Services · Metal roof repair
Metal roof repair
Metal roofs rarely fail across the field. They fail at the details: a chimney flashing that was caulked instead of counter-flashed, screws on a 20-year-old barn roof that have backed out, a pipe boot cracked by UV, sealant that gave up at a seam end, or a panel lifted by wind. We repair metal roofs of every age and make, including roofs we did not install, and we tell you plainly when a roof is at the point where repairs stop making sense.
- Any make or age, including roofs we did not install
- Photos and the cause named
- Fastener services for exposed-fastener roofs
- Straight advice on repair or replace
The work
What usually goes wrong
On exposed-fastener roofs, the screws. Gaskets harden, screws back out as the panel expands and contracts, and each one becomes a drip. The fix is a walk-over: re-drive what is loose, replace what is stripped with the next size up, and reseal laps. On standing seam, leaks almost always trace to a flashing or a penetration added later, such as a satellite dish, a solar mount or a vent cut in by someone else.
Rust shows up at cut edges and scratches first, especially near the coast and where a steel screw was used on aluminum. Early surface rust can be cleaned and coated. Rust through a panel means that panel gets replaced. Storm damage is usually lifted ridge caps and gable trim, which we refasten and replace as needed.
What our quote includes
- A roof walk and photos of what we find
- The cause named, not just the symptom
- Repair priced per item, with the option of a broader fastener or sealant service
- Matching panels, trims and fasteners where they are still made
- A note on remaining life, so you can plan
- Sealants and tapes rated for metal and UV, not roofing cement
Worth knowing
When to repair and when to replace
An exposed-fastener roof with sound panels and tired screws is a repair, and a fastener service every eight to ten years keeps it going. A standing seam roof with one bad flashing is a repair. A 29 gauge barn roof with rust through at every lap, or a roof where the paint has chalked to bare metal across the sun side, is a replacement, and we will say so rather than sell you a patch.
Questions
Metal roof repair questions
Can you repair a metal roof you did not install?
Yes. Most of our repair work is on roofs installed by others or by previous owners. We identify the profile and source matching panels, trims and fasteners where they are still made, and tell you when they are not.
Can a rusty metal roof be saved?
Surface rust at cut edges and scratches can be cleaned, primed and coated, and the roof will go on for years. Rust through a panel, or paint chalked to bare metal across whole slopes, means replacement. We tell you which you have, with photos.
What do you use to seal a metal roof?
Butyl tape and sealants and tapes rated for metal and UV, applied at seams, laps and flashings as the manufacturer specifies. Never roofing cement or hardware-store silicone, which fail quickly on metal and make the proper repair harder.
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Read →Need metal roof repair?
We reply within one business day and measure in person before quoting.