Metal Roofing near you

The system decides how the roof handles water, snow and the constant movement of the metal. Ask which one the contractor proposes and why it suits your roof's slope, shape and exposure.

Most residential metal roofs in Canada are steel, protected from rust by a metallic coating and finished with paint applied at the factory. Steel is strong, easy to find and available in many profiles and colours. Its weak points are cut edges and scratches that reach bare metal, so a careful installer uses proper cutting tools, touches up scratches and sweeps away filings before they rust.

Aluminum doesn't rust, which makes it a common choice near the sea or wherever salt spray and road salt are a concern. It is lighter and softer than steel, so it dents more easily under hail or foot traffic. Some metals shouldn't touch each other or share runoff without a separating detail, because the combination corrodes. Whatever the metal, the coating and paint largely decide how the roof looks after years of sun and frost, so compare the warranty against fading and chalking as well as against perforation.

A smooth metal roof sheds snow far more readily than shingles. That is an advantage on a steep roof, since the load doesn't linger, but snow and ice can also let go all at once during a thaw or on a sunny afternoon and land below in a heavy mass. That is dangerous for anyone underneath, and it can damage gutters, decks, railings, shrubs, cars and lower roofs.

Snow guards are brackets or bars fastened to the roof, often clamped to the seams, that hold snow in place so it melts or slides off gradually. How many to install and where depends on the slope, the length of the roof and the snow your region receives, so leave the layout to the installer and the manufacturer's guidelines rather than guessing.

The idea that a metal roof sounds like a drum in the rain comes mostly from barns and sheds, where thin sheets are screwed to open strapping with nothing underneath. On a house, metal is usually installed over solid sheathing and an underlayment, with an insulated attic and a ceiling below, and rain on it is generally not much louder than on other roofing. Popping or ticking on a sunny day more often points to panels that can't move freely as they expand, a detail to raise with the installer.

Metal cools quickly on clear nights, and warm, moist air that reaches its underside can condense into water. That's why the underlayment matters: installers lay a synthetic underlayment and waterproof membranes at the eaves, in valleys and around openings, following the manufacturer's instructions for the system. Below the deck, the attic still needs air sealing, insulation and balanced ventilation, just as it would under shingles. A metal roof won't fix an attic that leaks heat and moisture into the roof space.

Some metal systems can be installed over a single layer of existing asphalt shingles, sometimes on wood strapping, which avoids the tear-off and the waste it creates. Whether that is allowed depends on the building code where you live, on your municipality and on the manufacturer's installation instructions, which may set conditions or rule it out.

Covering an old roof hides the deck. Rot, soft spots, past leaks and missing eave protection stay out of sight, and trapped moisture can keep damaging the wood. A tear-off lets the crew inspect and repair the sheathing, lay new underlayment and flashing, and correct the ventilation before the metal goes on. Ask for the reasoning behind either recommendation in writing, and see the roof replacement page for how a full tear-off unfolds.

A metal roof needs less upkeep than shingles, but not none. On exposed-fastener panels, each screw seals with a rubber washer that ages with sun and cold, and screws driven too tight, too loose or at an angle can let water in or work loose as the metal moves. Concealed-clip systems avoid most of this, but their trim, closures and sealant joints still deserve a look. Metal is slippery when wet, frosty or covered in dew, and it dents underfoot, so leave anything that means going on the roof to a crew with fall protection.

On many older Quebec homes, sheet metal is the historically correct roof, and traditional patterns are part of the building's character. Where a home is listed or sits in a heritage area, the municipality may require a particular pattern, seam or colour when the roof is redone, or ask for approval before any change of material. Elsewhere, a site planning bylaw or a condo or homeowners' association may limit colours and profiles. Check with your municipality before signing, and ask whether a permit is needed to change the roofing.

In Quebec, the licence subclass for roofing work is RBQ specialized contractor subclass 7.0, which covers insulation, waterproofing, roofing and siding, so confirm that your contractor holds it before work starts. Heritage work in copper, batten seams or traditional patterns is a craft of its own: ask to see finished roofs of the same type.