Metal Roofing Around High Point
Metal roofs have spread from barns and porches onto plenty of Triad homes. They shed rain quickly, handle heat well and last a long time. Here is what to know about panel types and installation details.
The short version
Panel type, metal gauge, underlayment, trim and fasteners decide how a metal roof performs. Get each one named in the estimate.
- Typical asks: whole-house metal, porch roofs, barns and sheds
- Ask about: panel profile, fasteners, underlayment, trim
Metal roofs estimate request
About a minute. Send the details and expect a call back to talk the project through.
- Panel types
- Standing seam (hidden fasteners) or exposed-fastener panels
- Good fit
- Low to moderate slopes, porches, outbuildings, long-term homes
- Detail to watch
- Fasteners and washers on exposed-fastener panels need checking over time
- Noise
- Solid decking and underlayment keep rain noise close to a shingle roof
Two families of metal roofs
Standing seam
Panels lock together at raised seams, and clips hidden under the seams hold them to the deck. With no exposed screws, there are fewer places for water to get in, and panels can expand and contract with temperature. Standing seam is the common choice for whole-house metal roofs.
Exposed-fastener panels
Ribbed panels are screwed through the face into the deck or purlins. They are common on barns, sheds, porches and some homes. The screws use rubber washers that age in the sun, so these roofs need periodic checks and fastener replacement over the years.
Why metal suits the Piedmont
- Rain: smooth panels shed heavy summer downpours quickly.
- Wind: properly fastened panels with good edge trim resist uplift. IBHS's FORTIFIED Home program focuses on edge and attachment details for wind (IBHS FORTIFIED Home program).
- Heat: lighter colors and reflective coatings reflect sun. The DOE's Energy Saver pages discuss cool roofs (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver).
- Debris: pine needles and leaves slide off steeper metal roofs more readily than shingles.
Details that make or break a metal roof
- Underlayment: a high-temperature underlayment under the panels.
- Trim: eave, rake, ridge and wall trim sized for the panel.
- Penetrations: vent pipes and chimneys need flashing made for metal panels.
- Ventilation: a vented ridge and soffit intake still matter. See attic ventilation.
- Code: roof coverings follow the state residential code administered through the NC Office of State Fire Marshal (NC Office of State Fire Marshal (state building codes)).
Over-the-shingle installs
Some metal roofs go over an existing single layer of shingles, where code and the manufacturer allow. It saves tear-off, but hides the decking. Ask what the decking condition is and whether a tear-off is recommended.
Porches, barns and outbuildings
Metal is often the simplest roof for a porch with low slope, a detached garage, a shop or a barn on a rural lot in Randolph or Davidson County. Very low slopes may need a standing-seam panel rated for it, or a membrane; see flat and low-slope roofing.
Sizing up the job: see what shapes a metal roofing scope on the estimate-factors page. It lists what moves the scope, never a price.
Further reading
Sources for this page: IBHS FORTIFIED Home program; U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver; NC Office of State Fire Marshal (state building codes).
Metal Roofing: what people ask
Is a metal roof loud in the rain?
Over solid decking with underlayment, most homeowners find it close to a shingle roof. Open-frame barns are louder.
Does a metal roof attract lightning?
No. Metal roofs do not make a lightning strike more likely.
Can metal go over shingles?
Sometimes, where code and the manufacturer allow. A tear-off lets the decking be checked.
How long does a metal roof last?
Much longer than typical shingles when installed well, though exposed-fastener roofs need fastener maintenance.
Will a metal roof dent in hail?
Large hail can dent some panels. Thicker gauges and impact-rated panels resist it better.
Metal roofing estimates by town
Storm exposure, tree cover, housing age and permit offices change from one town to the next. Pick yours for local notes.
The cities
Guilford County
South into Randolph County
West into Davidson and Forsyth
Often planned alongside
Roof Replacement
Full tear-off and new roof systems for aging, storm-worn or leaking roofs, planned around Piedmont wind, heat and humidity.
Flat & Low-Slope Roofing
Membrane roofs for porches, additions, carports and small commercial buildings, with drainage and wall tie-ins planned.
Attic & Roof Ventilation
Balanced soffit intake and ridge exhaust to keep attics cooler in summer, drier in winter and shingles lasting longer.
Planning metal roofs work?
Send the details and expect a call back to talk the project through.