How steep can one put up a metal roof?

   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #1  

newbury

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First I found this old thread:Sheet metal roof compared to shingle roof?

My house roof is moderately steep.
800smallhouse.jpg


I was wanting to get a metal roof put on but the roofer I've used in the past (ONLY does metal) said it was too steep for him.
He's pretty good, and has done 2 house roofs and a 40x60 workshop for us, so I dislike trying to find someone else. He recommended shingles, but he doesn't do shingles.
Should I look for a different roofer for metal? (small town, few choices)
Or just go shingles?
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #2  
Get a pole shed company for the install. Metal can be wicked working on sometimes and he may have an uncomfortable feeling with steep ones lately.

Around here metal seems to be the choice. My opinion is shingles in our area look like crap much quicker from the sun than metal roofs.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #3  
Looks like a 12/12 pitch (12" down for every 12" over), shouldn't be any problem roofing that with the right crew.
I wouldn't do it unless you tear off down to the decking first though.
One HUGE problem with putting steel over an existing roof is that if you ever get a fire in the attic and it gets into the shingles, the house is gone.
The airspace between the shingles and the roof will let the fire spread all across the roof.

Aaron Z
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #4  
First I found this old thread:Sheet metal roof compared to shingle roof?

My house roof is moderately steep.
View attachment 691132

I was wanting to get a metal roof put on but the roofer I've used in the past (ONLY does metal) said it was too steep for him.
He's pretty good, and has done 2 house roofs and a 40x60 workshop for us, so I dislike trying to find someone else. He recommended shingles, but he doesn't do shingles.
Should I look for a different roofer for metal? (small town, few choices)
Or just go shingles?
Metal is nice, but don't forget the noise factor.
Shingles on a house makes for a quiet roof.
Metal, will sound like a million midgets pounding on your roof with ball peen hammers, in a heavy rain.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Metal is nice, but don't forget the noise factor.
Shingles on a house makes for a quiet roof.
Metal, will sound like a million midgets pounding on your roof with ball peen hammers, in a heavy rain.
Not if put on with the right amount of insulation. The houses we've had done (ranches) are quiet inside even during a heavy Mississippi rain.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #6  
Switched my Cedar shakes which did not give me the lifetime of service that I was expecting for Steel. A product that goes from Peak to Eave in one sheet put looks like shingles.

First dismay was ease with which product dents when being walked on. And yet was heavier in gauge from the (high end) steel shakes some sheister tried to sell me,for twice the money saying it was "HEAVY DUTY".

Now also have to contend with the snow sliding off, ripping off my eaves troughs. Installed plastic cleat things to prevent that, but most sheared the screws off.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #7  
Metal no problem on that pitch, but get some insulation under it if you are planning on sleeping through rain.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #8  
Biggest problem here is building department issues due to house framing movement when snow sheds. When my barn sheds you can see some movement in framing. The inspectors say this causes damage to drywall, etc in houses that weren’t designed to handle the shedding.

seems like smoke and mirrors to me, but i was told I couldn’t use metal on my house, unless I put in anti shed plates, but those tend to tear off and leave holes in roof.
I went with 50 yr shingles.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #9  
Rain runs off a LOT faster and overshoots your gutters.

That slope may require a special crew with tools and rigging.

I've done most of my own metal, but there are now places I can't stand up to work that I could stand up on when it was shingled. I just don't have the footing any more and have to work on my knees with rubber pads.
 
   / How steep can one put up a metal roof? #10  
That is similar to my house. I would recommend a custom roof, put on by a reputable roofer. Mine is crimped over, no exposed Fasteners and all joints caulked. We did a total tear off and ice and water on the entire roof. For those that say its noisy, it's not. The metal sits right on in the Ice and water so nothing to be noisy. It's no different than my previous shingles.
 

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