How steep can one put up a metal roof?

[newbury]

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

My house roof is moderately steep.

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?

 

[Deere Dude]

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.

 

[aczlan]

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

 

[fried1765]

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.

 

[newbury]

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.

 

[Industrial Toys]

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.

 

[Hay Dude]

Metal no problem on that pitch, but get some insulation under it if you are planning on sleeping through rain.

 

[grsthegreat]

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.

 

[Diggin It]

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.

 

[Clint S]

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.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't say that noise has been any issue at all with the steel vs cedar shakes. It's installed over 3/4" (real life) boards. Many cracks between boards and knots.

One reason I felt a little safer with steel was fire risk. Steel roof, brick house. Not a bad start.

 

[fried1765]

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.

True....but the OP did not mention ANYTHING about roof insulation.

 

[PILOON]

You would not want to use metal directly on the shingles nor directly on the wood either.
An air space is needed as the steel will sweat and rust out from the underside.
Some air circulation is needed.
As to snow shedding there are many choices of 'brakes' available.

 

[Sergei1]

More advantages to having a metal roof over shingles even when overlaiding over the old shingles. The metal is rated for over 50 years, hail normally not an issue, lower insurance rate, you won't lose the roof in high winds. But you probably will have to upgrade to 6" gutters.
We had straight line winds 140mph in 2011 which caused over 45,000 in damage to house and property, went with metal roof after that.
Then in 2020 had a derecho ( inland hurricane) and people with metal roofs came out ok. Shingle roofs not so much, roofer's and gutter people are still busy.
On most roofs around here they have added strips of wood or plastic between metal and old roof shingles for air movement.

 

[oosik]

One of the reason I chose to build here. No violent rains, no damaging winds and snow accumulation - usually less than 12". I had 50 year shingles installed 15 years ago. They should last the remainder of my life.

 

[oosik]

There is a chalet at the top of Mt Spokane. It has a steel roof that's 12/12 or greater. Unfortunately, I deleted the photo a year or so ago. I think it has something to do with the local ski patrol or one of their functions.

 

[k0ua]

Keep in mind metal roofs are a barrier to RF energy.

 

[PILOON]

"Keep in mind metal roofs are a barrier to RF energy."

Also foil based vapor barrier as I later found out.
My only reception is near windows.
(When I built this home foil based was touted as the superior product.)

 

[Snobdds]

My cabin is a 10/12 pitched roof. I did it myself. Tie off and use a ladder to walk up and down the pitch. It's not easy, but very doable.

 

[Williy]

I would try to find a roofing company thats been doing metal roofs for years. check with the BBB perhaps you can get some info from them. If you see a house with a metal you can ask them who put theirs on and if they have any problems is one way

willy