Metal Roofing in Seguin, TX

Humidity is the quiet part of a Seguin roof

Seguin sits on the Guadalupe River, and plenty of summer nights here are muggy. That matters under a metal roof. Steel panels cool off fast after sunset, and if humid attic air reaches the underside of a cold panel or deck, moisture can condense there. On a house built right, you'll never know it happens. On one built wrong, it shows up as rusty fasteners, stained decking or damp spots in the insulation.

The answer is in the layers. A good synthetic underlayment over solid decking keeps the panel's underside away from attic air. Steady ventilation from the soffits to the ridge carries damp air out before it can settle. And bathroom fans should vent outdoors, not into the attic, where they'd feed moisture straight up to the coldest surface in the house.

Matching the roof to the house

Around downtown, many houses are older, with steep roofs, tall ceilings and deep porches. Standing seam suits those homes and handles steep pitches without trouble. Out where the newer subdivisions have grown, roofs tend to be lower and broader, and many owners prefer stone-coated steel because it looks like the shingle roofs on either side.

• Steep older roof: standing seam with narrow panels.
• Low-slope addition or porch: a panel rated for that pitch.
• Subdivision with deed restrictions: stone-coated shingle or shake profile.
• Shop or detached garage: exposed-fastener panels in a matching color.

If you're unsure which group your house falls in, measure the pitch. A roofer can do it from the attic or the roof in a few minutes, and it rules some panels in or out right away.

Hail, wind and the Gulf

Spring storms carry hail across Guadalupe County, and the remains of Gulf storms sometimes push heavy rain and gusty wind this far inland. A metal roof with a Class 4 impact rating and a published wind uplift rating covers both. The uplift number only holds if the clips or screws are spaced the way the panel was tested, with extra fastening at the eaves, rakes and corners where wind pulls hardest. Before you buy, ask your insurance agent whether an impact-resistant roof earns a discount and whether the policy excludes cosmetic dents on metal. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that those two things often travel together.

Before you sign

Ask whether the city wants a permit for your re-roof; your roofer should know and should pull it. Then make sure the quote names the details that matter:

1. Panel profile and steel gauge.
2. Paint system, such as PVDF or polyester.
3. Underlayment brand and type.
4. Ventilation plan, including ridge vent and soffit intake.
5. Tear-off or recover, and how soft decking will be handled.

Once the roof is on, if the house still won't hold a cool temperature, the problem may be the AC rather than the roof. For attic insulation, windows and the rest of the house, see our Seguin home energy guide.