Metal
Metal Roofs in Bethlehem, PA
Want a roof that sheds snow and lasts a long time? Call and speak with an independent contractor that installs metal roofs around Bethlehem.
Standing seam, done properly
Most residential metal roofs here are standing seam: long panels with raised seams and hidden fasteners. Exposed-fastener panels cost less but rely on screws and washers that need attention over time, which is why they are more common on barns and outbuildings than on houses.
Metal sheds snow readily, which is welcome on the roof and less so above a walkway or a porch. Snow guards in the right places keep it from sliding off all at once.
Checklist
Before choosing metal
- Standing seam or exposed fastener, and why
- Panel gauge, metal and finish, and what the paint warranty covers
- Underlayment rated for the heat under metal
- Snow guards over doors, walks, decks and lower roofs
- How the panels meet chimneys, walls and dormers
- In a historic district, whether the panel profile and color will be accepted
Porches, farmhouses and old terne
Metal has a long history here. Easton's historic guidelines describe early porch and house roofs of terne, a thin steel sheet with a coating that needed regular painting, and say replacing a worn metal roof with new metal is generally historically appropriate.
They also note that modern pre-formed standing seam may be acceptable but needs the commission's approval, because some of its trim pieces look out of scale on old buildings (Easton guidelines).
Questions
Metal Roofs: what people ask
Is a metal roof loud in the rain?
Over a solid deck with underlayment, rain noise is usually close to that of a shingle roof. It is louder on open framing, such as a barn or an unlined porch roof.
Can metal go over my old shingles?
Some systems allow it, but most contractors prefer a tear-off so they can check and repair the deck. Ask what is proposed and why.
Will snow slide off a metal roof?
Yes, more readily than off shingles. Snow guards above entrances, walkways and lower roofs hold it in place to melt gradually.
More services
Other roof services
- Roof ReplacementThe old roof comes off, the deck is checked and the new roof goes on, start to finish.
- New Roofs & AdditionsAdditions, new homes and enclosed porches: framed, sheathed and tied into the old roof.
- Asphalt Shingle RoofsArchitectural shingles, the right underlayment and proper ventilation for Pennsylvania winters.
- Slate RoofsOld slate at the end of its life: new slate, synthetic slate, or shingles where the rules allow.
- Low-Slope & Rowhome RoofsRowhome rears, porches and additions: membranes, drains and parapet flashing.
- Ice, Snow & New RoofsIce dams and icicles: what to build into a replacement so they stop.
Ready to replace the roof?
Talk to a roofing contractor who works in Bethlehem
One call connects you with an independent roofing contractor serving Bethlehem, Easton, Bethlehem Township, Hellertown and Lower Saucon. Ask for an inspection and a written price for the new roof.
Replacing the roof? Talk it through with a local contractor.
Your call goes to an independent roofing contractor that takes replacement work in the Bethlehem area.
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