Why owners choose metal
Benefits of Metal Roofing in New Jersey’s Climate
The benefits of metal roofing for a New Jersey home are a long service life, snow that slides off instead of sitting, fewer joints for water to find, an easy base for solar and very little upkeep. This page covers each one, along with the trade-offs. When you choose metal, your roofer orders the panels and trim from our New Brunswick shop, or you send us the roofer’s cut list.
- Owner's 26+ years in metal
- Delivery or shop pickup
- Free written quotes
How long does a metal roof last compared with shingles?
Much longer in most cases. The Copper Development Association puts asphalt shingle roofs at about 15 to 30 years on average, while its estimates for copper roofs run past a century.
Painted steel and aluminum depend on the finish and the details. The finish carries the coil maker’s warranty, often for decades; our warranties page explains who covers what.
The details decide the rest: hidden fasteners, flashing formed to fit rather than caulked, and the right base metal for the site. That is why the trim matters as much as the panels. Our standing seam roof panels page covers seam heights, gauges and finishes.
Does a metal roof handle New Jersey snow and ice better?
Yes, when it is detailed for it. Smooth metal sheds snow sooner than shingles, and the raised seams of standing seam keep meltwater above the joints.
Ice dams still start with heat escaping into the attic, so air sealing and insulation fix the cause; our guide to ice dams and metal roofs in New Jersey covers both sides. Because metal sheds snow quickly, roofers add snow guards above doors and walkways; see snow guards for metal roofs.
On low slopes and in heavy-snow areas, many roofers choose mechanical lock standing seam, which is folded closed on the roof. We fabricate both snap-lock and mechanical lock panels; our guide to snap-lock vs mechanical lock standing seam explains the difference.
Is metal a good choice near the shore and in wind?
Yes, with the right base metal. Near salt water, steel warranties can exclude the site, so aluminum standing seam is the common choice; our guide to metal roofing near the Jersey Shore explains the distances.
We fabricate aluminum standing seam in .032-inch and .040-inch for houses near the water. For wind, standing seam has no shingle tabs to lift, and the panels are held by clips under the seams. New Jersey sets wind design values by site address rather than one statewide number, so the clip layout follows your roofer’s or designer’s plan.
Is a metal roof good for solar?
Yes. Seam clamps attach solar racking to standing seams without drilling through the panels, so the roof keeps its weathertight surface.
A long-lived roof also lowers the odds of removing the array for a re-roof partway through its life. Our guide to solar on standing seam roofs covers clamps, planning and New Jersey incentives.
Does a metal roof save energy?
It can help modestly in summer. Light, reflective finishes absorb less sun than dark shingles, which can lower attic heat on hot days.
In winter, insulation and air sealing do the work, not the roof covering. New Jersey’s energy code places Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Union and Essex counties in Zone 4A, and Somerset, Morris and Hunterdon in the colder Zone 5A. A re-roof is a good time to have the attic insulation and ventilation checked.
How much maintenance does a metal roof need?
Very little. A standing seam roof has no exposed fasteners and no granules to lose, so upkeep is mostly a yearly look and clearing debris.
- Clear leaves and branches from valleys and behind chimneys.
- Check snow guards and the eaves after the first big storm.
- Look at the boots and sealant around pipes and vents.
- Keep copper runoff off steel and aluminum panels.
- On exposed-fastener roofs, check the screws over time.
What are the downsides of a metal roof?
A higher first cost, and the need for careful detailing. A metal roof costs more than asphalt at the start, and poor flashing or the wrong base metal can shorten its life.
- Higher first cost than a new shingle roof.
- Snow can slide off all at once without snow guards.
- Thin panels can dent under large falling branches.
- Wide, flat panels can show waviness, called oil canning.
- Exposed-fastener panels need their screws checked over time.
Our page on what drives the cost of metal roof panels explains what sets the price of the panels and trim, and why asphalt roofs fail covers the other side of the comparison.
Which metal roof styles suit New Jersey houses?
More than people expect. Standing seam suits colonials, Cape Cods, ranches and modern homes; slate- and shake-look metal shingles suit traditional streets; and copper and zinc suit historic houses and accents.
Our types of metal roofing guide compares them, and copper and zinc sheet metal covers bays, porches and turrets.
How do you get the panels and trim for a metal roof?
Through your roofer, or directly with your roofer’s cut list. Your roofer measures the roof and lists the panel lengths and trim; field dimensions are the installer’s responsibility. We fabricate the panels and trim to that list in our New Brunswick shop.
- Written quotes within 24-48 hours of receiving a cut list, a sketch with measurements or plans.
- Standing seam panels and trim typically ready in 1-2 days, depending on color and gauge.
- Galvalume steel, aluminum, copper and zinc, with PVDF (Kynar 500 type) or SMP finishes on the painted metals.
- Panels and trim fabricated from coil by Englert, Fabral, ATAS, UCP and SAF.
- Delivery within about a 5-hour drive of the shop, or pickup during office hours, Monday–Friday 7 AM–5 PM.
- No minimum order.
Have a lower written quote for the same parts? Send it with your request and we will match or beat it. Send the cut list through the quote form or text a photo to (732) 236-8750; builders can send plans. The metal roofing panels hub lists everything we make for roofs.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need: the product, the metal and finish, and your dimensions or cut list. Attach a photo, sketch or cut list if you have one. We reply with a written quote within 24-48 hours. Delivery within about five hours of our New Brunswick shop, or pickup.
Or text a photo or sketch with dimensions to (732) 236-8750
Prefer to talk now? Call (732) 201-5224, Monday–Friday 7 AM–5 PM. Text us a photo or sketch Fully insured
Questions about the benefits of metal roofing
Is a metal roof worth it in New Jersey?
Usually, if you plan to keep the house. The Copper Development Association puts shingle roofs at about 15 to 30 years on average, so one metal roof can outlast one or more shingle roofs, with less upkeep along the way.
Do metal roofs help with ice dams?
They help by shedding snow and keeping meltwater above the seams, but ice dams start with heat escaping into the attic. Air sealing and insulation fix the cause.
Can a metal roof be installed in winter?
Yes, on dry days. Metal panels do not need warm weather to seal the way asphalt shingle strips do. Your roofer schedules around snow, ice and high wind, and can order the panels ahead of the work.
Is standing seam a good roof for solar panels?
Yes. Seam clamps attach the racking without drilling through the panels, and a long-lived roof lowers the chance of removing the array for a re-roof.
How much maintenance does a metal roof need?
Usually a yearly look: clear the valleys, check snow guards and the sealant at pipe boots, and keep copper runoff off other metals. Exposed-fastener roofs also need their screws checked over time.
What are the disadvantages of a metal roof?
A higher first cost, snow that can slide off without guards, possible dents from large branches on thin panels, and visible waviness on wide flat panels. Good detailing handles most of these.
Can a homeowner order metal roof panels directly?
Yes. Send us your roofer’s cut list or measurements, and we reply with a written quote within 24-48 hours. There is no minimum order, and your roofer installs the panels.
See if metal suits your house
Find out what a metal roof would take
Send your roofer’s cut list or a plan set. We reply within 24-48 hours with a written quote for standing seam panels and matching trim, delivered or ready for pickup at our shop.