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Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve Got Questions. We’ve Got Answers.

WARRANTIES

A warranty is the manufacturer’s written guarantee that the product will perform to certain standards. It also outlines criteria that must be met in order for a warranty claim to be valid. We offer two main types of warranties: a paint warranty and a substrate warranty.

After your metal roofing or siding has been installed, your contractor should provide you with a warranty. If they have not filled it out, you may have to ask for the Central States order number. The order number may also be found on the material packaging or order verification paperwork. The Central States order number will be helpful if you ever need to file a claim. The warranty is for your records only, please do not mail it to us.

Learn more here.

Yes, you may choose to register your warranty online. We offer an optional online registration process to help you with record-keeping, but it is not required. Registering your warranty online may help with processing a warranty claim in the future. Failure to register your warranty online does not diminish your warranty rights. Additionally, registering your warranty online does not validate that the details you register were produced by Central States Manufacturing. We cannot verify the details you submit on the form.

If you would like to register your warranty, begin the process by clicking here.

Follow the process on the form and after you submit your details we will email you a registration number you can write on your paper warranty. If you register your warranty online we will also have a record of your warranty in our system.

No, you do not have to register your warranty online. We offer the optional online registration process to help you with record-keeping, but it is not required. Registering your warranty online may help with processing a warranty claim in the future. Failure to register your warranty online does not diminish your warranty rights. Additionally, registering your warranty online does not validate that the details you register were produced by Central States Manufacturing. We cannot verify the details you submit on the form.

If you would like to register your warranty, begin the process by clicking here.

Warranties are issued to the original owner, at the time of installation, of the structure where the materials are originally installed. Warranties are non-transferable and non-assignable after one year from the date of install. The original homeowner may transfer the warranty to a new homeowner within the one year period after installation. In the case of a builder and new construction, the builder can sell the home within one year of installation and the warranty will transfer to the new buyer.

Warranties are issued to the original owner, at the time of installation, of the structure where the materials are originally installed. Warranties are non-transferable and non-assignable after one year from the date of install. The original homeowner may transfer the warranty to a new homeowner within the one year period after installation. In the case of a builder and new construction, the builder can sell the home within one year of installation and the warranty will transfer to the new buyer.

Our panel profiles are available in different models, designed to fit your budget and protection needs. All Ultra and Prime models come with a lifetime warranty and feature our CentralGuard protection. With a lifetime of worry-free protection, you can be assured your roof will look and perform great for decades. Ultra and Prime models also feature an advanced rust blocking layer and come with a 20-year perforation warranty. Our Standard model is a good economical choice for limited budgets or where fade isn’t the main concern. All Standard models feature a 40-year paint warranty. Our least expensive thrifty panels come with a 20-year paint warranty. Click here to view our warranty page and documents available.

It sounds like your contractor may have improperly cut your panels during installation. Steel shavings or particles from sawing sparks may become embedded in the painted surface if your contractor uses a saw to cut your material and does not brush away the metal shavings.

Panels and trim are subject to staining and premature rusting in conditions where moisture accumulates causing the exposed panel edge to stand in water. This may happen at the wainscot, head trim, base angle, or rat guard due to improper installation.

Maybe. Warranties are not valid on properties located 1,500 or fewer feet from a salt water environment. Central States does not warrant or guarantee claims arising from damage to panels due to exposure to salt and salt water, water spray, corrosive or harmful chemicals (whether solids, liquids or gases), airborne containments, hail, or other agents of a similar nature.

If replacing only part of your roof, you should not mix fanfold insulation and DripX®. These products are not the same and serve different purposes. Fanfold is a type of foam insulation often used under siding. There should not be any issues installing metal panels over fanfold, however you may need an additional vapor barrier.  DripX is used to control condensation over open purlin or at the eaves and ridges. It’s a felt material applied directly to the backside of our metal panels and it’s purpose is to trap moisture and then release it back into the air in the form of normal humidity. If you use DripX, you do not need to install a vapor barrier. You should check with the installer if you are concerned about condensation.

Adhesion means the paint we apply to your metal panels is going to stick to the steel core. Central States warrants that the color-coated finish applied to our steel roofing and siding panels will not crack, check, peel, or lose adhesion. This does not include minute fracturing, which may occur in proper fabrication of the building parts. If you have a lifetime warranty, the paint will be there for a lifetime!

Fade is warrantied on Ultra, Prime, and Standard product models. Fade is not warrantied on thrifty panels. Remember, your metal roof is going to be exposed to years of harsh sun and elements. Eventually, the elements will affect your paint finish by either making it a lighter shade (fading), or causing it to become less glossy and take on a powdery finish (chalking). Your warranty guarantees that the paint finish will not fade or chalk over a certain amount in thirty-years. Check your warranty for the acceptable amount of fading and chalk for both the roof and sidewalls.

No, the warranty does not cover installation. Our warranty covers the finish of the paint and the rust-blocking substrate that covers the steel core. If you have an installation issue, including leaking or aesthetics, please contact your installer to ask about their installation warranty.

INSURANCE / PROTECTION

Maybe. You’ll need to speak directly to your insurance provider. In some states, you may qualify for an insurance premium reduction for certain metal roofing profiles. Most of our metal panels are UL Class 4 rated for impact resistance.When taking an insurance discount with a metal roof, you may have to waive the right to claims due to aesthetic issues. Check with your insurance agent to fully understand the pros and cons of insurance discounts associated with metal roofs.

Our panels have passed UL790 approval for Fire Resistance, Class A*. UL describes Class A roof coverings as effective against severe fire test exposures. Under such exposures, roof coverings of this class “afford a high degree of fire protection to the roof deck, do not slip from position, and are not expected to produce flying brands.” More details for UL790 can be found at the UL website.

*5V has not been tested for this rating.

Our metal panels are UL Class 4 rated for impact resistance and stand up to weathering better than many other roofing products*. Depending on the panel profile you have installed, hailstorms may cause small dents in the flat areas. This is only aesthetic and will not cause water penetration.

*5V has not been tested for this rating.

COLOR SELECTION

You should work closely with your contractor to choose the best color for your project. You can start your process at our Visualizer tool, an online tool for metal panel color selection. This tool allows you to upload an image of your home or use a sample house project to see metal panels and colors “in real life” situations.
You can also review our photo gallery for colors, panels, and other inspiration.  For final color selection you should use a physical color chart or a color chip (small metal pieces available at distributor locations). Your contractor should also be able to provide you with our color chart or chips. The visualizer is a close representation to the real color, but you should use a physical means to choose final color (chips or printed charts); of which, chips are the most reliable color matching tool.

You may notice that a photo labeled as a charcoal roof may appear darker like burnished slate, or lighter like Galvalume due to how the photo was taken. Metal is reflective and the color will look different depending on time of day, how the photo was edited, and your specific viewing condition (monitor, mobile, etc). When selecting a color for your project, please request a paper color chart from your contractor. Also, remember when selecting a color that it often looks different when applied to large areas. If you’ve ever painted an interior wall you’ll recall that the finished paint job looked quite different than the small paint chip you selected at the paint store.

METAL BUILDINGS

All the metal framing and metal components (panels, trim, and accessories) for the contracted metal building are included. We can add and supply metal building insulation and metal building walk doors to the quote.

We do not include (or quote the cost of) anchor bolts, windows, or overhead doors.

No, Central States does not erect metal buildings. Our manufacturing division works with a large network of local distributors to fulfill the need for metal Building Projects where specs are already defined. If custom built projects or building packages are necessary, our Building Works division can provide a non-installed solution for single story and pre-engineered metal buildings.
Additionally, our Elevate Structures division can provide a design and installation package for mid-rise buildings found in the self-storage, hotel, multi-family, and student housing industries.

If jobsite delivery is requested, the building will usually be delivered to the jobsite on 2 or more trucks depending on the size of the building and options selected.  Example: 1 truck of components, 1 truck of frames , and 1 truck for insulation. Alternatively, Central States will deliver directly to your distributor who will arrange your pick-up/delivery options.

For jobsite deliveries, Central States does not provide unloading of the materials and typically we do not have the material handling equipment on board to offer unloading. Customers requesting jobsite delivery should be prepared with their own material handling equipment on site to unload and erect the building. Your equipment should be able to handle at least 3,500 pounds.

Lead times change with market conditions, please contact Central States Building Works.

TOOLS FOR CONTRACTORS

We do not directly rent out tools to contractors for installing our products, however you can buy certain tools directly from us. Contact your salesperson for more information.
If you would like to rent a seamer for Metal Roofing install, you can try this vendor Quality Roof Seamers.

CLAIMS

Check your warranty for specific issues which are not warrantied. Common questions about fade, rust, and installation are addressed on our frequently asked questions page. If you believe the issue is covered under your warranty, you can submit a claim by clicking here and following the instructions.  You will be required to provide the physical address where the metal is installed, your contact information, and either the Central States order number, or the installer name and phone number. We will follow up with you once we have looked into the claim.

Claims must be made in writing or by filling out a claim form on our website within 30 days after the discovery of the defect. The notice to Central States shall include adequate identification of the material involved, the nature of the claimed defect, date of installation, date of shipment, and order number or installer name and phone number. Failure of the claimant to provide such information in the time provided shall be deemed as a waiver of the claimant’s rights herein. Central States shall have an additional 30 days to inspect the Central States steel roofing and siding panels before any further action shall be taken.

To properly process a claim we must validate that the material was manufactured from Central States and validate that the problem is an issue we would cover. Once we have determined these two items, we will either process or reject the claim. If we cannot determine that we manufactured the material, we will not process a claim. If we determine it is our material but the issue is not covered under the warranty we will not process the claim. In either instance we will contact you to let you know the outcome.

A Central States order number is the best way for us to begin the claims process. If you don’t have an order number, please call and see if your installer can provide this for you.

Central States cannot proceed with a claim until you are able to verify it is indeed our metal product. The onus is on the building owner where the metal roof is installed. If you do not have a Central States order number, and cannot remember who installed your panels, you can remove a panel to check for our unique manufacturers mark. On the back of every Central States brand panel, we imprint our name in UV reactive black light paint. It’s invisible to the naked eye, but if you remove a panel and hold a black light over it, you should see our name. If you do not see our name, the panel was not manufactured by us. If you see our name, take a photo (do not use a flash) of the black light image and email to externalclaims@centralstatesmfg.com to begin the claim process.

SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

Yes. Spray foam insulation can be applied to metal panels on open decking systems after the metal panels are installed, provided the following care is taken:

  • Thermal spacers must be used on all metal purlins/framing to prevent rust or uneven color.
  • All panels are properly installed and fastened securely
  • No overspray of foam insulation gets onto the top side of the panels
  • Spray is uniformly applied: non-uniform applications can cause thermal shock and loosening of fasteners, or potentially create uneven color.
  • Insulation should be pH neutral (non-acidic and non-alkali) to avoid corrosion of metal panels.
  • All structures and conditions comply with prevailing building codes.
  • All proper surface preparation and application procedures are followed per manufacturer guidelines and per SPFA-134.
  • If possible, apply foam in an inconspicuous area to check adhesion before applying to the entire job.

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, an association representing leaders in the SPF industry, has created a guideline for insulating metal buildings with spray polyurethane foam. It can be reviewed by clicking here. More information is available on their website at www.sprayfoam.org.

Yes. Spray foam insulation can be applied to decking underneath metal roofing panels prior to the installation of the metal panels. Similar to other types of insulation, spray foam on the deck should not create any issues with metal roofing. See your insulation representation for best application practice.

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, an association representing leaders in the SPF industry, has created a guideline for insulating metal buildings with spray polyurethane foam. It can be reviewed by clicking here. More information is available on their website at www.sprayfoam.org.

No. Spray foam insulation applied to metal panels before they are installed can create gaps in laps, make it more difficult to fasten properly, and cause overspray on the top side of the panels, which can affect the long-term performance of the paint.

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, an association representing leaders in the SPF industry, has created a guideline for insulating metal buildings with spray polyurethane foam. It can be reviewed by clicking here. More information is available on their website at www.sprayfoam.org.

Warranties will not be affected on properly installed systems. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in a particular issue not being warranted, while remaining valid for remaining issues.

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, an association representing leaders in the SPF industry, has created a guideline for insulating metal buildings with spray polyurethane foam. It can be reviewed by clicking here. More information is available on their website at www.sprayfoam.org.

CONTRACTOR DISPUTES

No, we cannot comment on your installation issue. Each roof is different and the installer must use their experience to apply our installation guides to the particular project. We provide contractors with guides that illustrate our suggested installation. The contractor has flexibility to modify our instructions based on specific conditions. If you have a dispute regarding installation, please work with your contractor for resolution. To review our installation guides and see what modifications your installer may have made, please click here.

You are always welcome to contact us, but we will not comment on particular issues of your specific project. We may be able to point you to particular sections of our installation guides, which could help when talking to your installer. Installation guides can be found on our marketing resources page.  You can reach us at 800-356-2733 or by using our contact form.

CARE

Our metal panels feature Sherwin-Williams brand paints that are resistant to many elements found in the environment such as air pollution, acid rain, and general airborne dirt. However, if the need to clean or remove deposits from your paint does arise, please download and follow the Sherwin-Williams cleaning and maintenance guide.

Yes, with caution. In the event of small scratches, touch-up paint applied with a fine brush may be used. Do not use paint from a spray can. Notice that any area where touch-up paint has been applied will fade at a different rate than the original paint that is baked onto the panel. As the touch-up paint fades, you’ll be left with a much more noticeable area than if you had just left the scratch unpainted.

While it is possible to repaint a metal roof, know that the repainted roof may peel and need occasional maintenance to fix. Talk to a paint specialist to select the right type of paint and make sure to clean it properly and follow the instructions from the paint manufacturer. Notice that repainting your roof will void any Central States warranty for the roof section that has been repainted.

Yes. If you are looking to repaint those old wooden shutters to match your new metal roof – just visit your local Sherwin Williams paint store and ask for our Central States by color name. Download this flyer for more details.

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