Metal Roofing

Standing-seam (Englert Series 1300, Drexel Metals MetalTech, McElroy 138T, ATAS Multi-Con). Vertical seams every 12-24" that fold over concealed clips fastened to the deck — no fasteners penetrate the panel surface. Service life 50-70 years, wind ratings 140-180 mph, snap-lock or mechanically-seamed install methods. The right choice for the majority of residential metal installs.

Exposed-fastener (R-panel, corrugated, ribbed). Screws penetrate the panel face with neoprene-gasketed washers. Lower cost than standing-seam, but the gaskets degrade at 15-25 years and require re-screwing the entire field. Right for outbuildings, barns, garages, and budget commercial. Not generally recommended for primary residential.

Stamped metal shingles / stone-coated steel (Decra, Boral Steel, Tilcor). Individual panels in slate, shake, or tile profiles. 40-50 year service life. Concealed-fastener interlocking design. Right for historic-district restorations where the building needs to read as slate or shake but the structure can't carry the weight.

Metal as substrate matters too. Galvanized steel is the most common. Galvalume (aluminum-zinc coated steel) lasts longer in corrosive environments. Aluminum is preferred for shore exposures within a few miles of saltwater. Copper and zinc are premium options for landmark and historic projects.

Shore counties (Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, Ocean). Salt air corrodes standard galvanized steel — we spec aluminum standing-seam or Galvalume with Kynar finish for any home within 5 miles of the Atlantic. Stainless fasteners throughout, no exceptions. Wind ratings up to 180 mph handle hurricane and nor'easter exposure.

Northwest counties (Sussex, Warren). Snow sheds cleanly off metal — eliminates ice-dam buildup that plagues asphalt-shingle roofs at northern-NJ eaves. Snow guards required on metal over walkways, doors, and HVAC equipment to prevent sliding-snow injury and property damage.

Modern / contemporary architecture across NJ. Standing-seam is the dominant aesthetic on new modern builds — clean vertical lines, narrow panels, dark colorways (Matte Black, Charcoal Gray, Slate Blue) are the current spec on most contemporary residential.

Solar PV pairing. Standing-seam allows S-5! or similar rail-clamp mounting that grips the panel seam without penetrating the membrane. Zero roof penetrations, faster solar install, and no future leak liability at panel-mount points. The right combination for any homeowner planning solar within the next 10 years.

Historic districts. Standing-seam in historically appropriate colors and panel widths is approvable in many NJ historic districts where the original roof was tin, terne, or sheet metal — Cape May Victorians, Princeton's Old Borough, Bridgeton, Lambertville. Stamped metal shingles work where the original was slate or shake.

Snap-lock vs mechanically-seamed. Snap-lock panels click together with no special tools — faster install, lower cost, 110-130 mph wind ratings. Mechanically-seamed panels require a seamer tool to fold the seam closed in the field — slower install, higher cost, 180 mph wind ratings. We spec mechanically-seamed for shore exposures and high-pitch roofs.

Clip vs through-fastened. Standing-seam panels attach to the deck via concealed clips spaced 16-24" on center. Fixed clips are used on shorter panels; floating clips (which allow thermal expansion movement) are required on panels longer than 30 feet. Wrong clip type causes oil-canning and panel warping over time.

Underlayment matters more than on shingle. Metal expands and contracts more than asphalt — we use high-temp ice & water shield (GAF FeltBuster HT or equivalent) over the entire deck, not just at eaves, because thermal movement of the panels stresses the underlayment beyond what standard synthetic can handle.

Kynar 500 / PVDF finish. The premium fluoropolymer coating standard on Englert, Drexel, and McElroy panels. 30-year color/chalk/fade warranty. The cheaper polyester (SMP) coatings used on budget metal carry 20-25 year warranties and visibly fade earlier.

Manufacturer warranties. Englert offers 30-year non-prorated weather-tight warranty on Series 1300 when installed by certified installer. Most premium standing-seam systems carry 25-50 year finish + substrate warranties. The trade-off is qualification: certified installer required, install method audited.