- Installed metal roofs on plenty of homes, and yeah, the noise factor really depends on insulation and attic space.
- Did a job last year on a place with high vaulted ceilings—homeowner called me back after the first storm, surprised by how loud it got. Ended up adding some extra insulation, helped quite a bit.
- Shingles definitely quieter out of the box, but metal's durability is tough to beat long-term.
- Like you said, comes down to personal preference and home design... some folks actually love that rainy-day soundtrack.
I've been considering metal roofing myself, but the noise factor has me hesitating a bit. I get that insulation helps, but does anyone know if there's a noticeable difference between spray foam insulation and traditional fiberglass batts when it comes to dampening rain noise? I've heard mixed things—some say spray foam is way better at soundproofing, others claim it's not worth the extra cost for noise alone. Also curious if roof pitch plays into this at all... like, would a steeper roof angle amplify or reduce the sound of rain hitting metal? Seems logical that angle might affect how loud it gets inside, but maybe I'm overthinking it.
I've had metal roofs with both fiberglass and spray foam, and honestly... spray foam does dampen noise better, but it's not night-and-day. Roof pitch? Mine's pretty steep—can't say it's louder, just sounds more dramatic when it rains hard, lol.
I've only ever had shingles, and honestly, after a storm rolls through, it's noisy enough that I can't imagine metal being much worse. That said, the idea of rain sounding more "dramatic" on a steep metal roof is kinda charming in a cozy, movie-night sorta way, haha. A friend of mine has a cabin with a steep metal roof, and she swears by it for ambiance—but she's also the type who enjoys thunderstorm playlists to fall asleep to, so take that with a grain of salt.
Spray foam sounds interesting, though. If it dampens even just a bit better than fiberglass, maybe that's worth considering down the road. Right now, I'm still in that honeymoon phase where rainy nights feel relaxing rather than annoying... we'll see how long that lasts when storm season hits for real.
I get what you're saying about shingles already being pretty noisy—especially if your attic insulation isn't great. But honestly, metal roofs can be a whole different ballgame depending on how they're installed. I've worked on a few metal roof jobs, and the sound difference between a properly insulated metal roof and one that's just slapped onto bare decking is night and day.
Your friend's cabin probably has that rustic charm going for it, which makes the rain sound cozy rather than annoying. But in a regular suburban house, that same "dramatic" rain sound can quickly turn into a headache if you're trying to sleep or watch TV. I've heard homeowners complain that even moderate rain sounds like someone's tossing handfuls of gravel onto their roof. Not exactly relaxing after the first few storms wear off their novelty.
Spray foam insulation does help quite a bit, though. It's denser than fiberglass, so it absorbs more of the vibration and noise from heavy rain. If you're seriously considering metal down the road, I'd definitely recommend looking into spray foam or at least some kind of acoustic barrier underneath. It makes a noticeable difference.
One other thing to keep in mind is hail—metal roofs handle hail better structurally (less likely to leak afterward), but man, the noise can be intense. I was working inside a garage once when hail started hitting a metal roof overhead, and it sounded like someone was firing golf balls at us from above... not exactly cozy movie-night vibes, haha.
Anyway, enjoy your honeymoon phase with rainy nights while it lasts. Who knows, maybe you'll end up loving it long-term—but it's smart to have backup plans just in case reality kicks in later down the line.
