Knowledge Base
Everything about metal roofing, answered first
62 expert-reviewed articles, each opening with the direct answer — costs, lifespan, ice dams, installation, and how to choose.
Costs & Value
How Much Do Aluminum Shingles Cost in New England?
Aluminum shingles cost more up front than asphalt and less than natural slate or solid copper, but the number for any one house depends on its size, pitch, layout and what has to come off first. We don't post a flat price, because every New England roof is priced individually after an in-home roof consultation that measures the roof and checks the deck.
How Much Does a Metal Shake Roof Cost in New England?
A metal shake roof costs more than asphalt and is usually in the same conversation as a new cedar shake roof, but its price for your home depends on roof size, pitch, complexity and how much old roofing comes off. We don't quote a flat figure: every New England roof is priced individually after an in-home roof consultation.
How Much Does a Copper Roof Cost in New England?
A copper roof is among the most expensive roofs you can put on a house, because the metal itself is costly and its price moves with the commodity market. What your roof costs depends on its size, shape, tear-off and detailing. We don't publish a flat number; every New England roof is priced individually after an in-home roof consultation.
How Much Does a Standing Seam Metal Roof Cost in New England?
A standing seam metal roof generally costs more than asphalt and more than exposed-fastener metal panels, because it uses more material per square and takes more skilled labor to install. The price for your home depends on roof size, pitch, shape, tear-off and access. Every New England roof is priced individually after an in-home roof consultation.
How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost in New England?
A roof replacement in New England costs whatever your particular roof demands: the material you choose, the size and pitch of the roof, how many old layers come off, the condition of the deck, and how hard the house is to reach. There is no reliable one-size price. Every roof is priced individually, and an in-home roof consultation gives the accurate number.
Metal Roofing Basics
Copper Roof Patina: Why Copper Turns Green in New England
Copper roofs turn green because the metal slowly reacts with oxygen, moisture and pollutants in the air, building a thin layer of copper compounds called patina. Bright copper first darkens to brown, then turns mottled, then gradually goes blue-green over years to decades. The patina is a stable skin that protects the metal underneath, so the green is a sign of a healthy copper roof, not decay.
Aluminum Roofing Panels and Sheets: What New England Homeowners Should Know
Aluminum roofing is sold either as architectural panels that lock together over hidden fasteners or as utility sheets screwed through their face. For a house in New England, the locking panel is the right format: it handles snow, wind-driven rain and salt air without hundreds of exposed screw holes. Sheets suit sheds, barns and simple outbuildings where appearance and long service matter less.
Is Aluminum Roofing Recyclable? What Happens to a Roof in New England
Yes. Aluminum roofing can be recycled, and aluminum can be melted down and reused repeatedly without losing its basic properties. Scrap aluminum has real market value, so panels, trim and offcuts are worth collecting rather than throwing away. For New England homeowners the bigger environmental question is usually the roof that comes off, since tear-off waste has to be hauled and disposed of, and that is a real cost here.
Snap-Lock vs. Mechanical Seam: Standing Seam Types Explained
The two main standing seam types are snap-lock, where one panel's seam snaps over the next by hand, and mechanical seam, where a seaming tool folds the joint closed in a single or double lock. Snap-lock is quicker to install and common on residential slopes; mechanically seamed panels make a tighter joint and are often chosen for low slopes and severe exposure.
Copper Roof Pros and Cons for New England Homes
A copper roof's main advantages are very long service life, natural corrosion resistance, light weight compared with slate, and a look that has shaped New England architecture for centuries. Its drawbacks are high material cost, a limited pool of skilled installers, runoff that can stain surfaces below, incompatibility with some other metals, and a color that keeps changing on its own schedule.
Standing Seam Metal Roof Pros and Cons in New England
Standing seam metal roofs offer concealed fasteners, clean vertical lines, fast snow and water shedding, long service life and a good base for solar. Their drawbacks are a higher installed cost than most shingle roofs, possible oil canning on wide flat panels, sliding snow that needs planning near entries, and a modern look that does not suit every historic house.
Types of Copper Roofing: Standing Seam, Sheet, Shingles and Accents
The main types of copper roofing are standing seam panels, flat-seam and batten-seam sheet copper, copper shingles or profiled panels that mimic slate and shakes, and copper flashing and accent roofs. Copper is specified by weight, usually 16 or 20 ounces per square foot. Interlock offers solid copper in its own profiles: Slate, Shake, Cedar Shingle, Mediterranean Tile and Standing Seam.
Interlocking Aluminum Shingles: How the Four-Sided Lock Works
Interlocking aluminum shingles are metal panels that hook into the panels above, below and beside them, so the roof is joined on all four sides instead of being a stack of loose overlapping pieces. The fasteners sit under the next course, out of the weather. That design resists wind uplift, keeps driven rain out of the joints and lets the aluminum expand and contract through hot summers and cold winters.
What Is a Standing Seam Metal Roof?
A standing seam metal roof is made of long metal panels that run from the ridge down to the eave and join at raised vertical seams, with the fasteners hidden under the seams. The seams stand above the flat part of each panel, so water drains away from the joints. It is usually made from aluminum, steel or copper and is valued for durability and clean lines.
Metal Roof That Looks Like Slate: What New England Owners Should Know
Yes, there are metal roofs made to look like slate. Interlock's Slate profile is heavy-gauge aluminum formed into individual shingle shapes with a textured, coated surface, so from the street it reads as a traditional slate roof. It gives a New England home the slate look at a small fraction of the weight, and it does not crack, slip or rust.
How Often Should You Replace a Roof in New England?
How often you replace a roof depends mostly on its material, installation and ventilation. Asphalt shingle roofs commonly need replacing somewhere around 15 to 30 years, while slate and well-installed metal roofs can last far longer. In New England, freeze–thaw cycles, ice dams, nor'easter winds and coastal salt air can shorten the life of vulnerable materials, so condition matters more than the calendar.
Disadvantages of Aluminum Roofing: An Honest Look for New England
The main disadvantages of aluminum roofing are a higher upfront cost than asphalt, the need for trained installers, the chance of denting from a heavy impact, snow that slides off in sheets, and fewer contractors able to repair it. None of these is a reason to rule it out, but each deserves a plan before you sign, especially on a New England house that sees real winters.
Are Aluminum Shingles Good? Pros and Cons for New England Homes
Aluminum shingles are a strong choice for most New England homes. They don't rust in salt air, they are light enough for older framing, they shed snow and rain well, and Interlock® panels carry long written material and coating warranties. The trade-offs are a higher upfront cost than asphalt, the need for a trained installer, and a minimum roof pitch of 3/12.
Aluminum Roofing Gauge and Thickness: What Matters on a New England Home
Aluminum roofing is usually specified by its actual thickness in thousandths of an inch, not by the gauge numbers used for steel. Thickness affects how stiff a panel is and how well it resists denting, but it is only one factor. Alloy, temper and the shape stamped into the panel matter just as much, so compare complete systems rather than a single number.
Thermal Expansion and Oil Canning in Aluminum Roofs: A New England Guide
Aluminum expands when it warms and contracts when it cools, more than steel does, so a well-designed aluminum roof lets the panels move instead of pinning them tight. Interlocking panels with concealed fasteners slide slightly within their locks as temperatures change. Oil canning, a slight waviness on flat metal panels, is a cosmetic effect of that stress and of panel shape, not a sign that the roof is failing.
What Are Aluminum Shingles? A Guide for New England Homeowners
Aluminum shingles are individual roofing panels formed from aluminum sheet and finished with a factory coating, shaped to look like slate, cedar or tile. Interlock® shingles lock to each other on all four sides with the fasteners hidden underneath. They are light, they don't rust, and they come with long written warranties, which makes them a practical replacement for asphalt, wood or slate on many New England homes.
What Is a Metal Shake Roof?
A metal shake roof is metal roofing formed to look like split wood shakes, with deep, irregular grain lines and thick-looking butt edges. Interlock's Shake profile is heavy-gauge aluminum with a baked-on finish, so it gives a rustic wood look without rot, splitting, moss or rust, at roughly 0.4 to 0.7 lb per square foot.
Is Aluminum a Good Roofing Material for a New England Home?
Yes. Aluminum is one of the strongest choices for a New England roof because it cannot rust, it is light enough to spare older framing, and it sheds wet snow and wind-driven rain well. Its drawbacks are a higher upfront cost than asphalt and the need for an experienced installer, since the details at valleys, chimneys and eaves decide how well any metal roof performs.
What Is an Interlocking Roof?
An interlocking roof is one where each panel or tile is mechanically joined to the pieces around it, rather than simply laid on top of the row below. Interlock® aluminum roofing locks on all four sides and covers its own fasteners, so the roof acts as one connected surface. That makes it harder for wind to lift and for driven rain to get through the joints.
How Much Does an Aluminum Roof Weigh?
An Interlock aluminum roof weighs roughly 0.4 to 0.7 lb per square foot, depending on the profile. That makes it one of the lightest permanent roofing materials available, well under asphalt shingles and many times lighter than natural slate or clay tile. On an older New England house, that low weight leaves more of the framing's capacity free to carry winter snow.
What Is Copper Roofing? A Guide for New England Homeowners
Copper roofing is roofing made from solid sheet copper, a soft, corrosion-resistant metal formed into panels, shingles, flashing and accent roofs. It does not rust; instead it develops a protective patina that turns brown and eventually blue-green. Copper is heavier than aluminum but much lighter than slate, and it is one of the longest-lasting and most expensive roofing materials available.
Weather, Climate & Performance
Metal Roofs and Ice Dams: What Metal Can and Can't Do
A metal roof does not prevent ice dams, because ice dams are caused by heat escaping into the attic, not by the roofing material. Metal does shed snow more readily than many other roof surfaces, which can shorten how long snow sits on the roof. Lasting relief still comes from air sealing, insulation and ventilation, backed by an ice barrier membrane at the eaves.
How Long Do Aluminum Shingles Last in New England?
A well-installed aluminum shingle roof is built to serve for many decades, and the length of its written coverage tells you more than any lifespan estimate. Interlock® shingles carry the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty for the original purchaser while they own the home, plus a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty on the finish. Real service life depends on installation, ventilation and the deck underneath.
How Long Does a Metal Shake Roof Last?
A well-installed aluminum shake roof is built to outlast a cedar roof, because the metal does not rot, split, absorb water or rust. For Interlock, the clearest measure is the written coverage: the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty for the original purchaser while they own the home, transferable once to 50 years from substantial completion, plus a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty.
What Are Ice Dams? Causes and Warning Signs in New England
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds along the lower edge of a roof and traps meltwater behind it. Heat leaking from the living space warms the upper roof deck, snow there melts, and the water runs down until it reaches the cold overhang at the eave and freezes. Water pooled behind that ridge can back up under roofing and leak into walls and ceilings.
The Best Fire-Resistant Roofing Materials for New England Homes
The most fire-resistant roofs are non-combustible materials such as slate, clay tile and metal installed as a tested Class A assembly; untreated wood shakes are the least resistant. The roof's rating depends on the whole assembly, not just the surface. For Interlock aluminum roofing, Class A Fire Rated Available, as a complete assembly. No roof makes a house immune to fire.
Aluminum Roofing R-Value and Energy Efficiency in New England
Aluminum roofing adds very little R-value on its own; thin metal is a poor insulator. Its energy benefits come from other things: a finish that reflects summer sun, and the attic insulation, air sealing and ventilation installed with it. In New England's heating-dominated climate, attic insulation and air sealing do most of the work of keeping heat in.
How Long Does a Copper Roof Last in New England?
A well-designed, well-installed copper roof commonly lasts many decades and often a century or more, which is why so much historic copper is still in service on New England buildings. Its real lifespan depends less on the copper sheet than on copper weight, seam and fastening details, flashing, drainage, contact with other metals and the quality of the installation.
Installation & What to Expect
Best Time of Year to Replace a Roof in New England
In New England, late spring through fall usually offers the most predictable weather for a roof replacement, but roofs can be installed through much of the year. Winter work is possible on suitable days and depends on snow, ice and temperature. Spring and fall are the busiest booking periods, so plan ahead. If your roof is leaking or failing, don't wait for an ideal season.
Can You Put a Metal Roof Over Cedar Shake?
No. A metal roof should not go over cedar shakes or cedar shingles, and Interlock requires the cedar to come off first. Cedar is thick, uneven and holds moisture, so it cannot give a new roof a flat, dry, solid base. After tear-off, the deck is inspected, repaired or sheathed as needed, and the metal roof goes on over new underlayment.
Can You Replace a Slate Roof With Metal?
Yes. A worn-out slate roof can be replaced with a metal roof, and an aluminum slate profile keeps the traditional look at a fraction of the weight. The old slate always comes off first; metal is never installed over natural slate. Once the deck is exposed, any damaged boards are repaired, then new underlayment, flashing and the metal roof go on.
Aluminum Roofing Fasteners: Concealed vs Exposed on a New England Roof
Exposed fasteners are screws driven through the face of a metal panel and sealed with rubber washers; concealed fasteners sit hidden under the next panel or inside a clip. For a home in New England, concealed fastening is the better choice because it keeps holes out of the weather surface and lets aluminum move with temperature swings. Exposed fasteners need periodic checking and replacement over the years.
How Is a Standing Seam Metal Roof Installed?
A standing seam roof is installed by preparing a sound, flat deck, laying ice barrier and underlayment, installing eave and rake trim, then setting vertical panels across the roof and fastening each with concealed clips or a nail strip before the seams are closed. Flashing at valleys, walls, chimneys and penetrations, plus the ridge cap, finishes the job.
Warranties, Myths & FAQs
Do Metal Roofs Affect WiFi, Cell Signal and TV Reception?
A metal roof does not affect your home WiFi, because the router and your devices are inside the house below the roof. Cell signal can be slightly weaker in some homes, mostly where reception was already marginal, since metal can reduce radio signals coming from above. Most signal enters through walls and windows, and fixes such as WiFi calling are simple.
Do Metal Roofs Leak More Than Shingles?
No. A properly installed interlocking metal roof with correct flashing does not leak more than asphalt shingles, and its covered fasteners remove a common leak path. When any roof leaks, the cause is usually a flashing detail at a chimney, skylight, sidewall or valley, or an ice dam backing water up at the eaves. Ice damming is excluded from the Interlock® material warranty.
Choosing a Roof
“Made in the USA” Roofing: What the Label Means
An unqualified “Made in USA” claim means the product is all or virtually all made in the United States, under the Federal Trade Commission's standard. A roof, though, is a system of panels, coatings, underlayment, fasteners, trim and flashing, and those parts often come from different places. Ask which parts a claim covers. Interlock® roofing is manufactured by Interlock Roofing in Delta, BC, and we describe it as Made in North America.
Are Interlocking Roof Tiles Better Than Overlapping Shingles?
For most New England roofs, yes: interlocking roofing generally resists wind and driven rain better than overlapping shingles, because every piece is held by its neighbors and the fasteners are covered. The material still matters. Interlocking aluminum panels add rust resistance and light weight, while heavy interlocking concrete or clay tiles can overload older framing and crack in hard freezes.
How to Choose a Metal Roofing Manufacturer
Choose a metal roofing manufacturer by checking five things: the metal it uses and how that metal handles your climate, the written warranty terms, independent ratings and code evaluations, how its system is designed to shed wind and water, and who installs it. In New England, rust resistance near the coast, performance under snow and a trained, accountable installer matter most.
Standing Seam Metal Roofers Near You: How to Vet an Installer in New England
To find a good standing seam roofer near you, check state registration where it applies, ask for insurance certificates sent by the contractor's agent, call references in your own town, confirm the installer is certified on the product, and get the material and labor warranties in writing. Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc. serves all six New England states from Walpole, Massachusetts.
Aluminum Roofing for Porches and Patios in New England
Aluminum works well on porch and patio roofs as long as the slope is right. The Interlock® system needs a pitch of at least 3/12, so it suits most gabled or shed-style porch roofs that tie into the house, but not the nearly flat porch and patio roofs common on New England homes. Those low-slope roofs need a membrane or another low-slope system instead.
Standing Seam vs. Corrugated Metal Roofing
The main difference is fastening: standing seam hides its fasteners under raised seams, while corrugated and other exposed-fastener panels are screwed through the face of the sheet. Corrugated costs less and suits barns, sheds and outbuildings. Standing seam costs more but has far fewer exposed leak points, needs less fastener maintenance and is the usual choice for the main roof of a home.
Burnished Slate Metal Roof Color: What It Is and Interlock's Closest Matches
Burnished slate is a color name some metal roofing manufacturers use for a dark, slightly warm gray that looks like slate after decades of weathering. Interlock does not sell a color by that name. The closest Interlock colors for that look are Deep Charcoal, Black and Musket Grey, and the best way to choose among them is to view samples outdoors beside your siding.
Where to Buy Aluminum Shingles in New England
In New England, Interlock® aluminum shingles are bought as an installed roof from Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc., the certified and exclusive Interlock® roofing contractor for the six states. The system is not sold as loose panels at supply yards. You buy the material, the trained crew and the warranty registration together, which is what makes the written warranties apply to your roof.
Types of Aluminum Roofing: Matching the Style to a New England Home
Aluminum roofing for homes comes in shingle-style panels that look like slate, cedar or tile, vertical standing seam panels, and corrugated or ribbed utility sheet. The first two are architectural roof systems for houses; corrugated sheet is mainly for barns and outbuildings. In New England, the right type usually follows the style of the house, from a slate look on a Victorian to cedar on a Cape.
Metal Roofing Manufacturers Near You: What a Local Search Really Finds
A search for metal roofing manufacturers near you usually returns three kinds of businesses: companies that make roofing, suppliers that sell it, and contractors that install it. What you need locally is the installer. For the Interlock® system, the manufacturer is Interlock Roofing in Delta, BC, and the only certified installer in New England is Interlock Metal Roofing (New England) Inc., based in Walpole, Massachusetts.
The Best Roof for Solar Panels in New England
The best roof for solar panels is one that will outlast the array, faces roughly south with little shade, and has a solid deck and structure. A long-lasting aluminum roof fits that well: you are unlikely to need to remove the panels to re-roof partway through their service life. Any attachment must be done to manufacturer specification.
Metal Slate Roof vs. Real Slate: Weight, Cost Drivers and Durability
Real slate is a natural stone with exceptional longevity, but it is very heavy, brittle underfoot and costly to install and repair. Metal slate gives a similar look from the street at many times less weight, does not crack, and installs faster. For most New England homes that are not required to keep natural stone, metal slate is the more practical choice.
Metal Roofing vs. Rubber Roofing: Which Fits Your New England Home?
Metal and rubber roofing usually solve different problems. Rubber membrane roofing, mainly EPDM, is built for flat and low-slope roofs; aluminum roofing such as Interlock is for pitched roofs of at least 3/12. Many New England homes need both: metal on the main pitched roof and a membrane on a flat porch, shed dormer or triple-decker roof.
Synthetic Slate vs. Metal Slate Roofing
Synthetic slate is molded from polymers, rubber or composite blends; metal slate is formed from metal such as aluminum. Both imitate natural slate at a fraction of its weight. The practical differences are in how each material ages in sun and cold, its weight, fire and impact ratings, and the warranty behind it, so compare product documents rather than the category names.
Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting
How to Prevent Ice Dams in New England Homes
You prevent ice dams by keeping heat out of the attic so the roof deck stays about as cold as the outdoor air. Air-seal the top-floor ceiling, add insulation, and ventilate from soffit to ridge. At the roof, an ice barrier membrane at the eaves limits damage if water backs up, but no roofing material on its own stops ice dams from forming.
Aluminum Roof Repair in New England: Common Problems and When to Replace
Most aluminum roof repairs are small and local: a flashing detail around a chimney or skylight, a panel damaged by a falling limb, or a sealant joint that has aged. Interlock panels can be replaced one at a time, so a full replacement is rarely needed. In New England, most repair calls follow a storm, a heavy snow season or other trades working on the roof.
Signs You Need a New Roof: A New England Checklist
The main signs you need a new roof are an aging roof with widespread wear, curling, cracked or missing shingles, heavy granule loss, repeated leaks, daylight or water stains in the attic, and a deck that sags or feels soft. One sign alone may only call for a repair. Several together, especially on an older asphalt roof, usually point to replacement.
Can You Paint or Coat an Aluminum Roof? Advice for New England Homeowners
Aluminum can be painted with the right preparation, but a factory-finished Interlock roof should not need it. Its Alunar® finish is applied and cured at the plant and carries a 30 Year coating warranty, while field painting can affect that warranty. If you are thinking about painting or coating an Interlock roof for any reason, ask us first before anything is applied.
How to Remove Ice Dams Safely
The safest way to deal with an ice dam is from the ground. Use a long-handled roof rake to pull snow off the lower few feet of the roof, then lay a fabric tube filled with calcium chloride ice melt across the dam to melt a drainage channel. Never climb onto an icy roof or chip at the ice. For leaks or large dams, call a professional.
Roof Repair vs. Replacement: How to Decide
Repair your roof when the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the roof is sound and not near the end of its life. Replace it when wear is widespread, leaks keep returning in different places, the deck is damaged, or the roof is old enough that repairs only buy a winter or two. An inspection that finds the cause makes the choice clearer.
Ice Dam Damage and Homeowners Insurance: What to Know
Whether insurance covers ice dam damage depends on your own policy and insurer. Many homeowners policies treat sudden interior water damage differently from problems they consider gradual wear or poor maintenance. Read your policy, call your agent or insurer, photograph everything, and take reasonable steps to limit further damage. Only your insurer can tell you what is covered in your situation.
Ice Dams and Gutters: How They're Connected
Gutters don't cause ice dams; heat escaping into the attic does. But gutters are often where ice dams show up first, because meltwater refreezes in the cold trough at the roof edge. Clogged gutters let ice build higher and add weight that pulls on the fascia. Keeping gutters clear, well fastened and draining helps, while the lasting fix stays in the attic.
