Metal Roofing in Live Oak, TX

Four ways to put steel on a house

Live Oak sits about 17 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, where I-35 crosses Loop 1604, and it has been its own city since the early 1960s. That means a mix of houses: single-story ranches from the early decades and larger two-story homes from later on. Most metal roofing sold for homes around here falls into four groups.

• Standing seam. Smooth panels joined at raised seams, fastened with clips hidden under the seam. Clean modern lines, almost no upkeep, and usually the highest price of the four. Shows dents more on flat, dark colors.
• Exposed-fastener ribbed panels. The barn and shop look, screwed through the face. The lowest price, quick to install, but the screws and washers need checking every few years.
• Stone-coated steel. Steel pressed into shingle, shake or tile shapes and coated with granules. From the curb it reads like a regular roof, and the texture hides small dings well. Priced between the two above.
• Metal shingles. Smaller interlocking steel or aluminum pieces stamped to look like slate, shake or shingles, without the granule coat. Light, and a good fit for complicated rooflines where big panels waste material.

Which one we'd put on which house

On a single-story ranch with long, simple slopes, standing seam goes on fast and looks sharp, and it handles the lower pitches some older ranches have. If the budget won't stretch, stone-coated steel is the next pick for the main house. On a two-story home with several hips and gables, stone-coated steel or metal shingles usually fit better, since they wrap the corners with less trim and keep the look the neighbors expect. Save exposed-fastener panels for the patio cover, carport or storage building, where a screw check now and then is no big deal.

Whatever you choose, ask whether that exact product carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating. Spring hail is a regular risk across Bexar County, and some insurers price that rating into the premium. Ask your agent before you sign, since the paperwork they want is easier to collect on install day than years later.

What a new roof won't fix

Owners close to the highways sometimes hope a metal roof will cut traffic noise. It won't do much. Road noise mostly comes in through windows, doors and thin walls, so better glass and good weatherstripping do more than any roof. Rain on a properly installed metal roof, over decking and an insulated attic, isn't noticeably louder than rain on shingles either.

Heat is another story. A reflective roof keeps the attic cooler, and CPS Energy, which supplies electricity in Live Oak, bills for every hour the AC runs. If the house still won't cool down once the roof and attic are handled, the system itself may need repair.

Neighbors over by Randolph can read our Universal City metal roofing page. For windows, insulation and the rest of the house, see our Live Oak home energy guide.