Commercial R-Panel Roofing and Wall Cladding in San Antonio and Austin

An R-panel roof is made of profiled steel panels fastened through the face into purlins, with sealed side laps and end laps, closures, and trims at the ridge, eave and rake. We choose the profile, gauge, finish, panel length and fastener pattern together for the roof slope, the purlin spacing and the wind exposure of the building. We specify the whole roof as one system, not a stack of sheets.

Existing buildings carry R-panel, PBR or another exposed-fastener profile that looks much the same from the ground. They are not interchangeable at the laps. We identify the existing profile on the roof before ordering anything that has to meet it, and on a full replacement we lay out the new panels across the whole roof so laps and fastener lines run true.

Warehouses and industrial buildings also carry rooftop units, skylights, vents and canopies over loading areas. We set those out with the panel layout so every opening lands in a sensible place and gets a proper curb or flashing. Tell us about planned equipment or alterations early and we build them into the roof from the start.

On a new building, we work from the roof plans, elevations and steel drawings. Panel lengths, trims and openings are set out before fabrication, and our installation follows the steel and framing so the roof and walls go on in a logical order with the rest of the build.

On an existing building, the survey records the panels, purlins, girts, insulation and connections. We tell you what can stay and what has to go, and the proposal draws a clear line around the removal areas, with an agreed process for any hidden damage we find once the old panels come off.

Replacement is the right call when the old panels are perforated, the insulation is wet or the purlins need to be inspected and strengthened. Where the structure is sound and the old roof can stay as a lid, a metal roof retrofit puts a new roof over the old one without a tear-off. We tell you which route we recommend and why.

Gauge, profile, finish and span work as a set with the purlin spacing and the fastening pattern. A heavier gauge or a better paint finish on its own does not make a better roof. We specify panels, fasteners and supports together for the building’s wind exposure and use.

On an exposed-fastener system, every fastener goes through the weather surface. We use the right fastener for the support material, with sealing washers, driven to the correct depth: overdriven fasteners crush the washer and underdriven ones never seal. Central Texas heat moves metal panels every day, and that thermal movement works fasteners and sealants loose over time. Correct fastener choice and placement is what keeps an R-panel roof tight.

On older buildings, we check purlins and girts for corrosion, damaged connections and undocumented alterations. Any structural work is priced separately from the panel replacement, so you can see exactly what each part of the project involves.

Skylights, curbs, vents and rooftop units each need their own support and flashing. We agree which equipment stays, moves or is replaced, and build each opening into the panel layout. New wall openings get the same treatment at the head, jamb and sill.

Gutters and downspouts are sized and set to the finished eave. We reuse old gutters only where they are sound and sit at the right height for the new roof edge. Spring downpours in San Antonio and Austin overwhelm undersized gutters quickly, so we check each gutter’s capacity against the roof area it serves.

Spring hail is part of the climate in both cities, and long summers fade and chalk weaker finishes. We discuss gauge and paint finish with that exposure in mind, so the panels you choose suit the building and how long you plan to own it.