Metal Roofing in Fort Wayne & Grabill, Indiana
// Metal Roofing
Built For The Long Haul
Metal roofing costs more upfront than asphalt shingles, but it sheds snow, resists wind, and holds up to decades of Northeast Indiana weather with very little maintenance. GNG installs standing seam and panel systems on homes across Fort Wayne and Grabill.
Metal is one of two materials we install. The comparison table below puts it next to asphalt shingle roofing on the things that actually differ. If the existing roof is at the end of its life either way, the job is a roof replacement, and metal is a material choice inside it. See all of our roofing services.
// Why Homeowners Choose Metal
Benefits Of A Metal Roof
// Definition
Standing Seam vs Exposed-Fastener Metal
The seam is the whole argument.
Standing seam metal roofing has no exposed fasteners. The panels lock together at raised vertical seams, so there are no screw holes through the flat of the panel for water to find. Exposed-fastener panel roofing costs less and screws straight through the panel face, with a rubber gasket under each screw head to seal the hole.
That single difference drives most of the others. On a standing seam roof the clips holding the panels sit under the seam and allow the metal to expand and contract with temperature, which in a climate that swings from below zero to the nineties is not a small thing. On an exposed-fastener roof, every screw is both the fastener and the seal, and the gasket is the part that ages. Those roofs are perfectly serviceable, they just need their fasteners checked periodically rather than being left alone for 40 years.
GNG installs both. Which one belongs on your house comes down to slope, the look you want, how long you intend to own the place, and budget.
// Metal vs Shingles
How Metal Roofing Compares To Asphalt Shingles
Neither material is better in every case. Metal lasts longer, sheds snow faster, and needs less attention over its service life, and standing seam has no exposed fasteners to fail. Asphalt shingles cost less up front, repair easily in sections, and match most Northeast Indiana neighborhoods without drawing attention. The honest way to choose is by how long you plan to own the house. Over a 30-year horizon metal usually wins on total cost. Over a 10-year one it usually does not.
| What you are comparing | Metal roofing | Asphalt shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rated service life | Commonly rated 40 to 70 years for standing seam, less for exposed-fastener panel | Commonly rated 25 to 30 years for architectural, less for 3-tab |
| Upfront cost | Higher, and standing seam costs more than panel | Lower, which is why most homes have them |
| Snow and ice | Sheds fast, which helps with ice dams but can dump a load off the eave | Holds snow longer, so eave detailing matters more |
| Wind | Continuous panels with concealed clips, no individual tabs to lift | Rated by the shingle line; sealed tabs can break loose in a strong gust |
| Noise in rain | Over solid decking and underlayment, close to a shingle roof; loud only over open purlins | Quiet |
| Maintenance | Minimal for standing seam; exposed-fastener roofs need gasket and screw checks | Minimal, with occasional shingle and boot replacement |
| Repairs | Panel runs full slope, so a damaged panel is a bigger job to swap | Easy to repair in sections and easy to match while the line is still made |
| Fire behavior | Non-combustible material | Fire rated by assembly, commonly Class A |
| Best fit | A roof you intend to install once and keep, or a low-slope or complex-shedding roof | Most homes, most budgets, and any roof where matching the neighborhood matters |
// Straight Answers
Metal Roofing Questions, Answered
// Who Installs It
Metal Rewards A Crew That Takes Its Time
A metal roof is only as good as its layout. Panels have to be set square to the eave, seams have to land where they were planned, and every penetration has to be flashed rather than caulked, because a metal roof that was rushed shows it for the next 40 years. That is the argument for hiring a crew that does its own work instead of one that hands the job off.
GNG Roofing & Construction is an Amish-owned family business in Grabill. The people who quote the roof are the people who install it, nothing is subcontracted out, and the work carries a 10-year craftsmanship warranty on top of the manufacturer's coverage on the panels. We have been building and roofing in Northeast Indiana for more than 34 years, and Google reviewers rate us 4.9 out of 5 across 30 reviews. We install metal roofing across the towns we serve, including Fort Wayne. Read about the family behind GNG.
// Metal Roofing Work
Metal Roofs We've Installed
// FAQ
Metal Roofing Questions
How long does a metal roof last compared to shingles? ▾
Metal roofing generally outlasts asphalt shingles by a wide margin and holds up well against Indiana's freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snow.
Is metal roofing noisy in the rain? ▾
With proper solid decking and underlayment, a metal roof isn't noticeably louder than a shingle roof.
Can you install metal roofing over an existing roof? ▾
It depends on the current roof's condition and local code. We'll check during your inspection and tell you what's actually allowed and advisable.
What is the difference between standing seam and exposed-fastener metal roofing? ▾
Standing seam has no exposed fasteners. The panels lock together at raised vertical seams and are held by concealed clips, so there are no screw holes through the flat of the panel for water to find. Exposed-fastener panel roofing costs less and screws straight through the panel face, with a rubber gasket under each screw head. Those gaskets are the part that ages, which is why exposed-fastener roofs need periodic fastener checks.