How Easy is Installing Metal Roofing?

When considering installing a metal roof, there are a number of questions to consider. Are you up for a challenge? Are you a good learner?

Product Type

The ease of installation varies depending on the type of metal roofing.

Panels

Through fastened and snap-lock type standing seam systems are more easily installed. Mechanical lock standing seam requires a special seamer.

Decorative

Painted metal shingles typically use common roofing concepts for trim and shingle installation. Stone-coated metal roofing comes in two categories: snip & tuck and traditional. Snip & tuck systems use common tools and are simpler to install. Traditional stone coated systems require specialized tools such as top and bottom benders.

Roof Shape

The more complex the roof, the greater the skill and care is required. A roof with a fairly straight-forward shape and only 1-2 dormers will be easier than a roof that has a vast number of roof planes merging at various levels.

Wall Height and Roof Slope

Any roofing job requires fall protection equipment. With that in mind buildings with multiple stories are certainly trickier to roof than 1-2 story buildings. Steep slopes, especially at 8:12 and above require special consideration – chicken ladders (for any type) and roof brackets (for most decorative types) are helpful when tackling a steeper roof.

Experience

Have you built something before? Installed a roof? Good at following instruction guides and YouTube videos? Experience is the great unknown for any roofing project. Asphalt shingle experience is certainly a huge benefit when installing a metal roof, but not something that’s specifically required.

There is something to be said for DIYers: A wise man once said: “DIYers make the best installers because they read all the literature, watch all the videos, and do it right.” Sometimes going into a new project with a wide-open mind and learning attitude means more than years of “I know what I’m doing, don’t tell me what to do.”