Scranton Quality Roofing installs metal roofing in Scranton, PA, serving surrounding cities including Dunmore, Moosic, Old Forge, Throop and Dickson City. With more than 20 years on local roofs, we install standing seam metal on whole houses and use metal where shingles struggle, such as low porch roofs, bay windows and dormers.
A metal roof is only as watertight as its details. Most metal roof leaks happen where metal meets something else: a chimney, a vent pipe, a sidewall or a shingled main roof. We flash every one of those transitions properly instead of relying on sealant, which is what keeps a long-lasting material from leaking in its first winter.
Before you commit to metal, we give you a straight comparison with architectural shingles for your particular house, including cost, appearance and how each handles snow and ice. Metal is not the right answer for every roof, and we will tell you when it is not.
Standing Seam Metal Roofs
How Standing Seam Panels Work
Standing seam panels run from the ridge to the eave with raised seams where neighboring panels lock together. The fastening clips sit under the seams, out of the weather, so there are no exposed screws through the face of the roof. That design lets the panels expand and contract with temperature changes without loosening fasteners.
Because the seams stand above the flat of the panel, water runs down the roof without reaching the joints. That is why standing seam is the system we recommend for homes.
Exposed-Fastener Panels and When They Fit
Exposed-fastener panels, the corrugated or ribbed sheets common on barns and garages, are screwed through the face with rubber washers. They cost less, but the washers age and the screws loosen as the metal moves, so they need periodic maintenance. We use them for outbuildings and agricultural structures and steer homeowners toward standing seam for living space.
Finishes, Colors and Gauge
Metal panels come in a wide range of factory-applied paint finishes that resist fading and chalking. Thicker gauges resist denting from hail and falling branches better than thin ones. We bring samples so you can see the colors against your house and explain the trade-off between gauge, cost and durability.
Lighter colors reflect more sunlight and keep the attic a little cooler in summer, while darker colors help snow release sooner on sunny winter days. Neither choice affects the roof’s performance much, so most owners choose the color that suits the house.
Metal on Porches, Bays and Low Slopes
Porch Roofs and Low-Pitch Sections
Many older Scranton houses have front porches with roofs too shallow for shingles to shed water reliably. Standing seam metal handles low pitches well and gives a porch a crisp, finished look. It is often the fix for a porch roof that has leaked through several shingle repairs. We flash the porch roof into the house wall with step or counter flashing, so the joint between the porch and the main house stays watertight.
Bay Windows, Dormers and Accents
Bay windows and small dormer roofs are hard to shingle cleanly and often leak where they meet the wall. A metal cap or a small standing seam roof sheds water better and adds a contrasting accent to the house. We form the metal to fit the shape and flash it into the wall behind the siding.
Combining Metal and Shingles
A shingled main roof with metal on the porch is a common and attractive combination. The transition between the two materials needs careful flashing so water from the upper roof does not get under the metal. We plan those joints before installing either material.
We also keep the two materials from touching where they should not. Copper flashing or fasteners against aluminum or steel panels can corrode the metal over time, so every flashing and fastener we use is compatible with the panels it meets.
Metal Roofing in Snow and Ice
Snow Shedding and Snow Guards
Scranton averages about 45 inches of snow a year, and metal sheds snow quickly. That keeps weight off the roof, but a sheet of snow sliding off at once can damage gutters, shrubs and anything below. We install snow guards above entrances, walkways, lower roofs and driveways to hold snow until it melts. Where a metal roof drains onto a lower shingled roof, we plan for the extra snow and ice it will receive, so the lower roof is protected too.
Ice Barrier and Underlayment Under Metal
A metal roof still needs proper underlayment. We install a self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves, sized to the overhang, and a high-temperature underlayment rated for use under metal over the rest of the roof. That second line of defense matters where ice can build at the eaves.
Ventilation Under a Metal Roof
Metal does not change the attic’s need for airflow. We pair a vented ridge with soffit intake, so the attic stays dry and condensation does not form under the decking in winter. Good ventilation also helps reduce the ice dams that can still form at the eaves.
Vent pipes, exhaust fans and chimneys need special care on a metal roof. We use boots and curbs made for metal panels and place penetrations where sliding snow will not shear them off, which is a common source of leaks on poorly planned metal roofs.
Is Metal the Right Roof for Your House?
Cost Compared With Architectural Shingles
Standing seam metal costs more to install than architectural shingles. It also lasts considerably longer and needs less maintenance. Whether that trade makes sense depends on how long you plan to stay in the house and whether the roof’s shape suits metal. We price both options on the same written scope so you can compare them side by side rather than relying on general rules.
Historic Districts and Appearance
In Scranton’s historic districts and on designated landmarks, a change in roofing material can need approval from the Historical Architecture Review Board. We check whether your house falls under that review before recommending a material, so you do not choose a roof that cannot be approved.
Outside those districts, appearance is your call. Standing seam suits farmhouses, modern additions and many older homes, and a darker, low-gloss finish can look surprisingly traditional on a steep Victorian roof.
Metal Over a Slate Roof
When a slate roof is still sound, we recommend repairing it rather than replacing it with metal or shingles. When slate has truly failed, standing seam is one of the replacement options that suits the steep pitches and long lifespan of an older house.
- 20+ Years Roofing
- Free Written Estimates
- Repair Before Replace