Built to shed Northwoods snow
Metal Roofing in Wisconsin
Roof Masters installs standing-seam and exposed-fastener metal roofing across northern Wisconsin — Tomahawk, Minocqua, Rhinelander, Merrill, Eagle River, and the lake country in between. Insured, certified, and detailed for roofs that spend five months under snow.
Why metal roofing wins in northern Wisconsin
Metal costs more the day you write the check. Up here it usually costs less over the life of the building — and it solves the specific problems Northwoods roofs actually have: snow load, ice dams, and relentless freeze-thaw.
It sheds snow instead of holding it
A smooth metal panel lets a snow load slide before it can sit, melt, refreeze at the eave, and start an ice dam. On the north-facing slopes that hold snow into April up here, that difference is the whole ballgame.
Freeze-thaw doesn't chew it up
Northern Wisconsin runs through dozens of freeze-thaw cycles a winter. Asphalt absorbs that abuse and loses granules; steel doesn't care. That's why the 30-year asphalt roof in Oneida County often behaves like a 20-year roof.
It outlasts two asphalt roofs
A properly installed standing-seam roof will realistically go 50 years or more. Even at two to three times the upfront price of asphalt, the cost per year of service is usually lower — which is why it pencils out on a home you're keeping.
Wind and fire ratings
Most of the systems we install carry 110–140 mph wind ratings and a Class A fire rating. On exposed lake lots taking wind straight off open water, that matters more than it does in town.
Nothing for algae to grow on
The black streaking that shows up on shaded asphalt roofs under Northwoods pines is algae feeding on limestone filler. There's nothing on a coated steel panel for it to eat.
It's recyclable at end of life
Steel panels are recyclable rather than landfilled. A tear-off of 30-year-old asphalt is a dumpster of petroleum product; a tear-off of steel is scrap value.
Metal roofing types and cost per square foot
Installed ranges we see on real projects around Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade, and Marathon counties. Your written estimate is always based on measurements of your actual roof, never a phone guess.
Standing seam metal roofing
$11.00 – $18.00 per sq. ft. installed
Concealed clips and fasteners, no exposed screws, no gaskets to dry out. Panels float so they can expand and contract through a Wisconsin temperature swing without wallowing out their own holes. This is what belongs on a home or a lake property you plan to keep.
- Homes and year-round residences
- Steep cabin and lake home pitches
- 50+ year service life
- Best snow shedding of anything we install
Exposed-fastener (ag panel) metal roofing
$7.00 – $11.00 per sq. ft. installed
Screws through the face of the panel with neoprene washers. Faster and cheaper to install, and perfectly appropriate on buildings where a screw replacement pass in twenty years isn't a problem.
- Pole sheds and shops
- Detached garages
- Barns and outbuildings
- Budget-driven replacements
Metal shingles and stone-coated steel
$12.00 – $19.00 per sq. ft. installed
The metal lifespan with a profile closer to a traditional shingle or shake look. A fit for homes in neighborhoods or associations where a full standing-seam look is too modern.
- Traditional-look homes
- Association-restricted properties
- Class 4 impact resistance
Metal is only as good as its detailing
A metal roof installed carelessly is a fifty-year roof with a five-year leak. Panels have to move with temperature, valleys have to be cut and sealed correctly, and every penetration needs the right boot. Here is what is in every metal install we do:
- High-temp synthetic underlayment under every panel — standard felt cooks under steel
- Full ice-and-water shield at eaves, well past the warm wall line, and up every valley
- Custom-bent valley, ridge, rake, and wall flashing formed to your roof, not stock trim forced to fit
- Panels detailed to move — clip spacing and fastening that allows thermal expansion
- Snow retention where a slide would land on an entry, a walkway, a deck, or a propane tank
- Boots and curbs rated for metal at every pipe, vent, and chimney penetration
- Balanced intake and ridge ventilation corrected as part of the job, not sold as an add-on
- Complete tear-off to the deck — we don't lay metal over old shingles
Metal vs. asphalt: which one belongs on your roof?
Not every building should get metal. If you are selling in three years, a quality architectural asphalt system is the smarter money. If it is the family lake place that gets handed down, metal is almost always the right call. We price both, side by side, on the same estimate — then you decide.
Metal roofing questions, answered
How much does a metal roof cost in Wisconsin?
Standing seam typically runs $11 to $18 per square foot installed, which puts a typical 1,600 to 2,200 square foot Northwoods roof somewhere around $20,000 to $38,000. Exposed-fastener panel on a garage or pole building runs $7 to $11 per square foot. Pitch, access, valleys, and how much custom flashing your roofline needs move the number more than square footage alone.
How long does a metal roof last in northern Wisconsin?
A properly detailed standing-seam roof will realistically last 50 years or more here, versus 18 to 25 years for asphalt in the same freeze-thaw conditions. Exposed-fastener panel goes 30 to 40 years, with a screw replacement pass somewhere around year 20 when the neoprene washers age out.
Is a metal roof loud when it rains?
No — not the way we install it. The noise reputation comes from bare panels screwed to open purlins on a barn. Over a solid deck with underlayment and attic insulation below it, a metal roof is not noticeably louder than asphalt.
Can you install metal over my existing shingles?
We don't. Going over old shingles traps moisture against the deck, hides rot you'll never find until it's structural, and makes the sheathing impossible to inspect or repair. We tear off to the deck every time.
Does a metal roof prevent ice dams?
It dramatically reduces them, but it isn't a magic fix on its own. Ice dams start with heat escaping into the attic. Metal helps because snow slides off before it can melt and refreeze — but we still correct ventilation and insulation and run full ice-and-water shield at the eaves so the cause is handled, not just the symptom.
Will a metal roof lower my insurance?
Often yes. Many carriers discount for Class A fire ratings and Class 4 impact-resistant metal systems. It's worth a call to your agent before you decide between metal and asphalt — the discount can shift the math.
Does metal roofing attract lightning?
No. Metal doesn't attract lightning, and because it's non-combustible and conductive it actually disperses a strike more safely than a shingle roof would.
What colors does metal roofing come in?
Standard color lines run from the classic Northwoods darks — charcoal, matte black, forest green, burgundy, and barn red — through bronzes, tans, and clay tones, plus copper and weathered-steel looks. We can match roof, trim, and outbuildings so the whole property reads as one.
Can you put a metal roof on a cabin I'm not at?
Constantly. A large share of our metal work is seasonal cabins and lake homes around Minocqua, Eagle River, Three Lakes, and Lake Tomahawk. We photograph every stage and send documentation so out-of-town owners never have to make the drive.
Do you install metal roofing in winter?
Metal can be installed in colder conditions than asphalt, which needs heat to seal its adhesive strip. There are still limits — we'll tell you honestly whether your project should go on now or get scheduled for spring. Call 715-453-4800 and we'll look at it.
Metal roofing contractors serving your town
- Metal roofing in Tomahawk, WI
- Metal roofing in Minocqua, WI
- Metal roofing in Eagle River, WI
- Metal roofing in Rhinelander, WI
- Metal roofing in Merrill, WI
- Metal roofing in Wausau, WI
- Metal roofing in Woodruff, WI
- Metal roofing in Three Lakes, WI
- Metal roofing in Antigo, WI
- Metal roofing in Hazelhurst, WI
- Metal roofing in Lake Tomahawk, WI
- Metal roofing in Harshaw, WI
Want a real number on a metal roof for your place? Call 715-453-4800 and we’ll measure it, photograph it, and price metal and asphalt side by side — free, itemized, no games.