ABC Metal Roofing Review – Pros and Cons

As one of the older metal manufacturers in the United States, American Building Components is a name contractors are very familiar with. It's also a company that homeowners looking for a new metal roof should consider, especially if you value quality products and excellent service.

Residential Metal Roofing from ABC

You can find steel metal roofing from ABC in a variety of formats and sizes. At this time, there are 7 styles of residential panels to choose from, along with agricultural and commercial roofing products. All their metal panels in this residential tier are classified with a Class A Fire rating, a 90 Wind Uplift rating, and Class 4 Impact Resistance against hail damage.

Style

Coverage

Rib Height

Thickness

Fasteners

Coatings

Colors

SL-16

16”

1”

29, 26-gauge

Concealed

4

25

Imperial

36”

¾”

29, 26-gauge

Exposed

2

22

LokSeam

12”,16”,18”

1/16”

26, 22, 24-gauge

Concealed

4

30

5V Crimp

24”

½”

29, 26-gauge

Exposed

3

1

PBU

36”

¾”

29, 26, 24, 22-gauge

Exposed

2

26

PBR

36”

1 ¼”

29, 26, 24, 22-gauge

Exposed

2

26

Rustic Trail

29.33”

7/8”

22-gauge

Exposed

2

1

Residential Metal Roofing from ABC

You can find steel metal roofing from ABC in a variety of formats and sizes. At this time, there are 7 styles of residential panels to choose from, along with agricultural and commercial roofing products. All their metal panels in this residential tier are classified with a Class A Fire rating, a 90 Wind Uplift rating, and Class 4 Impact Resistance against hail damage.

SL-16 Roofing Panels

The SL-16 roofing panels from ABC have a contemporary style and come in 29 or 26 gauge steel. The coverage width is 16” with a rib height of 1”, and they are two texturing options available with standard and minor rib striations. These SL-16 panels utilize the company's concealed fastening system and are finished with siliconized polyester.

There are three coatings to choose from with Galvalume Plus, Signature 200, Signature 300, and Signature 300 Metallic. As for the colors, the SL-16 series has more options than most with 25 shades including some interesting alternatives like Burgundy, Buckskin, and the striking Hawaiian Blue.

  • Gauges – 29, 26
  • Rib Height – 1”
  • Coverage – 16”
  • Texture – Striations (standard) Minor Rib Striations (optional)
  • Finish – Siliconized Polyester
  • Slope – 3:12

Imperial Rib Roofing Panels

The next step up in the residential category from ABC is the company's Imperial Rib metal roofing panels. They are exposed fastener panels with a coverage width of 36” and rib spacing or pitch set at 9” on center. These panels can be used in the roof or walls of a home, and there are two texture options to choose from with embossed or smooth panels.

While there aren’t as many coatings for this style of metal roofing, there are still plenty of colors you can choose from. They include hues like Evergreen, Polar White, Cobalt Blue, and Rustic Red just to name a few. The thickness stays the same on these panels, however, with your choice of 29 or 26 gauge steel.

  • Gauges – 29, 26
  • Rib Height – ¾”
  • Pitch – 9”
  • Coverage – 36”
  • Texture – Smooth (standard) Embossed (optional)
  • Finish – Siliconized Polyester
  • Slope – 3:12

LokSeam Roofing Panels

With the widest range of colors and sizes, ABC Metal roofing's LokSeam panels are considered the cream of the crop. These roofing panels have rib height of 1/16” with a concealed fastener system which provides homeowners a clean, seamless look. While there are three widths available with 12”, 16”, and 18” panels, the thickness varies by width.

22 gauge steel roofing is available across all three sizes, but you can only get 26 gauge steel with 12” widths while 24 gauge is considered standard. The LokSeam line has the same finish type and coatings as the company's SL-16 panels but with the option of an embossed striated texturing finish. You'll also have five more colors to choose from Harbor Blue, Midnight Bronze, and Hunter Green.

  • Gauges – 24 (standard) 22 (12”, 16”, 18”) 26 (12”)
  • Rib Height – 1/16”
  • Coverage – 12”, 16”, 18”
  • Texture – Striations (standard) Embossed Striated (optional)
  • Finish – Siliconized Polyester
  • Slope – 3:12

5V Crimp Roofing Panels

When it comes to style, 5V Crimp roofing panels are on the opposite end of the spectrum from ABC's LokSeam lineup. Both are rated for use on roofs only and come in 29 or 26 gauge steel, but that's where the similarities end aside from Siliconized Polyester finish.

The rib height of the 5V Crimp panels is listed ½” while the coverage width is 24”.  The fasteners will be exposed on these affordable roofing panels, but there are still three coatings available. The only color listed for 5V Crimp roofing is Galvalume Plus, however.

  • Gauges – 29, 26
  • Rib Height – 1/2”
  • Coverage – 24”
  • Finish – Siliconized Polyester

PBU and PBR Roofing Panels

PBU and PBR roofing panels are an affordable alternative to LokSeam roofing and a popular style across the industry. Both types of panels are suitable for walls as well with the main difference between the two are the ribs. PBR sheet roofing from ABC has ribs 1 ¼” high and set 12” on center while PBU roofing has a rib height of ¾”.

The company's PBU and PBR roofing panels come in 26 gauge standard thickness, but thinner and thicker sheets are available as well with 22, 24, or 29 gauge roofing. Galvalume Plus and Signature 200 are the two coatings listed, and there are a wide array of  26 colors to choose from with these PBU or PBR panels.

  • Gauges – 26 (standard) 29, 24, 22 (optional)
  • Rib Height – 3/4” (PBU) 1 ¼” (PRR)
  • Coverage – 36”
  • Pitch – 12” (PBR)
  • Finish – Siliconized Polyester

Rustic Trail Roofing Panel

The last type of residential metal roofing from ABC is called Rustic Trail. Billed as a contemporary style of steel roofing, these panels are designed to appear weathered even though they are brand new. That's because they will naturally oxide over time, which makes them ideal for homeowners going for a rustic look.

American Building Components Rustic Trail metal roofing is made from cold-rolled steel that's unpainted and uncoated. The thickness is set at 22 gauge while the rib height is 7/8”. The Rustic Trail roofing panels provide 29.33” of coverage width, and the wall panels are 32” wide.

  • Gauges – 22
  • Rib Height – 7/8”
  • Coverage – 32”
  • Finish – Unpainted & Uncoated, Cold Rolled Steel

Other Styles of Metal Roofing from ABC

You can find post-frame products from ABC along with roofing designed for agricultural and commercial use. Many of the company's commercial products are the same as their residential lines, so you can use PBR, PBU, and SL-16 panels and others on commercial buildings as well. PBC is an exception, however, and only found in the commercial class.

PBC roofing is versatile and comes in four thicknesses, with three coating options. These panels have a rib height of 7/8” and are spaced at 2.67” on center. From a stylistic standpoint, Retro-R is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Designed to fit over an existing R-Panel roof, they are cost-efficient and come in 21 different colors.

You’ll notice some of the same panels available in the Agricultural class as well. Imperial Rib and 5V Crimp can also be found in the Residential section. 1 ¼” Corrugated is a roofing panel that lives up to its namesake while Perma-Clad is a smooth textured metal roofing with 5/8” rib height. Ameri-Drain has a similar design, while Monarch Rib brings something unique to the table.

ABC Metal Roofing Compared to the Competition

Whether you need residential roofing or something for an agricultural or commercial project, American Building Components can fulfill your needs. They are one of the larger manufacturers in the industry, with an overall product line that dwarfs companies like Lyon. They are in line with some of the other giants, however, including McElroy and MBCI.

With more than 20 types of metal roofing across their three main categories, ABC has a wider selection than most. Their selection of concealed fastener roofing isn't as large as some of their competitors, but there are some custom options available on some styles including the LokSeam and SL-16 metal roofing panels.

They also have a variety of finishes for all of their panels. We felt they are a bit behind some of their competitors when it comes to colors, although there are still more than 20 shades on some styles. The company's website is consumer-friendly as well, so you can find a wealth of information on their roofing panels or shop online with an approved account.

ABC Metal Roofing Cost and Availability

If you're interested in American Building Components metal roofing, you'll need to contact a distributor to acquire their products when it's a project you intend to tackle yourself. Homeowners with a contractor on hand should have no trouble getting ahold of steel roofing from American Building Components, however.

New users can apply for an account online to obtain pricing from the company, and their site has a wealth of information on all of their roofing lines. There is a shopping cart button feature for registered users with validated accounts through the company, although we are unsure what’s accessible from that point.

Conclusion

From installation guides and warranty information to the company's color visualizer, ABC has a number of tools to make a homeowner's decision easy. Even if you've never considered purchasing roofing, their site is easy to use and full of helpful information. As for their roofing, they have more colors than most companies and a solid lineup of metal roofing for homeowners and professionals alike.

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