Metal roofs
Four panels for four kinds of building
Barns, shops, guest houses and main houses want different metal. Here is what each panel is, and what it asks of the roof under it.
Profiles
The panels we install
- 01
Lámina: ribbed, exposed fastener
The ribbed panel on most ranch buildings. Screws go through the face with a rubber washer, and the panel is cut to length. Lámina is Spanish for sheet metal.
Barns, sheds, shops, porches
Lowest cost per square foot
- 02
Heavy rib, exposed fastener
The same method in a stiffer panel and heavier steel, for longer spans and buildings that see more use.
Shops, garages, carports
- 03
Standing seam, snap-lock
Panels snap together over hidden clips. No screws through the face. A good fit for cabins and guest houses.
Concealed fasteners
- 04
Standing seam, mechanically seamed
Panels are folded closed with a seaming machine along the seam. For the main house, with chimneys, valleys and dormers.
Concealed fasteners
Fits chimneys, valleys and dormers
Gauge and finish
What the steel is made of
Gauge
Gauge is steel thickness, and a lower number is thicker: 24 gauge is thicker than 26. Many barn roofs use 26; houses are often 24.
Painted finish
Factory-baked paint in many colors, with a finish warranty from the maker. Ask for the maker's written finish warranty before you choose.
Bare galvalume
Unpainted steel with a zinc-aluminum coating. Silver-gray, no paint to fade, and the lowest cost of the finishes.
Color and heat
Lighter colors reflect more sun. We bring samples to the estimate so you see the color in your own light.
Metal or shingle?
How metal compares with shingle
| Asphalt shingle | Metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Asphalt shingleLower | MetalHigher |
| Hail | Asphalt shingleCan crack and lose granules | MetalCan dent; usually keeps water out |
| Sound in rain | Asphalt shingleQuiet | MetalLouder on open framing, quiet over a solid deck |
| Rainwater tanks | Asphalt shingleOften avoided for drinking water | MetalCommon, with the right coating |
| Look | Asphalt shingleFlat, many colors | MetalRibbed or standing seam |
Metal questions
Before you choose
How long does a metal roof last?
Metal roofs commonly outlast asphalt shingles, but how long yours lasts depends on the panel, the finish, the slope, the installation and the upkeep. The maker's written warranty terms and ours come with your estimate.
Will it be loud in the rain?
Over a solid deck with underlayment, less than most people expect. A barn with open framing and no ceiling will be louder, and we say so at the estimate.
Can metal go over old shingles?
Sometimes, where the code and the condition of the roof allow. We check at the visit and tell you which we recommend and why.
Does a dent mean it leaks?
Not usually. A dent in a metal panel is mostly how it looks. Ask your insurer whether your policy covers cosmetic dents.
Not sure which panel your building wants?
Text a photo and tell us what it is. We will say what we would put on it.