Metal roofs have a reputation for lasting forever, so a leak can catch you off guard. Maybe water is dripping in your garage or shop after a storm, rust streaks are running down from the screws, or hail left dents and you can’t tell whether they matter. You need metal roof repair in Kansas City, MO from someone who knows how these roofs actually fail.
The good news is that most metal roof problems are local and fixable. A leaking metal roof usually doesn’t need replacing. It needs someone to find the real source instead of smearing sealant over every seam.
APC Roofing repairs and installs metal roofs, from exposed-fastener panels and standing seam to metal shingles and stone-coated steel. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, in business since 2017, and your inspection is free. Call 913-398-5020.
Where metal roofs leak
Fasteners. On corrugated and ribbed roofs, every screw has a rubber washer. Sun and temperature swings dry those washers out and crack them, and screws work loose as the panels expand and contract. This is the most common metal roof leak by far.
Flashing and trim. Where the roof meets a wall, a chimney or a pipe, the flashing is often the weak point. Sealant that was supposed to hold it shrinks and cracks within a few seasons.
Laps and seams. Side and end laps on panel roofs can open up when the sealant fails or the panels shift. On standing seam roofs, seams can get bent open by wind, ice or someone walking on them.
Rust. Scratches, cut edges and spots where leaves sit wet are where rust starts. Surface rust can be treated. Rust that has eaten through a panel means that panel gets replaced.
Ridge and eave closures. Foam closures under ridge caps and at the eaves keep wind-driven rain out. When they crumble or go missing, a hard storm can blow water in.
Metal roof repair in Kansas City, MO weather
Hail. After a storm here, this is the question we hear most. Hail dents in metal can be cosmetic or functional. A cosmetic dent changes the look but not the roof’s ability to keep water out. A functional one damages the coating, cracks a seam or loosens a fastener. Some insurance policies treat the two differently, so it’s worth knowing what yours says.
If hail damaged your roof, you file the claim with your insurer and pay your deductible. We document what we find with photos, write the estimate and work with your adjuster. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible. Our hail damage roof repair in Kansas City page has more.
Freeze-thaw and ice. Water that gets under a loose fastener or an open lap freezes and expands, and the gap grows a little each winter. Ice at the eaves can back water up under the bottom of the panels.
Big temperature swings. Metal moves with the temperature. Years of hot summers and cold winters are what loosen screws and stress flashing.
Common metal roof repairs
Most repairs fall into a handful of jobs:
- Re-screwing: replacing worn screws and washers across the roof, with slightly larger screws so each one bites fresh material
- Flashing repair: reworking wall, chimney and pipe flashing so it sheds water on its own, without leaning on sealant
- Panel replacement: swapping panels that are rusted through, torn or badly dented
- Seam and lap repair: resealing laps, closing up standing seams and replacing bent trim
- Closures and ridge caps: replacing worn foam closures and refastening loose caps
Matching is part of the job. If your panel profile and color are still made, replacements can match closely. Older or discontinued panels may need the closest available match.
Repair or replace?
Repairs make sense when the problems are limited to fasteners, flashing or a few panels. Replacement starts to make sense when rust has gone through panels across the roof, the coating is failing everywhere, or the roof needs repair after repair every year. You’ll get photos and a straight explanation either way. If a new roof is the better call, see metal roof installation in Kansas City.
A word about walking on a metal roof
Metal roofs are slippery, especially when wet or dusty, and a step in the wrong spot can dent a panel or bend a seam. If you want to check something, look from a ladder or from the ground with binoculars, and leave the walking to a roofer.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request an estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of what we found and get a written estimate. If a re-screw and some flashing work will fix it, that’s the recommendation. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets repaired and the site gets cleaned up.
A metal roof leaking at a few screws is a small repair. Left alone, the water rots wood decking or rusts the purlins underneath, and the repair gets bigger.
Metal roof repair questions
Can you fix a leaking metal roof without replacing it?
Most of the time, yes. Fasteners, flashing and laps cause most leaks, and all of those can be repaired.
Are hail dents on a metal roof a problem?
Sometimes. Dents that only change the look are cosmetic. Dents that crack the coating, open seams or loosen screws can let water in and should be repaired.
Do you repair steel roofs on shops and barns?
Yes. We repair metal roofs on homes, garages, shops and outbuildings around Kansas City. Our corrugated metal roofing page covers panel roofs in more detail.
How long does a metal roof repair take?
Small repairs are usually quick. A full re-screw or several replaced panels takes longer, and you’ll get a timeline with your estimate.
Get your metal roof checked
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online.
You’ll know exactly why it’s leaking and what it takes to stop it, and your metal roof can get back to keeping the weather out for years to come.
