Your shingle roof has been patched after one too many hailstorms, and you’re tired of wondering what the next spring will bring. A neighbor put on a metal roof, and now you’re curious. Steel roofing in Kansas City can be a great fit, but between panel styles, coatings, thicknesses and stone-coated options, it’s hard to know what you’re actually comparing.

You don’t need to become a metal expert to make a good choice. You need someone to lay out the real differences, including the trade-offs, and help you match a steel roof to your house and budget.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, with an office in Shawnee. We install and repair steel and other metal roofs across the Kansas City metro. Your inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020.
Why steel is the common metal roof in Kansas City
Most residential metal roofs in the metro are steel. Aluminum is popular in coastal areas because it doesn’t rust in salt air, but inland, steel’s strength and cost usually win out. Steel is stiffer and stronger than aluminum, which helps with hail and with snow loads on a Kansas City winter roof.
The catch is rust. Bare steel rusts, so roofing steel is coated at the factory, first with a metallic layer and then with paint. How good those coatings are has a lot to do with how a steel roof ages.
What protects a steel roof
The metallic coating
Roofing steel is coated with zinc (galvanized) or a zinc-aluminum blend often sold as Galvalume. This layer protects the steel underneath from rust, even where the surface gets scratched. Ask which one a quote includes.
The paint finish
Over the metallic layer goes a factory paint finish. Higher-grade finishes hold their color longer and resist chalking and fading in strong sun. Kansas City summers are hot and bright, so a better finish keeps the roof looking right longer.
The thickness
Steel roofing is sold by gauge, and a lower gauge number means thicker steel. Thicker panels cost more but resist hail dents better. In a hail-prone area like Kansas City, this is one of the most important things to compare between quotes. Two roofs can look the same on the house and be very different in a hailstorm.
Steel roofing styles
Standing seam
Panels lock together at raised seams, and the fasteners are hidden underneath. It’s the cleanest look and needs the least fastener upkeep, which is why it’s the most common choice for a full home roof. See our standing seam metal roofing in Kansas City page.
Exposed-fastener panels
Ribbed and corrugated panels screw through the face into the framing. They cost less and go up faster, and they’re common on shops, barns, porches and some homes. The screws need checking over the years as the rubber washers wear. More on our corrugated metal roofing in Kansas City page.
Stone-coated steel
Stone-coated steel panels are pressed to look like shingles, shakes or tile, then coated with stone granules. You get the look of a traditional roof from the street with steel underneath. The granule surface also hides small dents better than smooth painted metal, which some Kansas City homeowners like after a few hail seasons.
Steel roofing in Kansas City: hail, wind, snow and heat
Hail. Spring hail is the main reason people here look at steel. Steel resists punctures far better than shingles, though large hail can still dent it. Many steel roofing products carry an impact rating, and thicker or textured panels hold up best. Dents are often cosmetic, but ask how your insurance policy treats cosmetic damage on a metal roof before you buy.
Wind. Strong straight-line winds test edges, corners and trim. A steel roof’s wind resistance comes down to the fastening pattern and the condition of the deck underneath.
Snow and ice. Snow slides off steel in sheets. Snow guards above doors and walkways keep it from landing on anyone, and gutters below need to handle the load.
Heat. Lighter colors and reflective finishes keep a steel roof cooler in summer, which can ease the load on your air conditioner.
Common worries about steel roofs
Noise. Over solid decking with underlayment and attic insulation, a steel roof on a house is rarely much louder than shingles in the rain. The loud metal roofs people remember are usually on barns with open framing.
Lightning. A metal roof doesn’t attract lightning, and it won’t burn if lightning does strike nearby.
Going over shingles. Some steel roofs can go over one layer of existing shingles. Whether yours can depends on the deck and how many layers are already there. We’ll tell you honestly.
Steel roof repair or replacement
If you already have a steel roof that’s leaking, it may not need replacing. Worn screws, failed flashing and loose trim are common and fixable. Our metal roof repair in Kansas City page covers that. If you’re ready for a new roof, see metal roof installation in Kansas City.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We look at your current roof and deck, walk you through the steel options that fit and give you a written estimate.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. The crew installs your new roof and cleans up before leaving.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Steel roofing questions
Is steel or aluminum better for a Kansas City home?
For most homes here, steel. It’s stronger and usually costs less. Aluminum’s main advantage, resisting salt-air corrosion, matters far more on the coast.
Does a steel roof hold up to hail?
Better than most shingle roofs. Large hail can dent steel, but it rarely punctures it. Thicker and textured panels resist dents best.
What is stone-coated steel?
Steel panels shaped like shingles, shake or tile and covered in stone granules. It looks like a traditional roof and wears like metal.
What about storm damage and insurance?
You file your own claim and pay your own deductible. We document the damage with photos, provide a written estimate and work with your adjuster.
Choose a steel roof you won’t second-guess
Picking the wrong panel or finish usually doesn’t show up right away. It shows up after a hailstorm or a few hot summers.
Get the options laid out plainly, and you can choose a steel roof that suits your home and your budget. Then the next spring storm is just weather. Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection.
























