Maybe you’re on your third shingle roof and wondering if steel would finally end the cycle of hail claims and replacements. Or you already have a metal roof, on the house or the shop out back, and it’s started to drip at a screw line or a seam. Metal roofing in Kansas City can be a great fit for this climate, but only if the type of metal matches the building and the details are done right.
The trouble is that “metal roof” covers a lot of very different products, and the sales pitches don’t always help you sort them out.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed and insured. We install and repair standing-seam, exposed-fastener, metal shingle and stone-coated steel roofs on homes and outbuildings, and the inspection is free.
The main types of metal roofing in Kansas City
Each type has a different look, price point and maintenance story.
Standing seam. Long panels run from ridge to eave, with raised seams that lock together over hidden clips. No screws go through the face of the panel, so there are no exposed washers to wear out. It’s a common choice for homes that want a clean, modern look. See our standing seam metal roofing page.
Exposed-fastener panels. Ribbed or corrugated steel panels screwed straight through to the framing. They’re common on shops, barns, garages and some homes. They cost less up front, but the rubber washers on those screws age in the sun and eventually need attention. More on corrugated metal roofing.
Metal shingles and stone-coated steel. Stamped steel made to look like shingles, shake or tile. Stone-coated products have a granule surface bonded to the steel, which gives a more traditional look and helps hide small dents.
If you’re mostly comparing steel products, our steel roofing in Kansas City page goes deeper.
How metal handles Kansas City weather
Hail. Metal doesn’t crack or lose granules the way asphalt shingles do, and a well-installed metal roof keeps water out after most hailstorms. Large hail can still dent it. Thicker panels and stone-coated surfaces resist denting better, and impact-rated products are worth asking about. Check how your insurance policy treats cosmetic dents on a metal roof before you buy, since some policies handle them differently.
Snow and ice. Snow slides off metal more readily than shingles, which helps with ice dams but can dump a load onto a walkway, deck or the gutters below. Snow guards over entries are worth considering.
Temperature swings. Steel expands in the summer sun and shrinks on a January night. Good systems allow for that movement with clips or slotted fasteners. When they don’t, panels can buckle or screws can work loose.
Wind. Metal panels hold up well in wind when the edges, ridge and trim are fastened to spec. Most wind problems on metal roofs start at a loose piece of trim.
Common metal roof repairs
Most metal roof leaks come from a handful of spots.
- Screws with cracked or flattened washers on exposed-fastener roofs, or screws that were overdriven or driven at an angle
- Flashing around chimneys, vents and walls, especially where the original installer relied on sealant
- Seams or end laps that have opened from movement or were never sealed right
- Rust at cut edges, scratches and spots where the wrong metals touch
Many of these can be repaired without replacing the roof. Our metal roof repair page covers repairs in more detail.
Repair or replace your metal roof?
A metal roof that’s still solid, with leaks limited to fasteners or flashing, is usually a repair job. Replacing the screws on an exposed-fastener roof can add a lot of life to the panels.
Replacement starts to make sense when rust has eaten through panels in multiple places, hail has caused widespread damage that’s letting water in, or a roof keeps leaking at the panels themselves. If you’re switching from shingles to metal, our metal roof installation page walks through that project step by step.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. We’ll look at the panels, fasteners, seams, trim and flashing, and check the attic or underside for signs of water.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll get photos and a written estimate, with repair and replacement options laid out side by side. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The crew handles the work and clears out the metal scraps and screws before they leave.
A loose screw on a metal roof doesn’t look like much. Over a few seasons it can let enough water through to stain the ceiling and rot the wood it’s screwed into.
Metal roofing questions
Is a metal roof loud in a Kansas City hailstorm?
Over a solid roof deck with underlayment and an insulated attic, most homeowners find it’s not much louder than shingles. Metal over open framing, like a barn or shop, is louder.
Can a metal roof go over my existing shingles?
No. We always tear the old roof off down to the deck first, so the deck can be checked and repaired before the new metal goes on.
Do you work on metal shop and barn roofs?
Yes. We repair and replace metal roofs on outbuildings as well as homes.
Does a metal roof help with summer heat?
Light-colored and reflective metal finishes reflect more sunlight, which can keep the attic cooler. How much that helps varies from house to house.
Talk to a metal roofer in Kansas City
Call 913-398-5020 or request your free estimate online to book your free inspection.
Get it right and your metal roof becomes the part of the house you stop worrying about when the next spring storm rolls in.
