Online warranties can sound great, but have you looked into how easy it is to actually claim them if something goes wrong? Might be worth asking around about people's real experiences with warranty...
Yeah, that's a good point about warranties. I went local too, mostly because I wanted to verify the coating quality myself—some online specs can be pretty vague. Plus, handling samples firsthand really helps avoid surprises later...
I get why local is appealing, especially for checking quality firsthand, but honestly I've had pretty solid experiences buying metal roofing online. Warranty claims aren't always a nightmare—depends on the company you pick. Last year, I ordered from a reputable online supplier, and when one shipment arrived with some minor damage (shipping issue, not product quality), they sorted it out surprisingly quickly. Just sent them some photos and details, and within a week, replacements were on my doorstep.
Sure, you can't physically handle samples beforehand, but most decent online places will send you small samples if you ask nicely. And sometimes the price difference can be significant enough to make it worth the slight risk. I guess it comes down to how comfortable you are dealing remotely and whether you've got a reliable recommendation or two...
I've had mixed luck with online roofing orders myself. A couple years back, I ordered metal sheets online because the price was too tempting to pass up. Everything arrived fine, but the color was just a shade off from what I expected based on the online photos. Not a huge deal, but my wife still teases me about our "almost matching" shed roof...
That said, I agree warranty claims aren't always a nightmare. Had a client recently who got damaged panels from an online supplier, and they replaced them pretty quickly after he sent in some pics. So yeah, it really does depend on the company. If you're going the online route, definitely ask for samples first—most decent suppliers will send them out free or cheap. Just don't be like me and eyeball the color from your phone screen at midnight. Lesson learned.
Been there with the midnight screen color-checking... you're definitely not alone in that club. Samples really are the way to go—I've ordered them from a couple places and it made a huge difference. Honestly, slight mismatches aren't always bad either; adds a bit of character, right? Glad your client's warranty claim went smoothly though, that's reassuring. Guess it just comes down to finding a supplier who's responsive and cares about customer service.
Totally agree on samples being key—saved me from a costly mistake once. I ordered from a local supplier who was great about sending multiple samples quickly, and their customer service was solid when I had questions. Slight mismatches can work, but personally I'd rather avoid surprises down the line... roofs aren't exactly easy to swap out if you change your mind later. Warranty responsiveness is definitely reassuring though, good to hear your client's experience went smoothly.
