To install the best metal roof, consider metal shingles, as they come in an unprecedented variety of profiles, styles and colors to choose from.
In recent years, metal roof shingles have grown in popularity because of an unbeatable combination of features. They are less expensive than standing seam panels, beautifully replicate the look of other upscale roofing materials, offer a long service life and great energy savings.
We have picked the top 7 metal shingles products from the most reputable manufacturers – any one of them can become your “forever roof”.
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Is The Best Metal Roof Shingle Made Of Steel or Aluminum?
When you research various metal shingles, you will find that some are made from aluminum and others from steel. While both are equally durable and long lasting, there is one important difference.
Steel will rust and corrode if installed in coastal areas within 1 mile from the shore. Aluminum will not have this problem. While aluminum shingles are more expensive than steel, its strongly recommended to install them, if you live in a coastal area.
Technically, aluminum will never rust and steel roof shingles potentially could. In reality, because they are made from high grade corrosion resistant steel, it usually does not happen.
In my experience installing them for the past 13 years, I never had a corrosion issue come up. I even installed them on my house. I have many cut pieces laying in the boneyard (on the ground) for years, with zero signs of corrosion at the cut lines, where metal is most exposed to rust.
Therefore, inland, both metals are equally great as far as corrosion is concerned. So when choosing between the two, you should concentrate more on color, style, profile, choosing the right contractor and overall price.
Also, keep in mind that most common residential metal roofs are made of steel. This shows you complete confidence on the part of manufacturers in the products’ quality and durability.
Best Metal Roof For Residential Homes
Here is our pick for the top notch metal shingles that are an all around win for any style home.
1. TAMKO Metal Shingles
From a roofer’s and a homeowner’s perspective, Tamko roof shingles, also known as Metalworks, are my Number 1 Choice. In fact, I did put them on my house 8 years ago.
They are most reasonably priced, have a very well thought out flashing kit, are very easy to work with and will work excellent even on the most cut-up, complex roofs. There are only two major drawbacks:
– they are not made in aluminum (which I requested from a senior executive within the company)
– at this point, there is only solid color paint.
This company is a very large roofing products manufacturer. It offers traditional asphalt products as well as metal roofs, in Wood Shake, Tile and Slate profiles. Metalwork shingles are made of heavy duty 28 gauge steel.
In fact, they started manufacturing the AstonWood line using 28 gauge steel, instead of 30 gauge, due to numerous requests from contractors and builders. These are double stamped to create a realistic look of natural cedar shake.
They are 100% recyclable, as well as Energy Star Qualified and Rated by Cool Roofing Council to reduce cooling costs. They are available in 9 beautiful, bold colors. My clients prefer mostly the slate profile in Vermont Blue and Sequoia Red.
Tamko is a budget-friendly option, with material prices averaging $2.5-2.80 per square foot.
2. McElroy Metal Roofing
While I don’t have much experience with McElroy metal roofing, their Milan shingles have a very solid reputation among roofing contractors and homeowners.
They are made of quality steel, have been very well designed and the kit is very good. Overall, I rate them on par with Tamko, maybe slightly below because they are more expensive.
McElroy has been manufacturing metal roofs for 50 years. Their shingles are very good quality and highly durable. They are coated with 8 attractive Kynar 500® (PVDF) colors, as well as Slate and Shake Kynar 500 Prints. They have a four-way interlocking panel to withstand strong wind uplift, and an A fire rating.
Another product worth considering is the Met-Tile. It mimics the look of ceramic tile at a fraction of the weight and offers all the benefits of metal. It is made of 26 gauge galvalume steel, has a stucco embossed surface and comes in 10 gorgeous Kynar 500® colors.
In terms of pricing, McElroy metal shingles are $3 – 3.5 per square foot for materials.
3. Classic Metal Roofing Systems
Classic has very good metal shingles line. The biggest issue is that they work on regional dealership basis. This means there is one contractor per region, no competition, expensive material pricing, and dealers also charge a premium price for installation.
In some regions, dealers use pushy sales tactics, talk trash about competitors, but in reality their installation is no better than from small roofing companies.
In my region, the Classic dealer actually hires former Interlock Roofing installers by luring them for a couple more bucks an hour.
This means that the quality of installation is on par across big dealerships. The problem with both dealers is that you speak with a pushy salesman and have no idea who your installer will be.
In different areas, these dealers use either subcontractors or directly employ the installers. Bigger dealers have multiple crews, usually subcontractors, who work on volume and want to finish your job as soon as possible, thereby sacrificing quality.
The company has been in business since 1980, and has been installing its US manufactured metal roofs around the globe. Its products are made from 95% recycled materials. They offer a number of beautiful aluminum shingles. They are designed to withstand even the harshest coastal climate conditions.
Moreover the concealed fastener and the 4 way interlocking system is designed to withstand the highest wind uplifts and will remain intact in the harshest weather.
Also, all of them are coated with the strongest finish in the industry: Kynar 500® or Hylar 5000® PVDF resin-based finishes. This finish is considered the most durable and long lasting; it resists streaking, staining, chalking and fading.
You can choose from a number of profiles. Compared to other manufacturers, Classic Metal Roofs has one of the greatest color selections. There is Oxford Metal Shingle that offers the versatile aesthetic of architectural asphalt. It is available in 13 bold colors.
If you like the look of cedar shingles, there is Rustic Shingle, which boasts a realistic wood texture and is available in 12 beautiful colors.
Finally, there is Country Manor Shake, which offers the rustic look of hand-split cedar shakes, ideal for a high-end property. The shakes have deep groves for a very distinctive appearance and are available in 6 colors.
4. InterLock, PermaLock, AlumaLock Metal Shake Roof
These three companies make essentially the same products – 8×16 inch interlocking aluminum shingles, based on a patent that expired over 40 years ago. Now, it can be manufactured by anyone in US.
If you love the look of cedar roofs, but want to avoid the cumbersome and costly maintenance, you will love Interlock’s shingles and shakes.
They will never rot, decay and will be impervious to moisture. This roof offers a unique and practical design: each shingle has an interlocking edge on all four sides, and is embossed with a distinctive cedar wood texture.
If you like a more rustic, hand-cut look, you can install Interlock Shakes, also made from aluminum. Both are available in 11 designer colors. This system has interlocking edges on two sides.
For extra protection, the surface is coated with a special Alunar coating, embedded with TEFLON surface protector. They have an Class A fire rating, are resistant to hail, strong wind, temperature fluctuations, and are Energy Star Rated.
Both are also considered to be cool roofs, recognized by the Cool Roof Rating Council. This means they will reflect the sun’s rays and will keep your AC bills down.
This is an excellent system, that has been time proven to work in every climate across US and Canada. However, there was a Canadian manufacturer of this product, that had major problems with paint and to the best of my knowledge is no longer in business.
Moreover, Interlock also had issues with paint, but apparently they have been resolved. Basically, the quality of this roof will come down to the quality of installation.
5. EDCO Steel Roofs
EDCO is one of the industry leaders that has been manufacturing quality metal roofing and siding since 1946. They offer a number of steel shingle lines that have a 4-way interlocking system and are rated to withstand winds of upto 160 mph.
They also have the highest hail impact resistance rating. All are coated with a special TRINAR® finish for flawless, fade-proof color retention.
There is ArrowLine Enhanced Shake line, which is available in six blended, multi-tone colors offering a natural, weathered look. There is also Generations Metal Shake that offers 9 beautiful multi-tone colors that have a more weathered cedar shake appearance.
Finally, there is Infinity Steel Shake, that comes in 7 deep multi-tone colors and boasts a special Whisper Quiet coating that mutes outside noises.
Due to superior design quality, EDCO is on the higher end of the price spectrum. You can expect to spend at least $4 per square foot.
6. Matterhorn Metal Tiles
Matterhorn metal tiles and steel shingles are now produced by CertainTeed, one of the biggest building materials manufacturers in the USA.
In 2016, CertainTeed acquired Matterhorn from Quality Edge, a metal exterior products manufacturer, which has been in business for 27 years.
They offer steel roofing shingles, which are 100% recyclable, have the highest hail and fire ratings, as well as 130 mph wind uplift rating. They also feature a 4 way interlocking system and a special water channel, to allow constant water movement away from the roof deck.
All are Energy Star rated, and coated with a PVDF Tri-Pigment Reflective Paint System, which helps reflect solar heat on a roof. As a result, they can re-emit up to 89% of absorbed heat.
One feature that distinguishes Matterhorn metal tiles from competitors is the superior aesthetic appeal. The cedar shake panels have eight separate elevation changes to replicate the irregularity of real wood shakes (patent pending).
They also feature chiseling and cracks which enhance the organic look of real wood (patent pending). Finally, they have a shadow bead fold, located where the shadow line would be on real cedar shake, when the wood shrinks and creates a gap (patent pending).
These metal shingles are available in 4 different colors, that capture the four stages in a life cycle of real cedar roof: from a rich dark wood color to the iconic silver grey.
In my opinion, this is an incredible looking product, with a very poorly designed flashing kit. This compromises system quality and opens the potential for many roof leaks. The side wall flashing does not go under the shingle properly, which creates huge leaks potential and makes installation difficult.
In fact, in 2015 Matterhorn management asked me to come out to either Michigan or Chicago (I don’t remember) to help them redesign the flashing kit. However, I declined the offer.
They also have a very small installer base and most contractors will be installing their first ever Matterhorn roof. Also, the shingles are very large and there will be a lot of waste, which makes the total cost a lot higher.
In terms, of pricing, this is one of the most expensive options: averaging $4.5-4.75+ per square foot for materials only.
7. Decra Stone Coated Steel Roofing
Before I get into the specifics of the products, here is my personal opinion of this manufacturer and all other stone coated steel shingle and tile products.
All of them are very expensive, hard to work with, nearly impossible to repair and have poorly designed flashing. Because of these reasons, I would never install them on my house.
At the same time, the actual system is very durable. So if you have a simple roof layout, and need to replace clay tile, installing stone coated steel will save you a lot of money. Keep in mind that this system does not work great on complex and cut-up roofs.
Decra makes a number of highly durable and attractive stone coated steel roofs. They are an industry leader, who first pioneered the production of stone coated steel roofing over 50 years ago. All of their products have a unique interlocking design, that can withstand very high winds and adds additional strength to the structure.
If you love the look of designer asphalt shingles, you can consider their Shingles XD line. They have the striking appearance of heavy weight architectural shingles, but actually weigh significantly less (1.5 lb/sq. ft.) Moreover, they have a unique hidden fastener system and can be installed directly to the roof deck. They are available in 4 beautiful blended colors.
If you are looking for the rustic look and feel of wood shakes, there is Shake XD and Metal Shake. The latter has a more uniform appearance and is available in 6 blended colors. It can be installed over a solid deck with battens, which helps reduce energy consumption.
The Shake XD line is more expensive and upscale. It offers the more rugged, custom look of hand split cedar shakes. The system boasts hidden fasteners and can be installed directly over the deck. It comes in 2 beautiful blended colors: Antique Chestnut and Pinnacle Grey.
This is another high-end option, with average pricing of $4.5-5 per square foot, for materials.
Cost per sq. ft.
Roof Size:
Roofing Material:
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How To Choose A Metal Roof
First thing, you need to understand what a roofing system is. It is comprised of the shingle itself and a whole slew of accessories that go along with it, to make your entire roof watertight.
These include: drip edge, gable trim, VALLEY PAN, side wall flashing, ridge cap, snow guards, underlayment, etc.
Without properly designed accessories, it doesn’t matter how good your shingle is, the roof will leak. Especially important on this list are the VALLEY PAN and side wall flashing. These protect the areas that leak the most on all roofs.
In the description of each product, we will discuss which ones have good accessory kits.
I would recommend going for one that has been on the market longer. If a particular metal shingle has been around for a long time, it means that there is also a wide network of pros installing it.
This in turn means that these contractors are much more experienced with the system. It also means that the manufacturer has worked out numerous problems, like poorly designed flashing kits, paint issues, and have verified that their supplier provides high-quality coil.
One problem you may run into is lack of contractors that install a particular product in your area. For example, EDCO and Matterhorn have a pretty small market share, which means they have very few contractors and suppliers. This leads to low competition and higher prices.
On the other hand, TAMKO is sold through distribution in virtually every part of the USA, and has been on the market for over 30 years.
Finally, while we recommend getting quotes from at least three licensed roofers to get the best deal, we strongly advise to hire a real pro, even if it costs more.
Metal needs to be properly installed to provide long lasting and leak-free protection. If you get a cheap contractor, who does not specialize in metal, you will spend a lot of money down the road trying to fix problems that will inevitably happen as a result of poor installation.
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For over 20 years Leo has run a successful roofing business in New England, specializing in metal roofing, as well as cool flat roofing technologies. Having replaced and installed hundreds of roofs in New England, Leo has first hand experience with pretty much every residential roofing material and roofing manufacturer available in the US.
THANK YOU FOR YOU EXPERT OPINION ON METAL ROOFING MATERIALS.
I LIVE IN TYLER, TEXAS. WE JUST HAD A REALLY BAD HAIL STORM. ROOFERS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I AM ON MY THIRD ROOF ON MY HOUSE SINCE 1978.
DO YOU KNOW OF A RELIABLE CONTRACTOR THAT WILL NOT TRY TO FLEECE AN OLDER WOMAN WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT BUSINESS.
THANKS KATHLEEN
I own a manufactured home community that is upscale with strong rules. I have not allowed metal roofs up to this date. after seeing the new lifetime metal roofing shingles that has the same appearance as asphalt shingles i have decided to consider this new shingle. cannot seem to find the info and price of these shingles. If someone would send me approximate cost of shingles per square along with guarantee. I would like to talk to factory to ger as much info as possible before I made a decision.
Pete,
As far as info, an “asphalt shingle” look metal roof would be something like a Decra Shingle – it’s a stone coated steel shingle, usually in 22 ga steel.
As far as cost, shoot for somewhere in $1500-2000 range for 100 sq. ft. On complex/cut-up roofs, could be 10-15% more.
Material warranty you can find on Decra website. Labor warranty depends on the installer.
Good luck.
I didn’t see any mention of ASV or above-sheathing-ventilation. If I didn’t just miss it, I suggest you cover this topic. Its a big advantage in roofing, and not something you can do after the roof is put on.
We live in an area that receives several feet of snow, requiring us to shovel or snow rake the heavy snow off our asphalt shingles. Our roof needs replacing .. how would snow be on metal shingles? What is your experience? Will it slid right off ( like standing seam metal roofs) or do metal shingles require shoveling/ snow removal?
I am considering TEK Industries metal roofing with the following claims, but it’s not one of the ones you recommended:
Highly reflective to radiant heat.
Foam Insulation inserts for increased R-value and walkability.
Will self-ventilate using built-in 3/8″ air space.
Super strong solid steel 28-gauge core.
Corrosion resistant aluminum zinc coating.
Rock coated exterior for superior weather resistance.
CAT-5 Wind resistance.
Can withstand 2-inch size hail
Interlocking Technology hides fasteners for a sleek, premium appearance.
US Metal Consortium is the business I’m dealing with online. Do you know anything about this organization and their products? For the average homeowner (like me), it is very difficult to determine whose product is best and how to find a competent contractor to do the installation since you usually don’t find out what kind of job they did until years later! I learned a lot reading “7 Best Metal Roof Shingles”!
Hey Leo, I live in Washington State not too far from Seattle, and am looking into roofing options other than asphalt shingles or standing seam metal. I just don’t like the look of standing seam, and am not a fan of asphalt shingles. The application is an old farmhouse that is being remodeled/rebuilt, but doing my best to keep it from looking “modern.” Couple of questions for you…
The roof is 17 square with two valleys and 3 gables. I’d like to stay under or around $10,000 max for materials. I have a contractor who will install according to manufacture specifications whichever roof system is chosen.
I really like the look of metal shingles and other synthetic shingles, but am having a hard time getting hold of anyone. Tamko has nothing and apparently aren’t making steel shingles right now. Waiting on an Edco quote from a local supplier, but I’m worried it’s going to cost too much.
I was able to find cedar roofing shingles AYC CVD perfection for $600/square which is a bit over budget.
I am thinking other options such as rubber shingles or composite shingles are going to be on the high end for budget and am having a hard time finding info. I got a rough quote from Kesselwood for just over $8000 for materials, including basic trim, but am leery due to your comments about Kesselwood.
Any input you have would be awesome. I’d also like to know your thoughts on exposed fastener metal roofing. I like the look more for an older style house.
Thank you!
Karen,
Re: “I have a contractor who will install according to manufacture specifications whichever roof system is chosen”
For metal shingles, your roofer must be intimately familiar with the product – have experience installing many many metal shingle roofs. Once you do one type, and get good at it – other types of metal shingles are easy. But if you get an asphalt installer – they will botch the job, resulting in leaks.
Materials There are a number of online metal roofing suppliers that will ship. I also have very hard time buying TAMKO from local suppliers.
Try BestBuyMetals and others – just google “buy metal roofing”.
Also try AlumaLock and PermaLock (both aluminum shingles manufacturers out of Utah) – these guys began doing exclusive dealer networks, but most likely they don’t have a deal in your area yet, and will likely sell/ship to you.
I personally don’t like rubber / plastic / synthetic slate or wood imitation shingles. I am a big fan of METAL Shingles (steel and aluminum).
Definitely don’t install Cedar – wood lasts only 15 years, and is very expensive.
Leo
Thanks for the info this was very helpful. We are in New Hampshire and looking to replace our 20 year old asphalt roof. We really want a metal roof similar to the look of traditional asphalt. We are deciding between Permalock from East Coast Roofing or Kasselwood steel shingles from a local contractor. I was just wondering if you have any experience with Kasselwood, mostly because I like the look of those better than Permalock?
Hi Kelly,
So some thoughts … I have personally installed numerous Permalock, AlumaLock and Interlock roofs. Early on, I was an installer at Interlock, have official factory training from them, etc. Permalock & AlumaLock I installed as independent contractor, later on. They are all essentially the same product made by 3 different companies, based on same expired patent.
Back in the day, Permalock & Aluma-Lock would sell to independent contractors. In the last few years, the way I understand it, Permalock worked out an exclusive deal with East Coast Roofing (ECR), and now, no one in New England can get Permalock without going through ECR …
Interlock has worked through their own dealers since at least 2000. Aluma-Lock … I’m not even sure anymore, but I last I checked, I could not get their product either ..
In any case – I feel like ECR and Interlock are running a similar operation in New England, charging similar high prices.
I personally never installed Kesselwood, as my preference was alway Tamko steel shingles, as it was available from my local supplier at very reasonable prices, and Tamko’s design is very good, and very similar to Permalock/Interlock, only it’s made of steel and looks better.
Looking at Kesselwood install manual, I can see that the side locks are “slide in”, unlike hook type on the Tamko/Permalock/Interlock. I actually do not like that, as it would be a weak point (in my opinion) allowing some water to get under the shingle. At that point you rely on the underlayment to do the job, which is not always reliable.
My suggestion – look into Edco Steel Shingles or Tamko Metal Works for product, and find local installer that works with them. I personally would not pay the premium that ERC / Interlock charges for their name. Products are very similar, and installation mostly depends on the Crew doing the work (which is the most critical part).
Okay great I will look for those two products and then try to find a local contractor who works with them. Thanks, I appreciate your help.
There are independents installing permalock in maine. Have had two quotes on the product in the past week, East Coast Roofing has yet to give a quote but two others have.
That’s good to know. I guess the territory is not yet saturated
Thank you for this information. I found it very helpful. Thank you again.
I agree with you on a good choice for your personal residence. The metalworks shingle had the best watertite design from day one.
The Edco and Superseamless shingles are also reasonably good watertite designs.
With respect, many, in fact most others I have observed and tested as a 40 year sales/install pro and technical consultant to global leaders in production line engineering groups
like Bradbury NZ and the largest player in Canada, Vic West, I recently consulted to and helped develop the new True Nature Slate / Shake profiles.
The pervasive issue I see in most designs is a lack of understanding how water moves within a typical S Lock system. Primarily capillary movement developing from adhesion/cohesion and surface tension properties of accumulating water molecules.
( Most of us, including myself forgot some of our high school physics class experiments on all that )
Any way, just a consideration for your due diligence regarding recommendations, products like Permalock, the now defunct Certainteed shingles, and some of the Classic ( not all) shingles present fatal flaws causing a much higher reliance on shorter term underlays matched with ‘longer term’ roofing systems. Some fatal flaws are evidenced in the trim package, such as relying on caulking in high potential water flow/snow and ice backup at every valley joint, even on currently probably the most watertite shingle in the marketplace… I did not design the valley trim
Just a courtesy note for your bigger picture view on how, I believe you well understand, we need to not only assess the technical performance aspects of the shingle, but also the integrated critical components.
All The Best!
The Old Guy
Im having difficulty finding a supplier of metal shingles that will conform to a radius shaped roof. Actually its the round roof of a turret. Most suppliers want to shingle the round roof in segments which causes a different appearance. Any suggestions for a manufacturer?
Chas
In your case, the most “ideal” metal shingle would be the smallest ones. There are 2 or 3 manufacturers of Aluminum shingles in Utah, that make a fairly small (approximately 8.5 x 17″) metal shingles.
These shingles can be “field modified” to give them a slightly angled side lock to better fit on the round roof surface.
Keep in mind that almost every shingle will need to be modified, making costs pretty high. You will also need a qualified installer to do such work. This is not an easy task.
Have you also considered slate?
Good luck
Certainteed discontinued their Matterhorn steel shingles as of 2020. They did not tell me that when I bought samples and Winterguard HT underlay in November 2020. Guess they wanted to offload excess stock.
Tamko lists JB Building Supply as a dealer but when I called JB they said they do not carry it.
Edco is on Minnesota. They gave me a couple of dealers nearby. One did not return my call. the other would not give a per square pricing.
A local roofing supply showroom had Inspire and Davinci slate tiles which appear to be plastic. The Inspire is $550 per square, Davinci more. Both products are individual tiles, not panels so a lot of work to install.
Real thin slate is $800 per square.
So Cal.
Can you use metal roof shingles if you have skylights?
Yes, absolutely – metal shingles is the best metal woof system when it comes to flashing skylights and chimneys.
Just get good installers.
Good luck, Leo
We are building a home in Idaho, and we are looking for metal shingles in the Spanish/Mediterranean tile profile. Unfortunately, we are having zero success. Have checked with Met-Tile and Interlock. No one seems to sell metal shingles in Idaho, regardless of the profile. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Look into stone coated steel roof … Like Decra Gerard, Metro and All Met
Matterhorn (now CertainTeed) also has a Spanish Tile profile.
There are numerous metal roofing suppliers that will sell online and ship directly to your house. But you need to find a roofing contractor that actually knows what he’s doing. All of the Spanish tile metal roofs are pretty complicated to install.
Good luck
Hi, I’m looking at having a new roof installed on my home. I’m interested in having a metal roof installed, and wondering what type of metal roof is going to be the best and what I should expect to pay. I live in Salt Lake City UT, a few months ago we had 120mph winds, we also get hail and quite a bit of snow. I have a very steep roof and my roof is almost 5100 sq ft. I’m looking for advice on the best type of materials and average cost.
Thanks for any input.
I see your comment on Decra – have you heard of TEK industries? Also a stone coated steel product, but both make metal shakes that ‘look’ like asphault. My HOA won’t let me do cedar or slate because I’d ‘look too different’.
Do you know if Matterhorn has corrected their Flashing issue? Or do you know a way for roofer to correct? I have a cape cod so not so many roof angles just dormers and front porch.
Hi Leo, Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this subject. It is not easy to find a lot of ‘inside’ information that isn’t a sales pitch on the web on metal shingle roofing. I’m in north Florida, less than 3 miles from the coast and want to install a metal roof. Steel is off the table due to ocean proximity and I like the look of shingles over panels or standing seam. I was ‘this close’ to contacting Classic and Interlock for more info or quotes on aluminum shingles, but after this read I’m staying away from them and their prices. Your article reads like Permalock is a good possibility though. Can you lend more info on them as a company and anything on Alumalock? Also, any wisdom bites on how to find a qualified installer of aluminum shingles?
Thank you again.
Hi, first thx for very informative article. Per your comment about stone coated steel roof products, do you know if same issues apply to Boral metal (stone coated steel) roof product re application to a complex (steep, cut-up) roof? Plus, what metal roof product recommended for location within about 3-4 miles of the ocean? Thx again for any further info.
ANY WORDS OF WISDOM REGARDING BORAL STONE COATED SHINGLES.
Hi! We are in eastern CT. We are considering metal roofing to replace our current asphalt shingles which is 16 years old. We were looking to install solar on the roof. A bit scared because our roof is steep and has a few eves and valleys that are prone to ice dam and leak which we had to repair over the years. Is metal roof could be an issue to install on a complex roof? We have a consultation with Classic and reading your review makes me question if I should go through with the meeting. Because of their sales tactics and expense. Any advice? Any other metal roofing contractor that we should consider in this area? Thanks a bunch! Reena
Reena,
Try Marcus Anthony Construction in CT. I’m not sure exactly which town they are from, but they cover most of CT.
They install EDCO metal shingles, as well as other types. Marcus has been doing metal (as well as other roof types) for many years. Tell him I referred you.
As far as Classic – it’s your choice. I don’t give contractor “advice” when it comes to not working with someone. Their product and installation are good, but I personally would not work with them, merely because of pricing – they are 30-50% more expensive that I feel as a contractor, the going rate for metal roof should be. There is only one company in Massachusetts, that I will openly tell people not to work with (and it’s not Classic).
Now a word of advice, and this is something I’m dealing with myself right now (I’m doing metal shingles + solar). Many big solar companies like SunRun, Tesla, etc, will not touch a metal shingles roof, because they are unfamiliar with them. So I recommend you speak with solar guys as well, and pick out your solar company that will do good job, give you decent price per watt (i’d say below $3/w is good for steep, complex roofs), and has good track record/reviews, incase something goes wrong.
Maybe Marcus has a solar company they can refer.
Good luck
Hi Leo, Thank you for the quick reply! I did find a Marcus construction company in Old Lyme which is not too far away but I don’t see much information about them. No website. Just 2 reviews only. Just wanted to confirm I have the one that you have in mind. Is there a phone number that I can use? Also what do you think about Erie construction? They claim they do all metal roofing. Thanks again for your advice. Reena
Hi Reena,
I never dealt with Erie, but I know they are a “newer” company on the scene (in MA / CT). They advertise heavily, so I have a feeling they run a model that is similar to Classic (heavy advertising + well trained sales, to get the highest price per job).
You probably should get quotes from all three (Classic, Erie, and Marcus) and see who you like better / feel more comfortable with. Perhaps, you should also get couple of other quotes.
Erie advertises stone coated metal shingles, which honestly i’m not a fan of (regardless of manufacturer). Due to their thick gauge, they (stone-coated shingles) are very difficult to work with, and difficult to do properly where it really matters (skylight/chimney flashings, valleys, etc), where as smooth / painter metal is much easier to work with.
Good luck
I am considering a metal roof because I keep getting wind damage. Noticed you don’t mention “four way interlocking” until McElroy, not under TAMCO. Do I need to look to the more expensive brands to achieve the goal of not getting up there to fix something every year?
Paul,
I’m confused by your question, but to clear things up – both TAMKO and McElroy steel shingles are 4-way interlocking, which means they have locks on all 4 sides, and all hook into each other. Both offer very similar wind uplift rating, and are excellent at it. You will not have to “go up there every year to fix something” as far a s wind is concerned, given proper installation by the contractor.
Hope this helps.
Roofing price ranges seem off.
Says high price on metal shingles $16,000
Had two quotes one at $26,000 the other at $30,000.
Would love to find quality metal shingle install at $16,000. House ranch style with an edition in Mass. Quotes from interlock and classic
Mike,
It is funny that you got two quotes from Interlock and Classic. When I started in roofing, I actually worked for Interlock in Mass, 15 years ago 🙂
You pretty much got quotes from 2 most expensive companies in MA … The way both of these companies operate – they hire sales people who get ~10% commission ($2600-3000 in your case). Interlock hires sub-contractors and pay them very little (which greatly affects quality) to do their installs, while Classic may or may not hire subs. Last I know (about 8 years ago, Classic had their own crew, and did not hire subs… but 8 years is a long time).
Interlock’s prices are “insane” if you ask me, and so are Classic’s. The guy who runs Classic is a former Interlock salesman (or sales manager), and both of these companies have pretty similar pricing strategy … they come from same roots 🙂 But in Classic’s case, their material cost is very high, whereas Interlock manufactures their own metal shingles, and “sells” them to local “dealers” at discount prices.
Both companies have very high profit margins, which comes out of your pocket.
If it was my roof, I would hire a smaller owner-operated roofing company – not a national company like Interlock, or a local Classic dealer.
Realistic prices for metal shingles in MA is about $1000-$1200 per square.
Cheers, Leo
I live on B.C. west coast where we get a fair amount of rain .Forty-five years ago I built and shaked a 24′ geodesic dome . I have been thinking of replacing the cedar shakes with metal shakes. I have seen on the internet some larger domes that have been covered with Reinke or PRS shakes. Can you suggest a metal shake that could be used on this dome and that is available in Canada or could be imported from US.
Thanks for any info
Norm
Hi Norm,
So Delta Building Products in Delta B.C. makes aluminum and steel shakes & shingles. However it’s highly unlikely they will sell you the materials directly, since they have a network of dealers operating under “Interlock” brand.
Honestly I would not hire Interlock to do the job (as I worked there and know how they works from the inside) … But that’s just my opinion.
Still worth a try to contact Delta BP to see if you can buy just the materials.
You can also buy SAME IDENTICAL aluminum shingle (not shakes) from PermaLock or Aluma-Lock.
I also really like Tamko steel shingles, and have installed them on my previous home, and will put them on my current home soon.
Metal Shakes vs Shingles for Dome house:
I would strongly advise to go with a flat(er) metal shingle and NOT shake. Your house will have a ton of cut edges and flat shingle will work a lot better when it comes to flashing the ends of each triangle section of your roof. Raised edges of shakes, will make it extremely difficult to make the roof watertight.
I understand you may like the look of shakes, but from practical approach, shingles in this case are much better.
Good luck!
Hello,
thanks for generously sharing your knowledge. I have a question (or six) about gutters. We plan to install half-round gutters. We have exposed rafter-ends and no fascia on the eave, and would like to hang the gutters from straps nailed or screwed to the roof decking. Would those straps go under the eave flashing? Would the same contractor do both gutters/leaders and the metal roof? Lastly, should we even try to match colors, or just go with a plain galvanized finish on the gutters?
Hey Dick,
Straps should go under roof starter (eave flashing), but the design of the strap should allow for this.
You should have same contractor do both Roof and Gutters.
You should be able to match color for Roof and Gutters. I know my supplier does this. The use metal coil from Englert fro both roof and gutters. Find a local metal roof fabricator. We use Coastal Metal (division of Beacon Sales).
Good luck
My husband is encouraging me to have our roof replaced because it looks too old and its shingles have come off already. It’s interesting to know that metal shingles have been growing in popularity for the past few years, so this might be a choice that we should get. I think we should hire a roofing contractor to do this for us since none of us have experience in replacing a roof.
Thanks for a good review of metal roof shingles. We have an A-frame – so ALL roof! We were going to use standing seam but because the house is all roof I’m afraid it will look bad (compared to our current asphalt shingles). We looked at Terrabella stone-coated shingles and liked them but now Menard’s has discontinued selling them (a problem with the company?). We also looked at EDCO, but the price was SO high that we couldn’t even consider it. What is your recommendation for an A-frame and steel shingles or stone-coated steel shingles? I’m trying to stay away from a plain all-one-color and get some dimension. thank you.
Hello,
Thank you for this informative post.
The installer for Decra suggested leaving the actual asphalt shingles, adding a wooden structure and then the decra tiles. What do you think of leaving the actual asphalt shingles, which are 15 years old, thank you.
Reinke Shakes LT shingles are guaranteed to never blow off. Made from .030 aluminum with reinforcing ribs they are likely the toughest metal shingles made.
Bob,
Reinke Shakes might be strong an wind resistant, but they are very ugly 🙂 … seriously, I would not want them on my roof, and I did put metal shingles on my old roof, and will be putting them on the roof of my current home. I am a big fan of metal shingles!
Also, in my opinion, Reinke shake design is inferior (in watertightness and flexibility as related to complexity of the roof) to interlocking shingles, in large part because of corrugated design.
I don’t know if you work for Reinke or not… regardless, I wish the company best of success, in this very competitive business. I also recommend you guys update the website – it looks like 1998, and you are missing on all the mobile traffic (since site is not mobile friendly), which now is over 50% of all website views!
Cheers, Leo
Reinke Shakes new LT shingles have more metal per square than any other aluminum shingle. They passed hurricane tests at 3 times the minimum. You can literally drive a semi truck on them without hurting them. They are guaranteed to NEVER Blow Off. Many customers brag on how beautiful they look. You don’t have to interlock to keep water out. Asphalt shingles do not interlock. Check out the website and get the facts.
It looks like Matterhorn was at least considering redesigning their flashing system at the time you were writing this. Has this at all occurred? We are looking at using a metal shake tile, as I don’t trust the synthetic shake tiles, and really like the external appearance of the Edco Generations HD and the Matterhorn metal shake tiles. Even though we like the looks of the Mattherhorn better, your comments about the flashing system are pointing me towards Edco. Any thought? Many thanks! I appreciate your article. It actually pushed me in the direction of metal tile roofs. We live in an area that gets feet of snow in the winter, and metal has many advantages for that. I’m just less of a fan of the appearance of standing seam on our house.
@ CMartel2
Thanks for great question. So as far as Matterhorn goes, I did not really follow on the their flashing kit, but assume it is the same as before, becuase it was bough out by CertainTeed, which is primarily an asphalt shingles manufacturer, and does not have much expertise in metal. If you want to look up a PDF that shows Matterhorn’s current flashing drawings, I can take a look and let you know what I think.
To be honest – I like EDCO’s flashing much better, with one BIG exception. EDCO’s valley pan is designed pretty poorly, and is prone to serious leaking, because it has a gigantic rib down the middle, which make it rather cumbersome to connect two valley in the top intersection. See more here.
It also relies on screwed in cleat/lock, to attach and secure roof panels in the valley. These two factors create many possibilities for future leaks. However, since color-matching flat stock metal is available, you can have your roofer fabricate valley pan like the one in this picture.
So with the information I currently have, I would go with EDCO or if you really like Matterhorn, you can ask your roofer to fabricate all flashing to match EDCO or Tamko’s MetalWorks, and the valley pan, like the one I show in the picture.
Basically it’s ideal to replicate EDCO’s or Tamko’s Side Wall flashing design, Gable Trim, and Starter / Drip Edge, and “V” valley pan with built-in locks.
Hope this helps. Cheers, Leo
Leo,
First off, thank you so much for your work on this site. This is a great asset to a homeowner like me, looking to receive the value of a metal roof, but wanting to do it right.
I have a contractor who’s suggested Certainteed Matterhorn shingles as well, and am responding to your comment to CMartel2 regarding the flashing. Here is the current installation PDF from the manufacturer:
https://www.certainteed.com/resources/MatterhornShakeSlateInstallationManual.pdf
Your analysis of their current flashing would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
@Brent,
So I looked at the installation manual PDF for Matterhorn that you linked… and to me it seems like it did not change from what I saw 5-6 years ago… I’m still not a fan of it overall, and the components that I find need redesign are these:
1) VALLEY: Both the once piece W-valley and 3-piece T-valley are super prone to installation error… minor carelessness on the part of an installer could lead to huge roof leaks, as valley is the “weakest” area on any steep slope roof (meaning valleys are most likely to leak, compared with other sections of the roof).
The W-valley is reliant on caulk too much, as well as T-valley … but T will also collect all the leafs and debris from the roof. Both are easy to mess up during install 🙂
Also, and this is very important – both W and T valley are very difficult to “join” at the peak, where two valleys meet, and will require at least one tube of caulk … that’s not good!
CertainTeed / Matterhorn have great production capabilities (high end metal breaks, and roll formers), so they should easily be able to produce a one-piece V-valley pan with cleats built in, to eliminate most installation errors.
The other components (gable trim and Side-wall/End-wall) are not ideal, because they are made from two pieces, but I do like the J-channel design.
Again two-piece design make it more prone to installation error.
If it was my roof, or I was doing it for a client, or if I was a homeowner hiring a roofer to install Matterhorn, I would fabricate (or ask my contractor to fabricate) one piece V-valley, and optionally one-piece gable trim & side-wall flashings. I would just copy the TAMKO gable and end-wall design… but not their T-valley 🙂
It’s not that difficult to fabricate these flashings, even in the field, with a 10-foot sheet metal break from Tapco (a tool that most siding contractors have, and any metal roofing contractor SHOULD have). I’ve done this many times when installing aluminum shingles, Tamko steel shingles, and standing seam. Although I had my supplier bend the V valleys for standing seam, as my break could not handle .032″ aluminum.
Good luck.
I am thinking of going with a metal roof due to ice damning. I want excellent quality of product available . Please suggest other recommendations such wrap, insulation,special valley material. My house is 6000 sq feet with two great rooms with 26 ft high ridge beams. These sections attach to normal ranch style. My problems are the large four valleys creat ice buildup and damning.
I am thinking of going with a metal roof due to ice damning. I want excellent quality of product available . Please suggest other recommendations such wrap, insulation, special valley material. My house is 6000 sq feet with two great rooms with 26 ft high ridge beams. These sections attach to normal ranch style. My problems are the large four valleys create ice buildup and damning.
Stephen,
For “wrap” (I assume you mean underlayment), I recommend GAF DeckArmor breathable synthetic underlayment.
You may chose to also install an Ice and Water Barrier, but I think it’s really over-hyped, and doesn’t’ work as well as most people think. a 5-foot wide Deck Armor in valley is much better than a 3 foot wide Ice and Water barrier, as you have 2 extra feet of coverage, which then overlapped by 18″ on each side – I don’t see how water will get into that valley, even if it gets under the roof.
Best solution for Ice Dams is Standing Seam metal roof with concealed fasteners. However, I never had issues with metal shingles, and have personally installed many roofer with valleys, using steel and aluminum shingles from several manufacturers. The only product you should not use in your case is Stone Coated steel shingles/tiles.
In either case, I recommend a single piece “W” valley pan with at least 12″ overlap, and double seal (use Solar Seal 900 caulk). If you are not sure what W valley is, I can make a diagram.
Basically, it is a valley pan made of 24″ wide metal, with 2 revers “hooks” facing toward the center of valley, and shingles / standing seam panels locked into the valley pan. Here is what it looks like (you will also see DeckArmor underlay in this pics):
Standing Seam valley pan:
Metal shingles valley pan:
Here is what the valley piece itself looks like:
Either metal roof product should solve your ice dams. However, I also recommend upgrading insulation in your home! This will reduce the root cause of ice dams.
Good luck. Let me know if you have other questions.
Leo
Hello Leo and thank you for an excellent recap.
I have the same question as Ni Ra: Based on your experience, how does Kasselwood measure-up? What are the Kasselwood advantages, disadvantages and material price range
And, is the $2.5-2.80 per square foot the current price for metal roofing (above – TAMKO Roofing Shingles)?
Thanks for your help
Lloyd,
Honestly most of the metal shingles jobs that I’ve installed were either Tamko or aluminum shingles like the one Interlock (among may other manufacturers) makes. The aluminum shingles are are based on an expired patents, so anyone can make them. There are at least 5 companies in North America, making these shingles, so I can’t put a “name” or brand on them.
In any case, my Kasselwood experience is very limited. That said, they seem like a good shingle, and base on my experience with Tamko/Metalworks STEEL shingles, Kasselwood is pretty much just as good as most other steel shingles.
Advantages of Kasselwood is the multi-tone paint, which you cannot get in Metalworks and a more pronounced texture. Price is about $1/sq.ft. more. I would take Kesselwood over say Matterhorn, because of much better flashing design.
$2.50-2.80 is the materials only price for a typical roof.
What is your opinion of this product: KasselWood Product Specifications
And what is the minimum gauge you’d recommend a steel metal shingle product to be?
Do you have any roofers you’d recommend for 30021 (maybe one not on the list because there aren’t many and I do not need them to deal with my insurance co)
I have an old slate roof on my Colonial Revival home in Western Massachusetts. I need some repairs to the slate, fascia and porch roofs (which are asphalt). The house/roof is just over a hundred years old. I’m considering having the slate replaced by a metal roof because of the longevity. I can repair the slate now but just thinking if it’s going to have to be replaced at some point, better now rather than when I’m retired in 15 years when my income goes down.
I really like the look of the Permalock aluminum grey because it looks like slate. I’ve gotten a quote for permalock from East Coast Metal as well as a quote from Nescor for stone coated metal roof. Its such a big expense I’m nervous about doing the right thing. What do you think of Permalock aluminum product and being in Western Mass (not on coast) is it overkill? I just want a good system that will be durable, no maintenance, and try to keep somewhat true to the historic look of slate.
Lynn,
So, there are two things to consider as far as repairing slate VS new metal.
1) How bad of a shape your slate roof is in.
2) How much will current repairs cost, and how many new repairs you think will be needed in next 10-15 years.
A typical “fix few missing slates” repair can cost $500-1500. However, slat roofs are also very long lasting – 100+ years easy … some go 500-1000 years 🙂
But if you need to make repairs every year for $1000 each, then you should definitely just pull the plug.
My suggestion – upload some pics of your current roof to Imgur and I will take a look, and guesstimate the shape of your slate.
As far as Permalock vs stone coated tiles – definitely Permalock … i really am not a fan of stone coated steel, because they ALL have poor system design (in my opinion). That comes from material being very thick (22 ga steel) and hard to work with, as well as having “poor” flashing kits. They are also pretty expensive compared to aluminum shingles.
I personally worked with Permalock shingles and other “same kind” brands. It’s an expired patent design, so pretty much anyone can produce these. The are an excellent product, and the only negative thing about them – some manufacturers had bad paint batches…
I would also suggest steel shingles such as Tamko. When choosing metal shingles for my own home, I went with Tamko Slate singles, and most of the jobs i did for my customers in Eastern Mass were also Tamko. It’s excellent product, and is cheaper than aluminum shingles. Also since you are far from coast, you need not worry about salt air corrosion.
Basically I’d go with either Tamko or Permalock.
Let me know if you have other questions or need a contractor referral.
Leo