Screw fasten the purlins using fasteners directly screwed into the trusses or rafters.
Metal roof furring strip spacing.
This should then be followed up with galvanized steel hat channel preferred method or 1 x 2 furring strips.
Metal roofing is 38 wide however the panels need to overlap and therefore the actual coverage of the classic panel is 36.
Edit answer for another 41 minute you need to check the installation instructions from the manufacturer depending on whether the purlins firring strips are 1x or 2x material and how wide thickness metal gage of roofing steel or aluminum type of seams design wind and snow loading whether designed to be walked on or not etc i have seen it vary from as little as 4 inches clear gap between firring strips on lightweight aluminum to as much as 4 feet on very heavy gage steel.
When finished there should be a row of furring strips stretching from one end to another with the top edge aligned at the peak.
If there are gutters installed on the eaves the eave flashing should be installed to overhang the lip of the gutter by about 1 2 inch.
Use 1 1 4 inch nails to cover the outline of the roof with strips of metal eave flashing also called edging.
Correctly measure the spacing of furring strips for a metal roof to further decrease condensation.
The final step is securing a secondary row of furring strips along the roof.
So if your rafter length is 16 10 it can be cut.
If there are gaps around the roof penetration or valley points cut extra sections of furring to fit.
If you opt to put the metal roof atop current roof shingles it needs to be done in combination with a synthetic underlayment recommended.
Of course with metal shingles as opposed to panel roofing the mounting or engagement strip if used or shingles if no mounting strip should lie flat on the water barrier or bridge across up and down slope firring strips at the manufacturer specified spacing.
The machinery will not cut panels shorter than 3.
However you can cut the panels with tin snips if you need pieces shorter than 3.