What metal costs, what it earns you over decades, and the honest cases where it is not the right call.
Metal costs meaningfully more up front than asphalt shingles, and it lasts meaningfully longer. That is the whole conversation. It is not a question about which roof is better made, it is a question about how long you intend to own the house, and we would rather you decide that with the real tradeoffs in front of you than with a sales pitch.
Most homeowners have never had this explained, and it matters more than the brand on the panel.
| System | How it works | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Standing seam | Panels interlock at raised, concealed seams. Fasteners are hidden under the seam, so nothing is exposed to work loose, corrode or perish over time. | The residential choice, and what we recommend for a house. |
| Exposed fastener | Sometimes called ag panel or corrugated. Screws go straight through the face of the panel, each sealed with a rubber washer. | Cheaper and faster to install, common on barns and outbuildings. The washers harden with UV exposure and eventually need replacing or the roof weeps at every screw. |
For a house, standing seam is the right call almost every time. You are paying the metal premium for the long, low-maintenance service life, and exposed fastener gives some of that back the day the first washer fails. If a quote for your home is priced as exposed fastener, ask why.
These are not generic upsides. Each one is a specific mechanism that applies to this island in particular.
This is the part most roofing sites skip, because it costs them the sale. For most Long Island homes, architectural asphalt shingles remain the right default, and metal is the upgrade conversation, not the automatic answer.
Galvanic corrosion happens when two dissimilar metals stay in contact with moisture present, and the more corrosion-resistant one effectively eats away at the less resistant one over time. Coastal exposure accelerates that process, so on Long Island the choice of coating and fastener material matters more here than it would inland, especially close to the water in places like West Hampton or Wading River. It is a real line in your proposal, not an afterthought.
The discipline underneath a metal roof is the same as any roof, with metal-specific details on top. Our roof replacement page covers the full scope; here is what changes for metal.
Old roofing comes off completely. Metal is not installed as a layover on this system, it needs a sound, inspected deck underneath.
Rotten or delaminated sheets get replaced before anything goes over them, priced per sheet as a contingency in the proposal rather than a surprise later.
A high-temperature rated underlayment goes down across the deck, since metal runs hotter in direct sun than asphalt. Ice and water shield goes at the eaves and in the valleys, same as any other system.
Standing seam panels go on with concealed clips, then every wall, chimney and penetration gets custom-formed flashing to match. This is where a complex roof adds real labor, and where a rushed installer leaves the first leak.
A rear addition or porch roof with a section too flat for shingles or metal to shed water needs its own low-slope membrane system, transitioned correctly where it meets the metal. It is a common combination on Long Island's older housing stock.
On any tear-off, metal included, we walk the exposed deck with you or send photographs before panels go on. If there is rot, you see it and price it before it disappears for the next several decades.
No. Lightning is drawn to the tallest and most conductive path to ground in an area, not to a roofing material. If it were struck, metal is noncombustible, which is a genuine safety upside rather than a risk.
Over solid decking with proper underlayment, the difference from asphalt is much smaller than most people expect from what they read online. It is not silent, and it is not the drumming sound people picture from an uninsulated barn or shed.
Sometimes it is physically possible, and we will tell you honestly when it is. We do not recommend it, for the same reasons we do not recommend a shingle-over-shingle layover on any roof: it hides what the deck is doing underneath, traps heat, and can complicate the warranty.
It can, under significant impact such as large hail or a falling branch, the same way any exterior surface can be damaged by enough force. Heavier gauge panels resist denting better than thinner ones, and it is a reasonable question to ask when comparing proposals.
It can, in both directions, since some insurers price metal favorably for its wind and fire resistance while others simply price it differently than asphalt. Check with your insurance agent directly.
For typical market ranges by system, size and complexity, see our roof replacement cost guide, which puts metal's premium against asphalt in real numbers.
These are the reviews our customers left on Google. There are nine of them, we publish all nine, and we do not post a star rating we cannot verify.
Frank was excellent to deal with. I am doing my roof, siding and windows. We went through all the materials being used in great detail. He provided samples so I can see, touch and feel them for myself. He was not pushy or aggressive to sell me this job.
I would like to give a huge shout out to Coast 2 Coast Roofing & Exteriors! They did such an AMAZING job on our home. Please see our before and after pictures of our vinyl siding. They also did outdoor lighting and some home improvements. This company was reasonable, reliable, knowledgeable, efficient, clean and organized, and most of all great customer service! I highly recommend this company
They are courteous and professional and they get the job in the time they tell you that they are gonna get done. Overall, very satisfied with my window installation and porch renovation!
Start with the free inspection. You will get photos of what we found and a written scope you can read line by line, whether or not you hire us.
