Not to mention, finding someone who actually knows how to install or fix a metal roof right isn’t always easy around here.
That’s a really valid concern. The performance of a metal roof depends so much on the quality of the installation. I’ve seen some beautiful standing seam jobs that hold up for decades, but also a few where improper flashing or poorly sealed fasteners led to leaks after just a couple seasons. It’s not just about the material—details like underlayment choice and venting make a big difference.
On the noise issue, there are ways to mitigate it, but you’re right, it’s not always perfect. Some folks don’t mind the rain on metal, others find it distracting. Adding solid sheathing and insulation can help, but that’s another cost to factor in.
Ventilation is a whole other beast. Too tight and you get condensation and mold, too loose and you lose energy efficiency. I’ve had clients who thought more insulation was always better, but ended up with ice dams just like you mentioned. Every attic seems to have its own personality... sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to get it dialed in.
I get what you’re saying about installation making or breaking a metal roof, but I’m actually starting to wonder if it’s really that much harder to find someone decent for metal than for shingles. When I was getting quotes, half the shingle guys seemed just as hit-or-miss—one even tried to talk me into a “quick patch” instead of actually fixing the leak. Maybe it’s just my area, but I’m not sure the labor pool for shingles is all that much more reliable.
Also, on the noise thing, I stayed at a friend’s cabin with a metal roof and honestly, I kind of liked the sound of rain. It was weirdly soothing, but maybe that’s just me.
When I was getting quotes, half the shingle guys seemed just as hit-or-miss—one even tried to talk me into a “quick patch” instead of actually fixing the leak.
Yeah, I ran into the same thing. I figured shingles would be easier since “everyone does them,” but turns out you can still get some real duds. One guy looked at my roof for about 30 seconds and said, “Eh, just slap some tar up there.” Not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Honestly, I think it’s a toss-up. Good installers are just hard to find, period. Metal or shingles, you’re rolling the dice unless you know someone who’s had a good experience.
On the noise thing—I’m with you. Rain on metal is like nature’s white noise machine. My wallet didn’t love the metal quote, though... twice as much as shingles in my area. If only soothing rain sounds paid for themselves.
If I ever win the lottery, maybe I’ll go for copper and just sit inside listening to storms all day. For now, I’ll settle for not having buckets in my living room.
My wallet didn’t love the metal quote, though... twice as much as shingles in my area.
Same here. I wanted to go metal for the longevity, but those prices were a dealbreaker. Ended up patching my old shingles one more time just to buy myself a year. Not ideal, but at least I’m not out a small fortune all at once. I do wonder if the extra cost ever pays off unless you’re planning to stay in the house for decades.
I’ve been wrestling with the same thing—metal sounds amazing on paper, but when I got quotes, I just couldn’t swing it. The cost was more than double compared to architectural shingles here in the Midwest. It’s tough because you hear about metal lasting 40-50 years and barely needing repairs, but if you’re not sure you’ll be in the house that long, it’s hard to justify.
What I ended up doing was making a list of priorities: how long I plan to stay, what my insurance covers, and how much patching vs. a full replacement would actually buy me time-wise. For now, I went with fixing up the shingles and using a high-quality sealant around trouble spots (mainly the chimney and some vent pipes). It’s not a forever solution, but it stopped the leaks after that last downpour.
One thing I learned—don’t skip checking your attic for wet spots right after storms. Sometimes leaks show up there before you see anything inside. Not super fun crawling around up there, but it saved me from worse damage.
