Totally get what you're saying about recycled sheets—been there, done that, got the rusty t-shirt. Had a similar experience with some salvage yard specials that looked mint until the first rainstorm revealed their true colors (mostly rust-brown, lol). But yeah, it's not all doom and gloom. I've had decent luck with a local recycler who lets me poke around their yard first. If you can find someone who doesn't mind you inspecting before buying, that's usually a good sign they're legit.
"Had a similar experience with some salvage yard specials that looked mint until the first rainstorm revealed their true colors (mostly rust-brown, lol)."
Haha, I feel this one. Last summer, I helped my uncle redo his shed roof, and we thought we'd scored big-time with some recycled sheets from a local salvage yard. They looked perfect at first glance—nice and straight, no obvious rust spots. But man, after a couple weeks of rain, it was like someone flipped a switch. Rust streaks everywhere, and we ended up having to sand and repaint the whole thing.
But you're right, it's definitely not all bad. We eventually found a smaller recycler who was totally cool with us checking out the sheets beforehand. He even gave us tips on what to look for to avoid hidden rust issues. So yeah, if you can find someone who's open to letting you poke around first, that's usually a solid sign they're trustworthy. Good luck with your search... hope you find something decent!
"Rust streaks everywhere, and we ended up having to sand and repaint the whole thing."
Haha, sanding and repainting is exactly what I was trying to avoid when I went metal. Learned my lesson about salvage yards too—sometimes saving a few bucks upfront ends up costing more in sweat equity later. If you're looking for reliability, I've had good luck with smaller local roofing suppliers. Prices aren't always rock-bottom, but at least you know what you're getting... peace of mind counts for something, right?
Totally understand your frustration—rust streaks can be a real headache, especially after you've invested time and effort into metal roofing. I went down a similar path myself, thinking I'd save money by sourcing sheets from a salvage yard. It seemed smart at first...until the rust started showing up way sooner than I anticipated. Lesson learned.
Your suggestion about local suppliers is spot-on in my experience too. I've noticed they're usually upfront about the coatings and materials they use, which makes a huge difference long-term. Even though the initial price feels a bit higher, avoiding the hassle of sanding, priming, and repainting every few years definitely balances things out financially. Plus, there's something reassuring about being able to walk into a local shop and actually talk to someone knowledgeable if issues come up later.
Hope your repainting job goes smoothly—you're definitely on the right track now.
Couldn't agree more about local suppliers. Another tip—check if they offer factory seconds or discounted bundles. Usually just minor cosmetic issues, nothing structural, and the savings can be decent. I've used them plenty without problems.
