Metal Roofing in Chicagoland
Metal is the longest-lasting roof most Illinois homeowners will seriously consider. A properly installed standing seam roof outlives two or three asphalt roofs, sheds snow instead of holding it, and does not lose granules — which is the mechanism behind most hail claims in this state. It also costs substantially more up front, and it is not the right answer on every house.
This page explains what metal roofing actually involves in Chicagoland: the panel types, what the installation looks like, how it behaves in our weather, and the honest comparison against the asphalt shingle that 95% of homes around here still wear.
The two kinds of metal roof, and why the difference matters
Almost every residential metal roof falls into one of two families, and they are not interchangeable.
- Standing seam. Flat panels run vertically from ridge to eave, joined by raised seams. The fasteners are hidden underneath — clips hold the panel to the deck and nothing penetrates the weather surface. This is the system most people picture when they say metal roof, and it is the one with the longest service life.
- Exposed-fastener panels (often called corrugated or R-panel). Screws go through the face of the panel into the deck, each with a rubber washer. It is materially cheaper and faster to install. The trade-off is that every one of those washers is a wear item: they harden and back out over decades, and a panel roof eventually needs its fasteners revisited.
There is also metal shingle and stone-coated steel, which imitates the look of shingle or tile while behaving like metal. It suits homes where a standing seam roof would look wrong for the architecture.
For a primary residence in the northwest suburbs, standing seam is what we normally install and what the rest of this page describes.
How metal behaves in Illinois weather
Hail
Metal does not lose granules, and granule loss is what ends an asphalt roof's life after a hail event. What hail does to metal is cosmetic denting — and that distinction matters more than most homeowners expect, because many insurance policies now carry a cosmetic damage exclusion specifically for metal roofs. A dented panel that still sheds water may not be a covered loss under that endorsement. It is worth reading your declarations page before choosing metal, not after.
Snow and ice
A smooth metal surface sheds snow rather than holding it, which reduces the load on the structure and gives ice dams less to build on. That shedding is not always a benefit: snow releases in sheets, and above a walkway, a driveway or a door you want snow guards designed in from the start. They are inexpensive at installation and awkward to retrofit.
Wind
Standing seam panels are continuous from ridge to eave with concealed clips, so there is no exposed shingle edge for wind to lift. This is the condition that produces most wind claims on asphalt roofs in open subdivisions.
Heat and cold
Metal expands and contracts more than asphalt across a Chicago year. A correctly detailed standing seam system allows for that movement in the clips; a poorly detailed one shows it as oil-canning, noise, or fastener fatigue. It is the single clearest difference between a good metal installation and a cheap one.
What the installation involves
- Tear-off and deck inspection. The old covering comes off and the decking is inspected. Metal telegraphs an uneven deck far more visibly than shingle does, so any soft or wavy sheathing is replaced first rather than covered.
- Underlayment. A high-temperature synthetic underlayment goes down, with ice-and-water membrane at the eaves, valleys and penetrations. Under metal the underlayment carries a real temperature load, which is why the standard product used under shingle is not the right choice here.
- Panel forming. Standing seam panels are usually roll-formed to the exact rafter length, often on site, so a run has no horizontal seam.
- Clips and panels. Panels are set and clipped, then the seams are mechanically locked. Flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and vents is fabricated to match.
- Trim and accessories. Ridge, eave, rake and any snow retention go on last.
A typical single-family standing seam job runs longer than an asphalt replacement — the forming and the flashing detail are where the time goes, and neither is a place to rush.
Metal against asphalt: the honest comparison
| Architectural asphalt | Standing seam metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical service life | 20–25 years | 40–60 years |
| Up-front cost | Lowest | Substantially higher |
| Hail behaviour | Granule loss, mat fracture — usually a covered loss | Denting, often cosmetic — check for an exclusion |
| Snow | Holds snow; ice dams are common | Sheds snow; plan snow guards |
| Repairability | Simple, materials widely stocked | Panel-level work, matching can be harder |
| Resale | Expected, neutral | A differentiator on the right house |
The practical way to decide is how long you intend to own the house. Metal's economics come from outliving the second asphalt roof you would otherwise buy. If you are likely to move inside ten years, that arithmetic does not close, and a quality architectural shingle is the better use of the money.
When metal is the wrong choice
We would rather say this before the estimate than after.
- A complex roof with many penetrations. Every hip, valley, dormer and chimney is fabricated flashing on a metal roof. Cost climbs quickly and so does the number of details that must be right.
- A policy with a cosmetic damage exclusion and a real hail exposure. You may be buying a roof whose most likely damage your carrier has already declined to pay for.
- A homeowners association with material restrictions. Check before you design around it.
- Low-slope sections. Below the manufacturer's minimum pitch a standing seam system is not appropriate, and a low-slope membrane is the correct product for that plane.
What we do on a metal project
State Restoration Services is a family-owned roofing and exterior restoration contractor working across the Chicago suburbs. On a metal roof we inspect the existing roof and deck, walk you through panel type and colour with real samples rather than a brochure, and put the scope in writing before anything is ordered.
If the reason you are looking at a new roof is storm damage, that is a separate conversation and we document it properly: photographs, measurements and a code-compliant replacement-cost estimate you can give to your insurer. Our partner, a licensed public adjuster, State Adjusting Services, can represent you on the claim itself — the carrier decides what it pays, and our job is to make sure the damage is on paper accurately.
Book a free inspection or get in touch and we will tell you plainly whether metal is worth it on your house.
Frequently asked
Is a metal roof noisy in rain?
Not on a house. The drumming people remember comes from metal laid over open purlins on a barn or shed. Over solid decking with underlayment and an insulated attic, a standing seam roof is not measurably louder inside than asphalt, and several homeowners report it is quieter because hail does not rattle the way it does on a brittle shingle.
Will a metal roof attract lightning?
No. Metal does not attract lightning and adding a metal roof does not raise the chance of a strike. Because metal is non-combustible and conductive, a strike is actually less likely to ignite the structure than it would be on a wood or asphalt surface, which is why metal carries a Class A fire rating in most assemblies.
Can a metal roof go over my existing shingles?
Sometimes it is physically possible, and we generally do not recommend it. Metal shows every irregularity underneath, hiding the old roof means the decking is never inspected, and trapped moisture between the layers has nowhere to go. A tear-off costs more on the day and is what makes the forty-year service life realistic.
Does hail damage on a metal roof get covered by insurance?
It depends on your policy. Many carriers now attach a cosmetic damage exclusion to metal roofs, which means denting that does not affect how the roof sheds water may not be paid. Functional damage — punctures, split seams, failed flashing — is treated differently. Read your declarations page, and ask your carrier directly before you commit to metal.
How long does a metal roof installation take?
Longer than an asphalt replacement on the same house. Panels are usually roll-formed to length and every valley, wall and chimney is custom flashing, so a straightforward single-family standing seam job typically runs several days rather than one to three. A complex roof takes longer still, and we give a realistic window in the written scope.