Valley RoofersVetted local roofers Get quotes

Roof types · Standing seam metal roofing

Standing seam metal roofs

Standing seam is the premium metal roof: long vertical panels run from ridge to eave, joined by raised seams that hide the fasteners. No screws through the panel means no washers to age and no holes to leak, and the panels can be roll-formed on site to the exact length of each slope. It's what most people picture when they think of a modern metal roof, and it's the one that costs the most.

Installed
$13 to $22 per sq ft (steel)
Lifespan here
About 50 years or more
Upkeep
Very low
Upkeep cost
Rinse debris from valleys; check sealants at penetrations every few years

Common brands and products: Vicwest, Westform, Agway, Fraser Valley Metal Rolling, Cascadia Metals, Metal Sales

Get quotes for a standing seam roof

One request, up to 3 local roofers.

We're a matching service, not a roofing company. Your agreement is directly with the roofer you hire.

Pros

What it does well

  • No exposed fasteners on the roof surface
  • Panels formed to length, so few or no horizontal seams
  • Longest life of any common roof here
  • Clean, modern look in a wide range of colours
  • Snow retention and solar clamps attach to the seams without holes

Cons

What to weigh up

  • The most expensive metal option, especially on cut-up roofs
  • Needs an experienced installer; details at hips, valleys and walls are where cheap jobs fail
  • Oil-canning (a slight wavy look) on wide flat panels in some light
  • Harder to repair a single panel than a shingle
Best for: Simple to moderately complex roofs with long slopes, modern and West Coast contemporary homes, owners who want one roof for the rest of their time in the house.

In our climate

Snap-lock, mechanical seam and gauge

Two seam types are quoted here. Snap-lock panels click together over concealed clips and suit most house roofs with a slope of 3:12 or more. Mechanically seamed panels are crimped closed with a tool, cost more, and are used on low slopes (down to about 2:12 over a continuous self-adhered membrane) and in high-wind locations. Ask which one you're getting and why.

Gauge matters too. 24 gauge steel is the usual recommendation for residential standing seam; 26 gauge is thinner and more prone to oil-canning; 29 gauge belongs on sheds. For the finish, PVDF (Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000) resists fading and chalking far longer than SMP coatings. Both panel suppliers and the roofer should be able to show you the finish warranty in writing.

Rough budget

2,000 sq ft of standing seam

Installed, typical range
$26,000 to $44,000
Per square foot
$13 to $22 per sq ft (steel)
Same roof in asphalt shingles
$11,000 to $19,000

Before tear-off extras, plywood repairs, permits and GST. Steep or cut-up roofs cost more.

Price your own roof →

Questions

Standing seam metal roofing questions

Snap-lock or mechanical seam?

Snap-lock panels click over concealed clips and suit most house roofs with a slope of 3:12 or steeper. Mechanically seamed panels are crimped closed, cost more and are used on low slopes (down to about 2:12 over a continuous membrane) and in high-wind locations.

What gauge should a standing seam roof be?

24 gauge steel is the usual residential recommendation. 26 gauge is thinner and more prone to oil-canning; 29 gauge is for sheds and barns.

Why do some metal roofs look wavy?

That's oil-canning, a slight waviness in flat areas of the panel, visible in some light. It's cosmetic. Thicker gauge, narrower panels and striations or ribs in the panel reduce it.

Compare

Other roof types

Asphalt shingles$5.50 to $9.50 per sq ft · About 20 to 30 yearsCedar shakes and shingles$12 to $22 per sq ft · About 20 to 30 years hereFlat and low-slope roofing$7 to $16 per sq ft · About 15 to 30 years depending on the membraneTile, slate and synthetic$12 to $22 per sq ft (synthetic) · About 50 years for synthetic and concrete tile, longer for slate

Guides

Metal roof cost in BC (2026): standing seam, metal shingles and panelsMetal roof prices in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley: $13 to $22 per sq ft for standing seam steel, $12 to $22 for metal shingles, $8 to $14 for panels.Snow guards and ice dams in the Lower Mainland: what metal roofs and north-facing eaves needWhy metal roofs shed snow all at once, where snow guards go, what causes ice dams on BC eaves, and why roofers install eave membrane the code doesn't require.Roofing and solar in BC: do the roof first, solar-ready details and panels on metalWhy an older roof should be replaced before solar goes on, what solar-ready means, how panels mount on shingles and standing seam, and where permits apply.

Related services

Roof replacementTear off the old roof and install a new one in shingles, metal, cedar, flat membrane or tile, with new underlayment, flashing and vents.Attic ventilation and ventsRidge vents, roof vents, soffit intake and baffles, sized to the attic so the roof deck stays dry and the shingles last.Commercial and strata roofingFlat and low-slope roofs on strata, apartment, retail, warehouse and agricultural buildings: torch-on, TPO, EPDM, metal and coatings.

Get standing seam roofing quotes

Free to use. Up to 3 vetted local roofers. No obligation.

Start my request