Metal roofing falls into two broad categories — architectural and structural — and understanding the difference helps you ask the right questions when you’re getting estimates.
Architectural metal roofing is designed for steeper roofs and installed over a solid substrate. It’s water-shedding, meaning it’s engineered to move water off the roof quickly and efficiently. This is the category most residential homeowners are thinking of when they picture a metal roof.
Structural metal roofing is designed for low-slope applications and can span between structural supports without a solid substrate beneath it. It’s built to be fully weatherproof — holding up against wind, rain, and heavy snow loads rather than simply shedding them.
Within those two categories, here are the primary systems we install:
Standing Seam is the premium standard in residential metal roofing. Panels run vertically from ridge to eave with raised seams that lock together, keeping all fasteners completely hidden from the elements. It’s clean, durable, and built to last. There are three types of standing seam — nail strip, snap lock, and mechanical lock — each suited to different pitches, applications, and budgets.
What are the different types of standing seam metal roofs?
Exposed Fastener Panels are worth understanding even though we don’t install them — because you’ll likely encounter them when getting quotes from other contractors. They’re less expensive upfront and faster to install, which is why they’re common. The tradeoff is that the fasteners holding the panels down are visible and exposed to the elements. Over time the rubber gaskets beneath those fasteners degrade and fail, creating leak points across the roof. Exposed fastener systems require ongoing maintenance and periodic re-fastening to stay watertight. If a metal roofing quote seems surprisingly affordable, it’s worth asking which system is being proposed.
Corten Steel is a specialty option worth knowing about. It’s a weathering steel that develops a natural rust-patina finish over time — intentionally. That oxidized layer actually protects the steel beneath it and gives the roof a distinctive architectural appearance that some homeowners specifically seek out. It’s not for every home, but when it fits, it’s striking.