There are several different types of standing seam metal roofing panels, including snap-lock and mechanically seamed panels. Each of these types offers different uplift performance, weather resistance, and cost. In coastal counties, we typically rely on mechanically seamed panels due to their high uplift resistance and suitability for 20+ year manufacturer’s weathertight warranties.

Mechanically seamed panels interlock along the seam and then get folded together with a seamer in either a single-lock or double-lock design. The attachment clips also get folded within the seam and all fasteners are concealed. This hydrostatic design offers high performance in high winds and offers superior weather resistance.

In contrast, snap-lock panels are simply “snap-locked” to each other at the seams. They install relatively quickly and don’t require specialized seamers. Snap-lock panels tend to perform better on higher-sloped applications with simple roofs that have minimal details. When comparing the tested uplift capacity of snap-lock panels to mechanically-seamed panels, the snap-lock panels fall on the lower end of tested design pressures, which may not be suitable for windstorm applications. 

At Rio Roofing, Inc., we prefer mechanically seamed panels above all others.