask how the assembly treats long panels, fixed points, end laps, ridges, eaves and transitions. Follow water through valleys, walls and penetrations to the drainage outlet. Sealant should be identified by location and compatibility; it should not replace a clear water-shedding detail or an unexplained field condition.
- Show fixed and moving conditions
- Trace drainage
- Document sealant purpose and access
05Audit penetrations, edges and future equipment
List plumbing vents, chimneys, skylights, curbs, antennas and mechanical equipment by roof plane. Add planned solar supports or future penetrations if known. Compare curb heights, flashing sequence, movement accommodation, compatible materials and trade responsibility. At eaves and rakes, coordinate underlayment, closures, fascia, gutters and adjacent cladding. Require system-specific details and concealed-work photographs so field improvisation does not become the only record.
- Create a penetration schedule
- Assign interface responsibility
- Preserve closeout photographs
06Verify finish and environment evidence
Compare the metal substrate and coating system named in the proposal with current manufacturer literature. Record colour, gloss, coating designation, cut-edge treatment, storage requirements and stated environmental limitations. Nearby materials, treated wood, dissimilar metals, rooftop runoff and agricultural or industrial exposures may create compatibility questions that need product-specific answers. Avoid turning a finish warranty into a blanket promise about corrosion, appearance or roof life.
- Keep colour records
- Check compatibility
- Read exclusions with headline terms
07Build a maintenance and submittal matrix
Create rows for panels, seams or laps, clips or fasteners, sealants, flashings, valleys, gutters, penetrations and snow attachments. For each system, record inspection access, maintenance tasks, responsible party, replacement-part identification and the source supporting the statement. Include current installation instructions, evaluation or listing references when applicable, shop drawings, samples and warranties. The matrix should expose unresolved differences without claiming that either family automatically produces a superior outcome.
- Compare the same components
- Reject unnamed substitutions
- Index final documents by roof area