The system
The 1" standing seam advantage
Strong, flexible and low-profile. Our signature panel is a 1" mechanical lock system, roll-formed on your property and seamed closed by machine — engineered for Ontario pitches, Ontario snow and Ontario temperature swings.
A standing seam roof is defined by one idea: nothing that holds the roof down passes through the surface that water runs across. The panels are held by concealed clips, and the joint between them is folded upward and closed — a standing seam, sitting proud of the water line rather than sitting in it.
Everything else about the system follows from that. Because no fastener pins the panel, the metal is free to expand and contract with temperature, which in Ontario matters more than most homeowners expect: a 30-foot steel panel measurably changes length between a January night and a July afternoon. Because there is no washer to harden and shrink, there is no maintenance cycle of re-screwing the roof every decade. And because we form panels on site, each one runs unbroken from ridge to eave with no horizontal lap to fail.
Single-lock 90° or double-lock 180°
The seam is folded by a seaming machine that runs the length of the panel after the sheets are set. How far it folds is a specification decision, not a preference.
Single-lock (90°) gives clean, crisp lines with a slightly softer profile. It suits siding, accent walls and steeper roof planes where water is always moving and uplift is moderate.
Double-lock (180°) wraps the seam fully closed for maximum strength and weather resistance. This is what we run on low-slope planes, on exposed shoreline and escarpment properties, and anywhere water can pond or wind can peel.
24 gauge or 26 gauge steel
Gauge is counter-intuitive — the lower number is the thicker steel. 24 gauge is stiffer, resists oil-canning better, takes foot traffic better, and is the standard specification for architectural work, long runs and anything highly visible. 26 gauge is lighter and less expensive, and is entirely sound on smaller, simpler roofs where budget is the governing constraint.
Both come with paint systems formulated for Canadian weather. If the roof is prominent, or the panels are long, or the colour is dark — spend the money on 24.
Beyond the roof
The same panel makes excellent siding. We use it regularly on accent walls, gable features, entry canopies and dormer wraps, and because everything is formed from the same coil on the same day, a wall detail matches its roof exactly rather than approximately.
Panel specification at a glance
| Profile | 1" mechanical lock standing seam |
|---|---|
| Panel width | 16" standard, adjustable for architectural layouts |
| Seam options | Single-lock 90° or double-lock 180° |
| Gauges | 24 gauge (premium rigidity) or 26 gauge (lighter builds) |
| Fastening | Concealed clips — zero penetrations through the weather surface |
| Ribs | Optional bead ribs to stiffen the pan and reduce oil-canning |
| Finishes | PVDF Signature / PVDF Printed / SMP Classic / SMP Textured |
| Fabrication | Roll-formed on site to exact ridge-to-eave length |
Specification questions
What is the difference between single-lock and double-lock seams?
A single lock folds the seam 90°, giving clean crisp lines with a slightly softer profile — good for siding, accents and steeper roofs where water never sits. A double lock folds it a full 180°, wrapping the seam closed. That is what you want on low-slope planes and wind-exposed elevations, where water can pond and uplift concentrates.
Should I choose 24 or 26 gauge?
24 gauge is thicker and stiffer. It resists oil-canning better, handles foot traffic better, and is the standard specification for architectural work and long panel runs. 26 gauge is lighter and less expensive and is perfectly sound on smaller, simpler roofs. If the roof is highly visible or the panels are long, spend the money on 24.
How is mechanical lock different from snap-lock?
Snap-lock panels click together by hand — fast to install, and they rely on the clip geometry alone to hold the seam closed. A mechanical lock is folded shut by a seaming machine after the panels are set, which creates a genuinely wrapped joint. Under sustained uplift, snap-lock is the system that unzips first. Mechanical lock is also the only option worth considering below about 3:12.
What is oil-canning, and will my roof have it?
Oil-canning is the visible waviness in the flat part of a metal panel. It is an inherent characteristic of light-gauge metal, not a defect, and no honest roofer will promise you zero. What we can do is reduce it: heavier gauge, bead ribs in the pan, striations, a flat and true deck, and correct clip spacing all help substantially. Darker and glossier finishes show it more than matte and lighter ones.
Can standing seam go on a low-slope roof?
Yes, with the right detailing. Below roughly 3:12 we run double-lock 180° seams with sealant in the seam, and we bend panels through the transition rather than cutting and lapping them. What you must not do on a low slope is use snap-lock or exposed-fastener metal — water sits rather than runs, and both systems will eventually let it through.
What is PVDF and is it worth the upgrade?
PVDF — usually sold as Kynar 500 — is a resin system that holds colour and gloss dramatically longer than the SMP polyester finishes used on cheaper panels. On a dark colour, on a sun- or snow-reflected elevation, or on anything you want looking sharp in twenty years, it is the single best-value upgrade on the quote. On a pale colour on a shaded roof, SMP is defensible.
Not sure which spec your roof needs?
Tell us the pitch, the exposure and what is on there now. We will tell you whether you need 24 or 26 gauge, single or double lock, and PVDF or SMP — and why.
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