Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Concealed fastener panels with nothing exposed to weather. The system most people mean when they say they want a metal roof, and the one that earns its cost in this climate.
- Metal roofing specialists
- Serving all of Whatcom County
- Free on site assessment
- Straight answers, written estimates
The difference between standing seam and the ribbed metal you see on barns is where the fasteners are. On an exposed fastener roof, screws go through the face of the panel, every one a hole through the surface sealed by a rubber washer. There can be several thousand of them. On a standing seam roof the panels hang from clips hidden under the seam, and the seam is folded or mechanically locked over the top. Nothing that holds the roof down is exposed to the weather.
That is most of why it costs more, and all of why it lasts longer. The failure point on an exposed fastener roof is the fasteners, and they start going while the metal is still in good condition. A standing seam roof does not have that clock running.
The other reason it suits this county is movement. Panels expand and contract, and standing seam clips are designed to let them, which matters on the long unbroken runs common on farm buildings out toward Lynden and Everson.
What this is for
What this solves
The fastener replacement cycle
No exposed screws means no washers to harden, no holes to open up, and no afternoon spent walking a roof looking for the ones that have backed out.
Long runs that move
Clip systems allow the panel to expand and contract without tearing at its fixings. On long slopes that is the difference between a roof that stays tight and one that oil cans and opens up at the laps.
Roofs you want to look sharp
Clean vertical lines, no visible fixings, and trim details that can be formed to suit the house rather than bolted on. On a craftsman in Bellingham or a farmhouse near Lynden it looks right rather than industrial.
The first visit
What the first visit covers
We assess whether standing seam suits your roof.
Pitch, run length, complexity, and how many penetrations there are. Some roofs do not justify the extra cost and we will say so.
We check the deck and the details.
Sheathing condition, ventilation, and every place the roof meets something else, because that is where the money and the risk are.
We show you the panel options.
Profile, gauge, finish, seam type and colour, and what each is like in practice rather than in the brochure.
You get a written estimate.
The system, the underlayment, the flashings, the trim detail, tear off and disposal, and what is excluded.
The work
How a standing seam roof goes on
Assessment and estimate.
Whether the system fits the roof, and the written price if it does.
Panel and seam selection.
Snap lock or mechanically seamed, profile and rib height, gauge, finish and colour, matched to the pitch and the exposure.
Scheduling around the weather.
Panels are formed and set in dry windows. We will be honest about the wait rather than opening a roof at the wrong time.
Tear off and deck preparation.
Old roof off, deck checked and repaired, then a flat clean surface, because standing seam shows every high spot underneath it.
Underlayment, clips, panels, seams.
Underlayment across the deck, membrane at the vulnerable details, clips set to the spacing the run and the exposure need, panels hung and seams closed. Flashings and trim formed on site for your details.
Walkthrough and cleanup.
We walk it with you, explain the details we formed and why, then clean up and magnet the drive.
Why us
Why us for standing seam
Seam work is a skill, not a setting
Clip spacing, panel engagement, seam closure and expansion allowance are where a standing seam roof is won or lost. Done wrong it looks fine for two years and then oil cans, leaks at the laps, or tears at its clips.
We form the details on site
Chimneys, sidewalls, skylights, valleys and transitions get flashings made for the actual roof rather than a stock piece forced to fit. That is most of the labour and all of the difference.
We will tell you when it is not worth it
A small, cut up roof with a dozen penetrations may not justify the premium over a good exposed fastener system. We would rather sell you the right roof than the expensive one.
Find out what it would cost on your roof
Every standing seam quote you read online is for somebody else's house. We will measure yours and put a real number on paper.
Reviews
What customers say
We are new, and we would rather show you a roof than a quote from somebody you have never met. Ask us for an address in your area and go and look at it.
Ask for an address near youQuestions
Standing seam questions
How much should a standing seam metal roof cost?
We do not publish price figures here yet. It costs meaningfully more than exposed fastener metal and more again than composition, and the spread between two standing seam quotes usually comes down to gauge, finish quality, seam type and how much of the flashing is formed on site rather than bought off a shelf. We price your roof after measuring it.
What are the downsides of a standing seam metal roof?
Cost first. It is the most expensive residential metal system in normal use, and on a small cut up roof the premium is hard to justify. Second, it is unforgiving of a poor deck, because the flat panels show every dip underneath. Third, it needs a competent installer more than any other roof type, and there are fewer of those than there are companies advertising it. Fourth, panels can oil can, a slight waviness in the flat of the panel, which is cosmetic but noticeable on a wide pan in low sun.
Is standing seam the best metal roof?
For a house you intend to keep, in this climate, usually yes. Nothing that holds it down is exposed to the weather, which removes the failure mode that ends most metal roofs here. That said, best is not the same as right. A barn or a shop where appearance is not the point is well served by a good exposed fastener roof at a fraction of the cost.
What is the life expectancy of a standing seam metal roof?
Decades, and in practice the finish and the flashings age before the panels do. What shortens it is a bad deck, poor clip spacing, incompatible metals in contact, or a flashing detail that was wrong on day one. What extends it is keeping valleys clear of fir needles and moss and not letting anyone walk it carelessly.
Who sells standing seam metal roofs?
Panels are produced by several manufacturers and are also roll formed on site by installers with a portable machine. We do not push a particular brand, partly because what is available changes, and partly because the profile and the installer matter far more than the label. We will tell you exactly what we are proposing, in writing, before you agree to anything.
What colour metal roof lasts the longest?
Lighter and mid tones hold their appearance longest because fading and chalking show less and the panel runs cooler. Darker colours look better on a craftsman or a farmhouse and hide moss staining. Finish quality and how the roof is detailed matter more than colour for how long the roof actually lasts.
Coverage
Where we install standing seam
Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine and everywhere between them. Birch Bay, Everson, Sumas, Nooksack, Custer, Deming, Maple Falls and Point Roberts.
Related
Other work on metal roofs
Free on site assessment
Ask about a standing seam roof
Or call(360) 555-0100Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm. Emergency calls outside those hours for active leaks and storm damage.
Thanks, that is enough to work with
We will call you back, usually the same working day, and we will ask a couple of questions to work out whether this is urgent before we book a time to get on the roof.
One honest note: this form is not connected to anything yet, so nothing was sent. Until it is, call (360) 555-0100.