I hear you on salvage—lining up profiles and colors is a headache, especially after a big storm when everyone’s picking through the same piles. I’ve had mixed results with local metal suppliers too, but sometimes they’ll have overruns or misorders at a discount if you ask. Not always the color you want, but if you’re not picky, it can save a chunk.
One thing I’d add: check with agricultural supply stores if you’re rural or near farming areas. They sometimes stock panels for barns and sheds, and prices can be better than the big box stores. Just double-check gauge and coating so you’re not getting something too thin for a house.
Underlayment’s definitely key for noise—synthetic felt seems to help more than the old asphalt stuff in my experience, but nothing makes metal totally quiet in heavy rain. If you’re doing it yourself, watch out for panel length vs. what your vehicle can haul... learned that one the hard way when a 16-footer wouldn’t fit in my truck bed.
If you’re doing it yourself, watch out for panel length vs. what your vehicle can haul... learned that one the hard way when a 16-footer wouldn’t fit in my truck bed.
That’s a classic. I once tried to get a 20-foot run of galvalume home on a borrowed trailer, and let’s just say the wind had other plans for me—looked like I was trying to launch a kite down the highway. Ended up flagging it and driving about 20 mph the whole way, white-knuckled. Lesson learned: measure twice, haul once.
I hear you on the ag supply stores. Around here (midwest), the local co-op sometimes has a random stash of panels in oddball colors—last year I scored a stack of forest green at half price. Didn’t match the house, but it’s just a woodshed, so who cares. The gauge was decent, but I did have to double-check the coating. Some of that barn metal is only rated for outbuildings, not residential, and you don’t want to find out the hard way after a couple winters.
On underlayment, I’m with you—synthetic felt is a game changer for noise and moisture. I tried the old-school tar paper once and regretted it every time it rained. Still, nothing’s going to make a metal roof as quiet as shingles. I actually kind of like the sound, but my partner says it’s like living inside a snare drum.
One thing I’d add: if you’re thinking about going green (literally or figuratively), some suppliers will let you order panels with a high-reflectivity coating. Costs a bit more, but it made a noticeable difference in attic temps for us. Not every place stocks it, though, so you might have to wait a few weeks.
And yeah, salvage is a gamble. I’ve had luck with Habitat ReStore once or twice, but matching profiles is like playing Tetris with missing pieces. Sometimes you just have to embrace the patchwork look... or call it “rustic charm.”
I get the appeal of scoring cheap panels at the co-op or ReStore, but honestly, I’ve had more headaches than wins with salvage. The “rustic charm” thing is only cute until you’re up there trying to line up three different profiles and cursing every screw. I’d rather pay a bit more for new panels that actually match—less time on the roof, less patching later. And about underlayment, I know synthetic is all the rage, but if you’re on a tight budget, double-layering tar paper isn’t the end of the world. Just my two cents.
The “rustic charm” thing is only cute until you’re up there trying to line up three different profiles and cursing every screw.
That hits home. I’ve seen a few roofs where folks tried to mix and match salvage panels, and it’s almost always obvious from the ground—different rib heights, odd overlaps, sometimes even mismatched colors once the sun hits them. Have you ever run into issues with leaks at those seams? I’ve inspected a couple where water found its way in right at the profile transitions.
On the underlayment, I’m curious—has anyone actually had felt fail on them? I know synthetic is supposed to last longer, but I’ve seen plenty of 20+ year-old roofs with just tar paper underneath, still holding up. Is the extra cost for synthetic really worth it if you’re not in a super wet climate? I get the appeal, but sometimes I wonder if it’s more marketing than necessity.
For buying panels, I’ve noticed some local supply yards will cut to length, which saves a ton of hassle. Anyone had luck with that versus big box stores?
Mixing profiles is a headache—been there once, and I’ll never do it again. I had a spot where two slightly different panels met, and it was always the first place to drip after a heavy rain. Ended up having to run butyl tape and extra fasteners just to keep things dry. As for underlayment, I’ve only used felt, even on a barn that’s pushing 25 years old now. No issues so far, but I’m in a fairly dry area. The local yard here cuts panels to size, and honestly, it made install way easier than trying to piece together stock lengths from the big box store. Less waste, too.