Education

# Metal Roofing 101: Everything You Need to Know

July 09, 2025·8 min read·By IronWrap Team

If you're considering a metal roof for the first time, the terminology alone can be overwhelming. Standing seam, snap-lock, mechanical lock, exposed fastener, structural panel, architectural panel, Class A, R-panel, K-style, hidden hangers — the list goes on. This guide is the primer we wish more homeowners had before they got their first quote.

## What 'metal roofing' actually means

A metal roof is a roofing system made from metal panels or stamped metal shingles. The substrate is almost always either steel (most common, strongest, most affordable), aluminum (lighter, fully rust-proof, popular near saltwater), or copper (premium, ages to a green patina, lasts 100+ years).

The metal is coated with a multi-layer paint system — typically PVDF (Kynar 500) or SMP — that protects against UV, hail, fade, and corrosion. PVDF is the long-term standard for premium installs; it's the difference between a roof that looks new at year 30 and one that has chalked or faded.

## The three main residential profiles

### 1. Standing seam

Vertical metal panels with raised interlocking seams. Concealed fasteners, modern lines, the most weather-tight option available. Most expensive but the best long-term value. Lifespan: 50–70+ years.

### 2. Metal shingles & shakes

Stamped metal panels that mimic cedar shake or slate. Hidden fasteners, dimensional 3D look, traditional aesthetic with modern performance. Lifespan: 50+ years.

### 3. Metal tile

European-style stamped tile profiles in steel, finished to look like clay or concrete tile. Distinctive, weighs a fraction as much as real tile, no cracking. Lifespan: 50–100 years.

## What it costs (real numbers)

Metal roofing typically costs 2–3x asphalt up front. Over a 50-year ownership horizon — during which you'd replace asphalt 2–3 times — the lifetime cost is lower with metal. Most quotes you'll see will land in the range below, depending on roof pitch, complexity, and accessibility:

- Standing seam: $14–$22/sq ft installed
- Metal shingles: $11–$17/sq ft installed
- Metal tile: $13–$19/sq ft installed
- Asphalt (for comparison): $5–$8/sq ft installed

## Common myths, debunked

### 'Metal roofs are loud in the rain.'

False. Modern metal roofs are installed over a structural deck and underlayment, which absorbs sound. They're often quieter than asphalt because they don't drum-skin against the framing.

### 'Metal roofs are dangerous in lightning.'

False. Metal isn't a stronger lightning attractor than wood. If lightning does strike, metal disperses the charge across the surface, which is actually safer than concentrating it through one penetration point.

### 'Metal roofs make houses hotter.'

False. Reflective coatings reduce solar heat gain, and the air gap between panel and underlayment reduces conducted heat. In summer, a metal roof reduces cooling load.

## How to evaluate a quote

Three things to insist on: (1) name-brand panel and finish (don't accept 're-rolled' or 'overstock'); (2) explicit warranty terms in writing for both panels and labour; (3) heat-reflective synthetic underlayment included as standard. If a quote leaves any of those vague, it's not a fair comparison to one that doesn't.

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