Premium Metal Roofing for Homeowners Across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities

Standing Seam vs. Metal Shingle: Which Is Best for You?

If you’re replacing your roof, asphalt shingles aren’t your only option. Some Twin Cities homeowners consider metal roofing because they prefer its distinctive look or longevity.

Midwest Construction & Remodeling offers full roof replacement throughout the Twin Cities Metro and can install standing seam metal roofing along with other roofing options when they make sense for the home.

Here’s how the two compare, and how metal stacks up against asphalt in Minnesota.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

Standing seam is the metal roofing style most homeowners picture when they imagine a residential metal roof. Instead of individual shingles, the roof is covered with long metal panels joined by raised vertical seams.

What sets standing seam apart is what's underneath that look. It uses concealed fasteners; in other words, the panels clip to the deck and lock together at the seam, so nothing punches through the metal surface. 

That matters in Minnesota for two reasons. It removes the small holes where water tends to find its way in over time, and it lets the metal expand and contract through hard freeze-thaw swings without working the fasteners loose. That combination is why standing seam is usually the pick when long-term, low-maintenance performance is the priority.

Metal Shingles

Metal shingles give you the durability of a metal roof without the modern panel look. They’re formed into smaller pieces that mimic traditional asphalt shingles or wood shake, so the roof reads as more conventional from the street while still being metal underneath.

For a lot of Twin Cities homes—especially more traditional styles—that familiar profile sits more naturally than long vertical panels. 

Metal shingles still outlast asphalt by decades and shed snow and ice like any other metal roof. They differ from standing seam in fastening details and look, so the choice between the two usually comes down to appearance and budget rather than one being flatly better than the other.

How Metal Roofing Handles Minnesota Weather

Most questions we hear about metal roofing in the Twin Cities are about how it performs through our winters and storms, not how it looks. 

Snow and Ice

Metal sheds snow and ice more easily than asphalt, reducing the weight your roof carries all winter. However, snow can still come off in large sheets, so we recommend adding snow guards above entries and walkways. Metal can also reduce ice dams, but it isn’t a cure. Ice dams trace back to attic insulation and ventilation, so a roof over a poorly sealed attic can still form them. 

Hail

Metal won’t lose granules or crack like asphalt, but it can dent, and aluminum dents more easily than steel. On a steel roof, dents are usually cosmetic rather than a leak risk. 

Noise

A common worry is that metal will be loud in rain or hail. Installed over solid decking, it isn’t meaningfully louder than asphalt. The drumming people imagine comes from metal over the open framing of a barn or shed. 

Lightning and Rust

Metal doesn’t attract lightning, and a quality steel roof with a modern coating resists the rust that older bare-metal roofs were known for. 

Roof Complexity

Twin Cities homes with valleys and dormers make metal harder to install because installers must cut and fit standing-seam panels around every transition. That’s one reason why two quotes on similar-sized homes can differ widely. 

Finishes

Metal roofing comes with factory-applied finishes that do more than set the color. A quality coating protects the metal and helps it withstand years of sun and weather without fading or chalking like a cheaper finish. Premium systems use high-quality coatings, such as PVDF, which help metal roofs look beautiful decades later.

Can Metal Roofing Be Used for an Insurance Replacement?

Midwest works with homeowners on both insurance-related and out-of-pocket roof replacement projects. 

The two routes are handled differently, so the first step is understanding the condition of your existing roof and what the replacement project involves.

If storm damage is what prompted you to consider a new roof, visit our roof insurance claims page for more information about that process.

Metal Roofing Across the Twin Cities Metro

Midwest Construction & Remodeling serves homeowners throughout the Twin Cities Metro, primarily within about 35 miles of its Plymouth location. Key communities include Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie.

Visit our service areas page or contact us to confirm whether your home is within range.