R-panel is the workhorse of light industrial roofing — a ribbed, exposed-fastener steel panel that covers large spans economically and installs quickly. You'll see it on warehouses, shops, barns, and metal buildings throughout the Houston area.
We install R-panel and commercial standing seam systems, and we re-fasten and repair existing panel roofs that are leaking at the screws.
R-Panel vs. Commercial Standing Seam
R-panel uses exposed fasteners driven through the panel face into the structure below. It's economical, fast to install, and well suited to buildings where cost per square foot drives the decision.
Commercial standing seam conceals its fasteners beneath locked seams. It costs more but removes the most common long-term failure point, and it allows for thermal movement on very long panel runs — which matters on large industrial roofs in a climate with our temperature swings.
Why Exposed-Fastener Roofs Eventually Leak
Every screw in an R-panel roof has a rubber washer sealing the penetration. Those washers degrade under UV exposure, and thermal cycling gradually backs the screws out. After 10–15 years, a panel roof in good condition can start leaking at dozens of fastener points at once.
The fix usually isn't a new roof. Re-fastening with oversized screws and fresh gaskets restores the seal at a fraction of replacement cost, and it's one of the most cost-effective things a property owner can do.
Retrofit Over Existing Panel
An aging panel roof can often be retrofitted — new panel installed over a sub-framing system above the old roof — without tearing off and without shutting down what's happening inside the building. For an operating facility, that continuity is frequently worth more than the material savings of a tear-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our metal building roof leaks at the screws. Do we need a new roof?
Usually not. Leaking at fasteners is normal aging — the rubber washers degrade and screws back out over time. Re-fastening with oversized screws and new gaskets typically solves it for a fraction of replacement cost.
Can you install over our existing metal roof?
Often yes, with a retrofit sub-framing system. It avoids a tear-off and lets operations continue inside the building during the work, which is usually the bigger consideration for an active facility.
R-panel or standing seam for our building?
R-panel costs less and installs faster, which suits many warehouse and agricultural buildings. Standing seam conceals fasteners and handles thermal movement better on long runs — worth the premium on large or long-service-life buildings.
Do you work on agricultural and barn roofs?
Yes. Metal building, barn, shop, and light industrial roofs are all within what we handle.