How to Choose a Metal Roofing Contractor in Western Massachusetts

Know which metal roof you want

Residential metal roofs in western Massachusetts fall into a few groups, and each one calls for different skills and tools.

• Standing seam: long vertical panels with raised seams and hidden fasteners. The look most people picture, common on farmhouses in Wilbraham and Westfield and on newer homes.
• Exposed-fastener panels: ribbed panels screwed through the face. Common on barns, garages and outbuildings; the screws and washers need attention over time.
• Metal shingles and shakes: stamped panels that look like slate, shake or tile from the street.

See metal roofs and asphalt vs. metal roofing in New England if you are still deciding between materials.

Experience with the system you chose

Ask how many roofs of the same type the contractor has installed, and whether you can drive by one or two in the area. Standing seam in particular depends on careful layout, panel forming and seaming. A crew that mostly does shingles may subcontract metal work; that is not wrong, but you should know who will be on the roof.

Snow and ice on a metal roof

Snow slides off metal in sheets. Over a door, a walkway, a deck or a driveway, that can be dangerous and damaging. In the Springfield area, ask where snow guards will go and how they attach. On standing seam, clamp-on guards avoid drilling through the panels.

Ice dams are less common on metal, but the code still calls for a self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves. Ask what goes under the panels, especially at the eaves and in valleys. See ice dams and your next roof.

Chimneys, walls and vents

Metal panels do not bend around obstacles the way shingles do. Chimneys, dormer walls, plumbing vents and skylights need custom-bent flashing and careful sealing. Ask the contractor to describe how they handle each one on your house. A chimney in the middle of a long run of panels usually needs a cricket on the uphill side.

Credentials in Massachusetts

Work on an owner-occupied home of one to four units requires Home Improvement Contractor registration, and roofing on one- and two-family houses generally needs a Construction Supervisor License holder named on the permit. Look both up before signing. See permits and licenses.

Questions to ask

1. Which metal system do you recommend for my house, and why?
2. How many roofs of this type have you installed nearby?
3. Will your own crew install it, or a subcontractor?
4. What gauge and finish will the panels have?
5. Where will snow guards go?
6. How will the chimney, walls and vents be flashed?
7. What goes under the panels at the eaves and valleys?