There are a variety of roofing hand tools that are most commonly used to cut metal roofing such as tin snips, hand nibbler, notcher, and hand seamer. These all come with a handful of disadvantages the biggest being that they are time-intensive and slow down the installation process a lot.
Let’s take a closer look at the different hand tools,
- Tin snips/Shears — are effective for cutting metal roofing – tin, aluminum, and steel. They come in different sizes and calibers.
- Hand nibbler — This is designed to cut sheet metal with pre-shaped holes using pre-cut dies.
- Notcher — Cuts “V”-shaped notches in metal roof panels.
- Hand seamer — Perfect for angled bends in metal panels.
Power tools make cutting metal faster and will certainly help to speed up the process. Tools such as circular saws, electric shears, electric nibblers, and angle grinders. When using these power tools you’re required to wear eye protection, face shields, and hearing protection.
So why are hand tools the most common choice of tools for metal roofing when power tools are so much quicker? Simple answer, quality, and safety! While they may cut through the metal faster they won’t make the best cuts and the tiny shards of metal that fly around are the perfect breeding ground for injury.
Electric shears and electric nibblers are probably the best tools you can buy and the most affordable choice. They are both designed for corrugated or curved panels and will not leave rigid edges or be as time-consuming as using the handheld shears or nibblers.
But if you have a big job and you want to speed up the process even faster here are some great tools that will do just that, but of course, come with a big cost.
Tabletop metal shears are much like a paper cutter only it cuts metal. This will quickly make a quality cut free and clear of any rigid edges to ensure the metal panel is flush against the roof. This will help you to make accurate cuts quicker then tin snips or shears and much safer then a circular saw. Be sure that you are buying the right one to cut your specific metal panels. If you have exposed metal fasteners make sure you are buying the one that has the cutouts for them.
Another great choice is the standing seam panel cutter. This is perfect for standing seam roofs that have concealed fasteners. You’ll consistently get quality cuts with minimal effort within seconds. While this may be a costly choice of cutters it certainly is one of the best ways to effectively make cuts.
Tools You Should Not Use To Cut Metal Panels:
- Torches
- Cut-off saws
- Reciprocating saws
- Hacksaws
- Grinders
These tools actually melt the Galvalume coating and eventually lead to rust spots on your metal roofing panels. Rust eventually leads to many problems down the road.
Installing a metal roof on your house is one of the best choices of roofing that you can choose. They are durable, long-lasting, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and stylish. Let’s not forget to mention that this corrosion-resistant roofing can also withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour.
With that being said proper installation is essential.
Rome Roofers have been installing metal roofing throughout the Georgia area for over 18 years. Our experienced and skilled installers will ensure only the best quality material is placed on your roof for the ultimate protection of the outside elements. We are known as one of the best metal roofing Rome Ga has to offer.
