How to read a metal roof quotation so two sheets that look the same are compared like for like.
A metal roof sheet is specified by five things: the steel thickness, the metallic coating, the paint finish, the profile and the way it is fixed. On a quotation, ask whether the thickness quoted is the base metal thickness (BMT, the steel alone) or the total coated thickness (TCT, steel plus coatings), whether the coating is zinc (galvanised) or zinc-aluminium alloy, and which profile and minimum roof pitch the maker states for it. ClickBina's guides put a metal longspan re-roof at RM13,500 – RM27,000 on a 1,500 sq ft roof, with IBR corrugated sheet lower at RM10,500 – RM19,500 (indicative 2026, Klang Valley). A site visit is RM150, waived if you go ahead.
Most quotations describe a metal roof in a few words, such as “metal deck, colour” or “Zincalume longspan”. Behind those words sit five separate choices, and two roofs that look the same from the road can differ in all of them:
The metal roof vs tile roof guide covers whether metal is the right roof for your house at all. This page assumes it is, and explains how to read the specification.
Sheet thickness is quoted in two different ways, and the difference matters when comparing quotes.
A quotation that states a thickness without saying which one cannot be compared with one that does. Ask for the BMT, the steel grade and the maker's product name in writing. Makers also publish tolerances on thickness: Ajiya, for example, lists a thickness tolerance of ±0.03 mm on its AP RIB product page. A thinner sheet dents more easily underfoot and under falling branches, and drums louder in rain.
The metallic coating is what keeps the steel from rusting. Two families are common in Malaysia:
Either can be left bare or colour-coated, meaning a factory paint system is baked onto the metallic coating. Colour-coated sheet costs more but looks finished and reflects more heat in light colours. Whatever the coating, three habits shorten its life on site: cut edges and drilling swarf left on the sheet, contact with copper, lead or wet treated timber, and water ponding on low-pitch laps. The rusty roof guide explains how rust develops once the coating is breached.
The profile is the shape rolled into the sheet. It decides how far the sheet spans between purlins, how much water it can carry and how flat the roof can be. These examples are from one Malaysian maker's published product pages:
| Profile (Ajiya example) | Type | Rib height | Effective cover | Minimum roof pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP RIB | Trapezoidal pierce-fixed decking | 23 mm | 762 mm | 3° |
| Concealed Rib | Concealed-fix decking | 35 mm or 45 mm | 762 mm | 2° |
| Ajiya Euro | Tile-effect step profile | 35 mm | 780 mm | 8° |
Trapezoidal and corrugated sheets are the everyday choice for porches, extensions, factories and many houses. Tile-effect profiles imitate a tiled roof and need a steeper pitch. Concealed-fix profiles clip down onto brackets with no screws through the weather surface, which suits long, low-slope roofs; the standing seam guide covers that family in depth.
Every profile has a minimum pitch stated by its maker. Below it, heavy rain backs up over the laps and the ribs cannot carry the water away fast enough. The three examples above range from 2° for the concealed-fix deck to 8° for the tile-effect sheet. When a porch or extension roof is being built flatter to fit under an upstairs window, the profile has to be chosen for that slope, not the other way round.
Long runs on low slopes also need end laps and flashings detailed for the volume of water at the bottom of the roof, and the gutter sized for it.
Pierce-fixed sheets are screwed through the crests with self-drilling screws and bonded sealing washers. The washers are the part that ages first; the metal roof leak repair guide explains why perished washers and backed-out screws cause most metal roof leaks. Good practice is to fix through the crests, not the valleys, use screws matched to the coating, sweep away drilling swarf before leaving the roof, and seal laps and flashings with the maker's accessories rather than a smear of sealant.
Concealed-fix sheets avoid screw holes in the weather surface but depend on correct clip spacing and on the sheets locking together fully along their length.
A bare metal sheet gets hot in the sun and loud in a storm. The usual answers are a reflective foil or sarking under the sheet, insulation above the ceiling, or an insulated sheet. Ajiya, for example, describes its AP RIB PU PVC / Metal sheet as prepainted steel with a rigid polyurethane (PU) layer and a PVC or metal liner, sold on internal noise control and thermal comfort. The roof insulation guide compares the options, and the noisy metal roof guide deals with rain noise on porches and awnings.
ClickBina's guides publish these indicative 2026 Klang Valley figures, quoted from the page named beside each:
| Item | Indicative price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Metal longspan re-roof, 1,500 sq ft roof, all-in | RM13,500 – RM27,000 | Metal roof vs tile roof guide |
| IBR corrugated sheet re-roof, same roof, all-in | RM10,500 – RM19,500 | Metal roof vs tile roof guide |
| Batten reconfiguration when switching from tile to metal | RM3,000 – RM8,000 | Metal roof vs tile roof guide |
| Re-screw with new bonded washers | RM500 – RM1,200 | Metal roof leak repair guide |
| Lap joint, ridge and flashing resealing | RM800 – RM2,500 | Metal roof leak repair guide |
| Rust-seal coating system, per sq ft | RM5 – RM12 | Metal roof leak repair guide |
| Leak detection, separate paid visit | RM300 – RM800 | Metal roof vs tile roof guide |
WhatsApp us your job details for a quote — we reply within the hour.
💬 WhatsApp for a quoteThe specification moves the price: thicker steel, colour-coated finishes, concealed-fix profiles and insulated sheets all cost more per sheet than bare, thin, pierce-fixed decking. Ask for each quote to name the product so you are comparing like with like.
WhatsApp us your job details for a quote: the roof (house, porch or extension), its rough size, whether it is new or a replacement, and any leaks you already see. ClickBina is an experienced KL & Selangor contractor for whole-house refurbishment and trade coordination, so roofing can be planned together with ceilings, gutters and the rooms below. We reply within the hour, the price agreed is a flat price with no hidden charges, and a site visit is RM150, waived if you go ahead. Leak detection is RM300 – RM800 per visit, charged separately. See also house renovation.
Methodology: profile dimensions and pitches are quoted from one Malaysian maker's product pages as examples, downloaded on 1 October 2026; other makers' profiles differ, so check the product you are offered. Prices are ClickBina indicative 2026 Klang Valley ranges.
WhatsApp us your job details for a quote — we reply within the hour.
💬 WhatsApp for a quoteTell us what you need — we reply within the hour.