Mansard Roof Repair
Slate and shingle mansards, with the dormers, gutters and flashing that come with them, repaired on steep faces most roofers avoid.
Learn moreStanding seam, copper and flat-Seam metal roofs in New York, NY
Metal roofs last a long time when the seams, fasteners and expansion details are done right, and fail early when they are not. We install and repair standing seam, copper and flat-seam metal.
- We answer 24/7
- Standing seam and copper
- Dormers and bay tops
Quick answer: Metal roofing in New York, NY covers standing seam panels on pitched roofs, soldered flat-seam copper on low slopes, bay tops and dormers, and copper details on historic buildings. Metal moves with temperature, so panels are fastened with clips that let them expand, and seams are locked or soldered rather than caulked.
What the job involves
Why metal roofs are all about the details
A metal roof is only as good as how it handles movement. A copper or steel panel grows and shrinks noticeably between a winter night and a summer afternoon. Standing seam panels are held by concealed clips that let them slide; flat-seam sheets are small, interlocked and soldered so each piece moves on its own.
When those details are skipped, panels buckle, fasteners back out and seams split. Most metal roof repairs are really repairs to fastening, seams and flashing, not to the metal itself.
Your options
Coated steel, aluminum or copper?
| Option | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Coated steel standing seam | Pitched roofs, porches and dormers on a sensible budget. | Painted finish. Cut edges and scratches need touching up. |
| Aluminum standing seam | Salt-air exposure near the shore. | Resists corrosion, but it is softer and dents more easily. |
| Copper | Historic buildings, bay tops and visible details. | Highest cost and longest life. Soldered seams need skilled hands. |
Cost factors
What a metal roof costs depends on
Metal
Copper costs far more than coated steel or aluminum.
System
Standing seam, soldered flat-seam, or exposed-fastener panels.
Roof shape
Dormers, valleys and curves take more fabrication.
Fabrication
Custom-bent flashings, bay tops and cornice caps.
Underlayment
High-temperature underlayment beneath the metal.
Historic review
Landmarks approval for visible metal in historic districts.
Variations of the job
Metal roofing work we do
Standing seam
Long vertical panels joined by raised, mechanically locked seams and held with concealed clips. Suited to pitched roofs, porches and dormers where a clean, durable finish matters.
Copper
Copper weathers from bright to brown to green and can last generations. It is used for roofs, bay tops, dormers, gutters and flashing, and it is soldered at the seams rather than sealed.
Flat-seam metal
Small sheets with folded edges locked together and soldered, laid on low slopes such as bay window tops and porch roofs. Old flat-seam roofs are repaired by resoldering and patching in matching metal.
Local conditions
Metal the street can see
Rowhouse blocks in historic districts such as Park Slope carry metal where the street can see it: bay window tops, dormer cheeks, cornice caps. Landmarks review works on an in-kind basis for visible historic material, so a copper bay top comes back as copper, seamed and soldered the traditional way, rather than wrapped in painted coil stock that changes how the facade reads.
How it runs
How a metal roof goes on
- 1
Measure and detail
Every edge, valley and penetration drawn before ordering.
- 2
Fabricate
Panels and trim formed to length, flashings bent to fit.
- 3
Underlayment
High-temperature underlayment over a sound deck.
- 4
Install with clips or solder
Panels clipped to float, or sheets locked and soldered.
- 5
Trim, flash, inspect
Ridge, eaves and walls finished, then a seam-by-seam check.
Metal and panel makers used on New York roofs, from copper sheet for soldered work to painted standing seam systems.
Revere CopperEnglertDrexel MetalsFabralATASPetersen PAC-CLAD
Questions we hear
Metal roofing questions
Over solid decking and underlayment, much less than people expect. The reputation comes from metal laid over open framing, like on barns.
Some standing seam systems are designed to go over one existing layer where the code and the maker allow it. A tear-off is still the cleaner choice when the deck needs checking.
The metal costs more, and soldered flat-seam work is skilled and slow. In return, a well-made copper roof or bay top can last generations.
Coated steel is protected by metallic coatings and paint; scratches and cut edges are where rust starts, so they are touched up. Copper and aluminum do not rust.
Usually. Split seams are cleaned and resoldered, and worn sheets are patched with matching copper. A roof with widespread failure is replaced in sections.
Related services
Related roofing work
Sheet Metal Cornice Repair
Rusted and loose pressed-metal cornices resecured, patched or rebuilt in sections, with the roof edge behind them made watertight.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Missing tabs, valley leaks and lifted ridge caps on pitched roofs, matched as closely as the age of the roof allows.
Learn moreThinking about metal?
Call and we will talk through standing seam, copper and flat-seam for your roof.