When I was looking at standing seam the Amish guy I was going to buy from said the striations were there to prevent "oil canning." There is something called 5V which has bigger stiffening ribs. I don't like that look, but I was told by the Amish guy that purely flat metal between the standing seams would look wavy once exposed to sunlight.

Read the attached PDF and Google "oil canning" and decide for yourself if the builder did you a favor. I suspect he did. I don't think the striations will be as noticible once the metal is up on the roof.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oil Canning

klabio, thanks for your response. I found similar info via web search. I've also read that a certain amount of oil canning is an accepted (and expected) phenomenon that is simply part of a certain aesthetic. I'll really be bummed to have striations AND oil canning, which is entirely possible evidently.

You'd think the builder or roofer would have invited a conversation with us if they saw some problem with our request.

Also the stuff seems real flimsy. Maybe everyone is surprised this way when they first handle their new roof panels. (?????)

Your builder did you a favor. Those ugly little bumps will cut the oil canning by up to 80%.

Personally, I don't mind oil canning. It's a natural characteristic of the material. We have a standing seam galvalume roof on our new home and it's part of the look.

I personally don't think the striations/ribs look bad. Depends how prominent they are I guess and what aesthetic your going for. If it can prevent oil canning...it's might be a win win. Bad oil canning can ruin a roofs appearance if it's all over. (which I've seen on a brand new black metal standing seam roof with no ribs/striations). the oil canning is very noticeable in a bad way.

Anna, is there a reason you dug up an 11 year old post?

As just for future reference, in order to keep standing seam metal roofing from 'oil canning', get a heavier gauge. If it's the thin stuff it'll do that regardless.

Just curious, what are the “stiffening ribs” the OP mentioned? Does anyone have a photo that shows them?

I think they're referring to some of the types that have visible ribs between the 'standing seams' as opposed to the common type (smooth, flat metal with standing seams at 12", 16", etc intervals) most people think of when they hear that term.

I somewhat understand, but a photo would be helpful. I’ve searched “stiffening ribs” in metal roofs, but only come up with articles about oil canning, and no pics of the way a roof looks with these ribs (if that’s what they’re actually called.

No ribs:

With ribs:

IMO the ribs give it a somewhat country or rustic feel. Both have their place.

Thanks for the pic.

I suppose each does have their place, but I don’t particularly care for it, even on a more rustic home. I also don’t care for the thick metal pieces on the corners...just a preference thing.

This is educational. I like pic#2.

We’re building a home. So I’m researching this issue. Ribs and striations aren’t for everyone but if done well can look nice. See photos below. Source - Instagram: Park Capital Homes in Utah. House is amazing and the ribs/striations almost go unnoticed.

Anna.....I have to say that the only one I like is the last one where you actually can’t even see the striated ribs (and some of the other angles where it’s not visible because they’re in the shadows :) It’s just a personal preference thing. It’s too warehousy for my taste. Do love the house though.

It's definitely a personal preference thing for sure. The reason I have researched this ad nauseum is bc we're building (IG account: virginia.farmhouse.project) and going via route of a standing seam metal roof. We want a more modern aesthetic and had original plans for smooth flat panels. The roofer our builder uses just applied a matte black standing seam roof with smooth flat panels nearby and it oil-cans terribly from the peak hours of 1p to 5pm. It's all over the roof and made me question whether or not I even wanted a metal roof. It's that BAD!! I'm also not one of those people who think oil canning gives a home/roof "character". I realize it cannot entirely be avoided but I wanted to know what could be done to avoid it. Adding ribs/striations, backer boards, going with a heavier guage metal, ( 24 or less), and using a lighter matte color were all solutions mentioned in my research to lessen the occurrence of canning. I too like the look of the flat smooth panel...but if it cans...I will hate it. That's where I am mentally....The struggle is real!!!!

I recently had my metal roof installed and I was concerned about the same thing because while driving around looking at homes I noticed the oil canning which really bothered me. I think the key is making sure you are using a heavy gage and it‘s installed correctly. Also, I made sure that I chose a metal roof with ZERO shine. It is completely matte. Here’s a pic....no oil canning ....even in the sunshine.

I think it also depends on how the sun hits your home and the pitch of your roof. Here’s a house I saw locally, and I was so turned off by the way it looked (I hope no one here will recognize it as theirs!). The front panel looks horrible, but the panels on the sides look fine. The front of my home faces north east (a little more north than east), and there is very little sun (direct or angled) that hits the metal roof. I have to add though that there are homes on the same street as this one that have metal roofs and they have no oil canning....so maybe it’s the installation or the gage. Also, notice how shiny the metal is even though it looks to be a matte finish.

Nidnay. Your house is beautiful and the metal roof looks great! The oil canning example you posted is exactly like the house I told you about. But all over!! That particular house had a lot long runs and the sun hits it every day in a way that makes it so noticeable. I think our gables are such that it won’t show “as much” even if does occur. But I’m still worried. It’s so much money...

Just wait until 90 degree summer temps. Oil canning will happen big time without some ribbing. The darker the roof, the more it will happen. And this loosens the crimps over time. It’s not just aesthetic. It’s structural.

Yep!! You are right!! So maybe going with a lighter color roof is the route I should take.

Our metal roof was installed in the late summer/early autum (but it’s fairly hot where I am), so I would have assumed canning would have occurred. We’ll have to see how it looks next summer.

Anna, since we share a very similar roof, I can tell you that I have experienced no oil canning so far. Hardly worth mentioning since I haven't had any real heat to test it with yet. But If you are really concerned about oil canning and want absolutely none of it, then you really have no choice but to get the ribbed panels. I prefer the smooth panel look, and going with a snap lock installation greatly reduces oil canning. You will get more oil canning with a smooth panel if you went with a single or double lock installation. Also, if you can install the roof during a mild period you will be much better off.

Anyone here that can recommend a good quality metal roof company?

Todd....are you asking for roof material manufacturer, or an installer?

Sorry- looking for manufacturer.

The experts will have to give input on that. I am no roof expert, but I got mine from Drexel Metals. You can get samples here, and here is a link to their general website, and maybe do a search for some info regarding their quality.

Hey Taco! That’s great your negative in the oil canning department. I’m hopeful ours will be minimal. We are planning on doing 24 gauge, 16” between seams, snap lock, lighter color, with backer boards placed behind each flat panel. That’s “supposed” to help. It’s an up-charge for the ribbed panels so I’m thinking we’ll forgo those and take the risk with flat panels. I prefer the flat panel look anyways. I also think the way our house is positioned with the sun setting behind and to right of house will help. The sun is never really glaring at front of house. We don’t have a ton of long roof runs either. The roof over garage and main roof over house are a tad bit longer but we’ll just pray those stay smooth. I also know that it’s better in cold months than in hot ones. So if it happens a little bit during the summer, at least I know, come cold months it will look better.

I've just repaired a badly installed metal roof. I didn't install it. It was on the house when I bought the house.

Metal roofing installation is a specialty skill. You need a metal roofing specialist that does nothing else. Even that won't guarantee that you get a good installation. Do your due diligence. A good metal roofer will provide you lots of references. Be sure to go and look at some of their 10 or 20 year old roofs.

A good metal roofing specialist will insist specifying and using proper materials. They will develop a very precise plan on how they will structure an installation. Make them explain it. They should want to educate you.

There are a million ways to screw a roof up. I'm the victim of one of the crappy installers. It will be a 40-year nightmare that is going to require constant vigilance.

You may want to get a referral from one of the trade associations. My roofer belonged to this one:

https://www.metalroofing.com/

Due diligence. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are lot a shysters out there, hire someone who has real experience, real references and a really good reputation.

Hi, Anna Guanzon. I am installing a standing seam metal roof on my house in Houston, Texas: 24 gauge, 16” between seams, snap lock. I came across this discussion and am curious how your standing seam metal roof has held up now 2 years later. Have you had any issues with oil canning? If yes, is it worse in the hot summer months? Is there anything you would do differently? Thanks, and I look forward to hearing back from you!