Standing Seam Metal Roofing – Local Trends
Metal roofing has certainly become a popular choice in the Chicagoland market in recent years. More specifically, standing seam metal roofs have been in high demand. From full metal roof installations to custom metal accents on a porch, portico, or bay window, standing seam metal has been an increasingly popular choice on new custom home construction and remodeling projects for our customers at Apex Exteriors. The most common applications we install are black (the most popular option by FAR), copper, zinc and galvalume.
This picture comes from a stunning new custom home project we just finished the roof on in Glenview, IL and now we are just wrapping up the custom wood siding installation. What used to be only seen on the roof of a barn or stable in the country or on the top of a drab commercial building in the city has now become a popular upscale choice by many homeowners in Chicagoland for its unique aesthetic and long service life. Customers can expect to get 50-75+ years of life out of their standing seam metal roof compared to 20-30 years from an asphalt shingle roof.
To be fair, a standing seam metal roof isn’t going to look good on every single home. More modern and minimalist designed homes are a great match for this look and material. Traditional, classic and ornate architectural styles tend not to look great in this option, although they can look great with a standing seam metal accent on a bay window, dormer or front porch in combination with asphalt shingles on the remainder of the home. Although considerably more expensive than an architectural shingle roof, when you factor in the expected average lifespan of the metal roof… the value is certainly there for those who appreciate the form and function a standing seam metal roof delivers.
The 5 Keys to an Expertly Installed Standing Seam Metal Roof:
- Metal Panels & Fasteners – You have made the decision to install a high-end metal roof… Now is not the time to skimp out on the materials or finish quality.
- Metal Panel Thickness – The metal’s gauge, better understood as the actual thickness of the metal panels, is a key component to avoid waviness in the roof known in our industry as “oil canning”. You want to choose at least 24 gauge (0.024 inches thick) and if budget allows opting for a 22 gauge is even better for long term durability to not only resisting oil canning, but from potential damage due to hailstones and fallen branches.
- Underlayment – The installation of a “High Temperature” rated ice & water shield on the entire roof deck is absolutely required for a successful installation. We’ve seen several improperly installed standing seam metal roofs over the years where a standard ice & water shield and synthetic underlayment were used (what is needed for an asphalt shingle roof) and due to the extreme heat a metal roof creates and absorbs (especially black), the underlayment ended up literally melting under the metal roof and oozed down the side of the home. Not good…
- Snow Guards – Because of the inherent slippery nature of a metal panel roof, snow fences or snow rails are absolutely necessary, especially on higher sloped metal roofs to avoid injury or property damage due to large chunks of snow/ice cascading down in Winter.
- Expert Installation – Hiring a general run-of-the-mill roofer to install a specialized metal roof is not in anyone’s best interest. These unique roofs take decades of installation expertise to ultimately deliver a stunning finished product. Knowledge around valleys, hips & ridges, chimneys, skylights, pipe boots, vents, and roof-to-wall transitions are especially important on a standing seam roof install. You also want a roofer that is going to custom cut/bend every panel to avoid unsightly seams every 5′ to 8′ on a 25-foot section of the roof.
