"Has anyone tried ordering metal roofing sheets online? Curious if shipping costs kill the savings or if it's actually worth considering..."
I've experimented with ordering metal roofing sheets online a couple of times, and honestly, the experience was mixed. On one hand, the selection was impressive—far more variety in gauge thicknesses, coatings, and colors than what local farm supply stores typically stock. But shipping was definitely a wildcard. For smaller orders or specialty items, the shipping costs can quickly eat into any savings you'd get from the lower online prices.
However, I did find that for larger bulk orders—especially if you're covering a substantial area—the shipping charges often become more manageable per sheet. Some suppliers even offer free freight once you hit a certain threshold, so it pays to shop around and compare. Just make sure to factor in delivery timelines too; I've had instances where delays threw off project schedules significantly. Curious if others have had similar experiences with bulk orders or found specific online suppliers that consistently deliver on price and reliability...
I've had pretty good luck ordering metal roofing online, but yeah, shipping can be tricky. One thing that helped me was calling the supplier directly—sometimes they'll work with you on freight costs or suggest a cheaper shipping option they don't list online. Worth a shot anyway...
"sometimes they'll work with you on freight costs or suggest a cheaper shipping option they don't list online."
Yeah, that's a great tip—have you tried checking with local building supply stores too? Sometimes they'll price-match online suppliers, plus you avoid shipping headaches altogether. Might save some hassle...
Local stores are definitely worth checking out, but don't overlook salvage yards or surplus building supply places either. I've found some great deals on metal roofing sheets there—just gotta be flexible on colors and sizes sometimes.
"just gotta be flexible on colors and sizes sometimes."
Haha, ain't that the truth. Last summer I scored a bunch of metal roofing sheets from a salvage yard—half were forest green, half were this weird mustard yellow. My shed now looks like a giant Packers fan lives here, but hey, it keeps the rain out. Definitely worth the savings if you're not too picky about aesthetics...or football rivalries.
