Metal and standing seam roofing
The right answer for snow country, and increasingly popular in the valley. It is also the most misunderstood roof we install.
Why metal wins in snow country
Snow slides off metal instead of sitting on it. In McCall and Donnelly, that is close to a requirement on the right pitch. Metal also handles the freeze-thaw cycle that destroys shingles at altitude, and it will not lose granules.
The part nobody mentions
Where does the snow go when it comes off? A metal roof that sheds onto a walkway, a doorway, a gas meter or a neighbor is a serious problem. Snow retention has to be designed before installation, not added after the first big shed. We solve that at estimate stage.
Standing seam versus exposed fastener
Standing seam hides the fasteners under the seam, so there is nothing to back out or leak in twenty years. Exposed fastener panels cost less up front and are common on shops and outbuildings, but every screw is a gasket that eventually ages. We will tell you which one your building justifies.
Common questions
Not on a house. Over a solid deck with underlayment and insulation, a metal roof is no louder than shingle. The noise reputation comes from barns with open framing.
Up front, yes, typically meaningfully more. Over the life of the roof the math often evens out because you are not replacing it in 25 years. We will show you both numbers.