How steep can one put up a metal roof?

Larry Caldwell · Mar 25, 2021

Diggin It said:
That slope may require a special crew with tools and rigging.

All it needs is a long ladder laid on the slope of the roof. You have to move the ladder with each sheet. BFD.

ArlyA · Mar 25, 2021

I'd guess the contractor didn't want the job so he came up with "too steep" to get out of bidding on it.

Rustyiron · Mar 25, 2021

I believe Aryl nailed it.
A bigger company that has a lot of crews will be the guy that has all his guys tied off anyway for osha compliance regardless of the pitch or the ability to walk the roof. No one is walking any type of roof over an 8/12 and being productive.

ArlyA · Mar 26, 2021

When contractors have enough work to keep busy, they either quit bidding on new ones, tell the person with a job "we can't do that" or bid high. Choose one.

MoKelly · Mar 26, 2021

ArlyA said:
I'd guess the contractor didn't want the job so he came up with "too steep" to get out of bidding on it.

Yes.

This is the most amazing economy I’ve ever been thru-

Big spike in unemployed by COVID. Businesses shut down or hours curtailed.

Negative GDP’s.

Trillions in welfare to help the struggling masses.

Record stock markets.

Months delay in buying big ticket items.

Contractors/builders too busy to seek new work.

Unbelievably high lumber prices and building materials.

Push to raise taxes - who would raise taxes if the economy is so bad we need trillions in welfare?

It’s bizarre.

MoKelly

ArlyA · Mar 26, 2021

Most good contractors can find work, if they're doing good work, keep there books in order and charging enough to keep there doors open, plus the community knows about there work. No conspiracies involved.

Doofy · Mar 26, 2021

A decent roofing contractor should have the equipment to install any type of roof and at any pitch. Shop around.

JethroB · Mar 26, 2021

ArlyA said:
When contractors have enough work to keep busy, they either quit bidding on new ones, tell the person with a job "we can't do that" or bid high. Choose one.

I’m more familiar with #4. They agree to the job but never get around to it. If your not interested or too busy just tell me. Then I can hopefully move forward with someone else.

newbury · Mar 27, 2021

Well I tried to quote a bunch of posts but this new forum sucks.
Anyways -
Like I wrote - small town, few reliable choices for contractors.

As I suspected many post responders think steepness should not be a factor.
I've had contractors here buy materials then use the "scrap" for other projects. (overheard conversations of what they were going to do in the afternoon), start a project and make it far worse.

Guess I'll just have to look around.

Rustyiron · Mar 27, 2021

newbury said:
As I suspected many post responders think steepness should not be a factor.

It should not be a factor in the suitability of metal, but certainly would be as with any roof, priced accordingly with the difficulty of the pitch.

Now there is a limit on pitches down around 3/12 and under for the typical barn metal with exposed fasteners but it's very similar to asphalt shingles before you need to go to some type of roll roofing.