A metal roof is one of the bigger decisions a Texas homeowner can make about a house. It costs more than shingles up front, it changes how the house looks, and it behaves differently in the heat and in a hailstorm. Done right, it can be an excellent roof. Chosen for the wrong reasons, it can be an expensive disappointment. This page is our attempt to give you the honest version, without the sales pitch you sometimes get from companies that only sell one kind of roof.
Viva Roofing is a family-owned roofing company with its office in Frisco, working across Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio since 2021. We install both metal and asphalt shingle roofs, which means we have no reason to push you toward either one. When metal is the better fit for your house and your plans, we will say so. When a good architectural or impact-resistant shingle gets you most of the way for a lot less money, we will say that too.
Like every roof we quote, a metal roof starts with a free inspection. We look at the current roof, the decking and the attic ventilation, photograph what we find, and then write up an estimate. If you want to compare metal with shingles, we will price both on the same house so the difference is a real number.
- Two panel systems explained plainly. Standing seam and exposed-fastener panels, and where each one makes sense.
- Metal and shingle on one estimate. We install both, so we can price them side by side.
- Straight talk about hail. What metal handles well, and what it does not.
Two Kinds of Metal Roof
Residential metal roofing comes in a lot of profiles and finishes, but nearly all of it falls into two groups. The difference is how the panels are fastened to the roof, and that one detail drives most of the differences in price, appearance and upkeep.
Standing seam
Standing seam panels run from the eave up to the ridge in long, continuous pieces. Where two panels meet, their edges rise into a raised seam that is either snapped or mechanically folded together. The fasteners that hold the panels down sit underneath, hidden by the seam, so no screw penetrates the face of the panel where water runs. That concealed-fastener design is the main reason standing seam is considered the premium metal roof: fewer holes in the weather surface, clean vertical lines, and room for the panels to expand and contract with temperature swings without working their fasteners loose.
The trade-off is cost. Standing seam takes more material, more precise fabrication and more skilled labor than any other residential roof we install, and it is usually the most expensive option on an estimate.
Exposed-fastener panels
Exposed-fastener panels, sometimes called screw-down or ribbed panels, are the corrugated or ribbed metal you see on barns, shops and a growing number of houses. The panels overlap one another and are screwed straight through the face into the roof deck or purlins, with a rubber washer under each screw head to seal the hole. They cost clearly less than standing seam and go on faster.
The catch is those washers. Over years of Texas sun and daily expansion and contraction, the rubber can dry out and the screws can back out slightly, and each one is a potential leak point. An exposed-fastener roof is a good roof, but it is one that benefits from having its screws checked and replaced over its life. It is often a smart choice for a detached garage, a shop, a patio cover or a budget-conscious home, and a less obvious one for a main house where you want the least possible upkeep.
Metal and the Texas Heat
One of the real advantages of metal in Texas is how it handles sun. Metal panels with a reflective or light-colored factory finish bounce back a larger share of sunlight than a typical dark shingle, and many metal products are sold as "cool roof" options for exactly that reason. Less heat soaking into the roof can mean a cooler attic, and a cooler attic is easier on the air conditioner during a long summer.
Two cautions keep that benefit honest. First, the color and coating matter more than the fact that it is metal: a dark metal roof still gets hot. Second, attic ventilation and insulation do as much for upstairs comfort as the roof surface. If the attic is poorly vented, a new metal roof alone will not fix a hot second floor. We look at both during the inspection and will tell you if the ventilation needs work.
Metal also does not break down in heat the way asphalt does. Asphalt shingles slowly lose the oils that keep them flexible, which is why old shingles turn brittle. A metal panel's main enemies are instead scratches in the finish, standing water and, on exposed-fastener systems, the fasteners themselves.
Metal Roofs and Hail: The Honest Version
You will hear metal described as "hail-proof." It is not, and no roof is. Here is what is actually true.
Metal panels rarely crack or puncture in a typical hailstorm, and a metal roof that takes a beating will usually keep shedding water. That is a genuine advantage over a standard shingle, where a hard hit can fracture the mat and open a path for a leak. Many metal panels carry an impact rating under UL 2218, the same laboratory test used for Class 4 shingles, and you can ask for that rating on any product we quote.
What metal does do is dent. Large hail can leave a metal roof covered in dimples that do not affect how it keeps water out but are very visible, especially on a smooth standing seam panel in a light finish. Thicker panels and textured or ribbed profiles show dents less. Some homeowner policies treat dents that only affect appearance differently from damage that affects function, so if hail is the main reason you are considering metal, read your policy or ask your insurance agent how cosmetic damage is handled before you decide. That conversation is between you and your insurer, and it is worth having first.
If the storm that hit northeast San Antonio on September 11, 2026 has you rethinking your roof, a free roof inspection is the right first step either way. We photograph what is there, and you decide from there.
Metal vs. Shingle: Cost in General Terms
We do not publish prices on this site, because the real cost of a roof depends on its size, pitch, the number of valleys and penetrations, the condition of the decking, and the product you choose. In general terms, though:
- Architectural shingles are usually the least expensive full replacement for a typical Texas home.
- Class 4 impact-resistant shingles cost more than standard architectural shingles, but usually well under metal.
- Exposed-fastener metal generally lands above shingles and below standing seam.
- Standing seam metal is usually the most expensive residential roof we install, often by a wide margin.
Where metal can earn back some of that difference is in how long it lasts and how it holds up to heat, which is why the decision often comes down to how long you plan to stay in the house. If you expect to sell in a few years, an impact-resistant shingle is often the better value. If this is the house you plan to keep, metal deserves a serious look. Our asphalt shingle roofing page covers the shingle side of the comparison in detail.
Other Things to Weigh Before Choosing Metal
HOA rules
Many neighborhoods in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs have deed restrictions or architectural review boards that govern roof materials and colors. Check yours before you fall in love with a panel color.
Noise
A metal roof installed over solid decking and underlayment, as residential roofs are, is far quieter in rain than the metal roof on an open barn. Most people cannot tell the difference from inside a finished house, but if you have heard rain on a carport and are worried, ask us about it.
Roof shape
Simple roofs with long, uninterrupted slopes suit metal best. A cut-up roof with many valleys, dormers and penetrations takes more custom flashing work, which adds cost. We will point that out if it applies to your house.
How a Metal Roof Project Works With Viva
- Free inspection. We inspect and photograph the existing roof, the decking where we can see it, and the attic ventilation.
- Written estimate. The panel system, gauge, finish, color and full scope are in writing before work starts. If you want a shingle price beside it, we include that.
- Product and color selection. You confirm the panel and color, and get HOA approval if you need it.
- Installation. Our crews remove the old roof, repair any damaged decking, install underlayment and trim, then the panels, flashing and ridge.
- Final walkthrough. We clean up, walk the finished roof with you, and share photos of the completed work.
If paying for a metal roof at once is a stretch, financing is available on approved credit through a third-party lending partner. Ask about it when you get your estimate.
Why Talk to Viva About Metal
- We sell both. Because we install metal and shingle roofs, our advice is not tilted toward one product.
- No upselling. Fair pricing and straight answers are what our reviews mention most, and that includes telling you when metal is not worth it.
- Family-owned, owner involved. Mike Zhukov is personally involved in the jobs we take on, and customers name him in their reviews.
- Photos at every step. You see the inspection photos before you decide, and the finished roof after.
- 5.0 stars on Google. From 63 reviews by homeowners across Texas.
Thinking about metal? Call us or request a free inspection, and we will come out, look at the roof and price your options side by side.