Ottawa Metal Roofing
Ottawa Roofing Pros installs steel roofs on Ottawa homes, cottages, garages and outbuildings, from concealed-fastener standing seam to cost-effective ribbed panels and metal shingles. We serve the whole city and anywhere within about a 30-minute drive.
A metal roof is a 40-year-plus decision, so the details matter more than the panel. After more than 17 years and over 1,500 roofing jobs, we know where Ottawa winters test steel: sliding snow, ice at the eaves and fasteners working loose.
Below you'll find the profiles we install, how they behave in snow, our installation process step by step and what metal costs compared with shingles.
We install metal roofs on houses, cottages, garages and outbuildings, usually as a full roof replacement on a deck that has carried two or three generations of shingles. Most homes take three to five days on site once custom panels arrive.
Panels are roll-formed to the length of each slope, so there are no horizontal laps for water to find. Ottawa is home to Ideal Roofing, a steel roofing manufacturer on Michael Street, and regional supply keeps lead times and trim matching manageable.
Metal suits homeowners who plan to stay put, rural and semi-rural lots where wind and snow drift are worst, and anyone tired of re-shingling every 25 years. We see strong demand on larger lots in Stittsville and on cottages and outbuildings within our 30-minute radius. It is one of several materials covered by our residential roofing services.
Residential metal comes in three main profiles, and the choice is mostly about fastener type, look and budget. Steel is the default substrate in Ottawa, with aluminum as a niche option.
All of them are available in a wide range of factory-painted colours. Paint warranties commonly run 30 to 40 years against chalking and fading, depending on the coating system and supplier.
Standing seam panels hide their fasteners under raised seams, using clips that let each panel expand and contract with temperature. That eliminates the screw holes that cause most metal roof leaks.
Snap-lock panels suit most house pitches, while mechanically seamed panels handle lower slopes, always within each manufacturer's minimum pitch. Panels are usually 24 or 26 gauge, with stiffening ribs to limit oil canning, the visible waviness in flat pans.
Ribbed panels are fastened straight through the face with screws sealed by rubber washers. They cost the least of any metal option and are the go-to for cottages, sheds, barns and detached garages like those behind many older bungalows in Gloucester.
The trade-off is maintenance. Those washers age under UV and thermal movement, so screws should be checked and some replaced over the roof's life, typically starting around the 15-year mark.
Stamped steel shingles interlock to look like slate, shake or tile while keeping metal's lifespan and snow shedding. They suit older neighbourhoods and homes where a standing seam would look out of place.
The interlocking design hides most fasteners. Stone-coated steel versions, such as DECRA, add a granular surface that holds snow a little longer and quiets rain.
Steel is stronger, cheaper and the right choice for nearly every Ottawa home. Modern panels use a Galvalume (aluminum-zinc) or galvanized coating under the paint to resist rust.
Aluminum never rusts and weighs less, but it costs more, dents more easily under falling ice and moves more with temperature. It earns its price mainly on coastal homes, not inland Ottawa.
Metal roofs shed snow far better than shingles, which is their biggest advantage here and their biggest hazard if it isn't planned for. A smooth painted panel releases snow as soon as the sun or attic warms the underside of the pack.
We plan for sliding snow before a panel is ordered:
Metal doesn't eliminate ice dams, because those form wherever attic heat melts snow that refreezes at a cold eave. We still install self-adhered ice and water membrane at the eaves, and our ice dam guide explains why insulation and ventilation are the real fix.
Don't count on shedding to reduce snow load, because snow guards, valleys and low slopes hold snow on any metal roof, whether you live in Kanata or the Glebe. If you are adding weight, opening up a ceiling or changing the roof shape, we confirm the framing can handle Ottawa's heavy, wet snow before work begins.
A metal roof follows a fixed sequence because panels are custom-cut to measurements taken before anything is removed. Measuring errors are expensive, so we take our time on the first two steps.
Expect one to three weeks between signing and installation for panel fabrication, then three to five days on site for most homes.
We measure every slope, valley and penetration, check the attic and deck, and plan snow guard locations. Panels and trims are ordered to length in your chosen colour and gauge.
Old shingles come off to the sheathing and rotted boards are replaced. A solid, flat deck is what keeps standing seam panels from showing every dip.
Self-adhered ice and water membrane goes along the eaves, in valleys and around penetrations. The rest of the deck gets a high-temperature synthetic underlayment rated for use under metal.
Panels go on from one end with clips or screws at the spacing the manufacturer specifies. We keep copper and lead away from Galvalume, because those metals corrode it on contact.
Ridge, eave, rake and wall trims are fitted, with closures to keep out snow and insects. Chimney, skylight and stack flashings are custom-bent, then snow guards are installed.
We walk the roof, check fasteners, sweep for metal shavings that would rust stains into the paint, and photograph the details. You receive the material warranty paperwork plus our 1-year written labour warranty.
Metal roofing in Ottawa typically costs $900 to $1,400 per square installed for ribbed steel or steel shingles, and $1,200 to $1,800 per square for standing seam in 2026. That is roughly double architectural shingles up front.
| Roof type | Typical installed price per square | 20-square roof (typical two-storey) | Expected lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural shingles | $500 to $800 | $10,000 to $16,000 | 22 to 30 years |
| Ribbed steel or steel shingles | $900 to $1,400 | $18,000 to $28,000 | 40 to 50+ years |
| Standing seam steel | $1,200 to $1,800 | $24,000 to $36,000 | 50+ years |
What moves the price within those ranges:
Over 40 years, a steel roof can cost less than two shingle replacements. Our metal roof vs shingles guide runs that comparison in detail, and if shingles still make more sense for you, see our asphalt shingle roofing service. The actual price comes from a written quote after a free assessment.
Steel roofing is a bigger investment, so homeowners want clear answers before they commit. These are the questions we answer most often during metal roof estimates in Ottawa.
Not on a typical house. Installed over a solid wood deck with underlayment and an insulated attic, a metal roof sounds much like a shingle roof from inside.
Noise is an issue on open-framed sheds, porches and cottages where panels sit on strapping with nothing beneath. Hail is louder on metal, but it's brief.
It can on some buildings, but we usually recommend tearing off first. An overlay hides rot in the deck, adds weight and leaves an uneven surface that shows through standing seam panels.
A full tear-off also lets us install ice and water membrane directly on the deck. If you are changing materials, ask us whether the City needs to review the work, and see our roofing permits guide for Ottawa.
Usually only for the better. Insurers ask about roof age and material, and a new metal roof answers both questions well.
Some insurers offer discounts for impact-resistant roofing, while others don't adjust premiums at all. Call your broker with the product details from our quote before you sign.
Usually not on cost alone. You pay roughly double up front and recover only part of that at sale, although a newer metal roof is a selling point and removes a big question from a buyer's inspection.
If you plan to stay 15 years or more, metal pulls ahead. If you expect to move sooner, a quality architectural shingle roof usually makes more financial sense, and we can price both so you can compare.
Yes, and standing seam is one of the best roofs for solar. Racking can clamp directly onto the raised seams with no holes through the panels.
Because a steel roof outlasts the panels, you won't need to remove and reinstall the array for a re-roof halfway through its life. Ribbed panels can carry solar too, using sealed mounts fastened into the structure.
No. A metal roof does not make a strike more likely, and if lightning does hit, steel is non-combustible.
A well-installed steel roof typically lasts 40 to 60 years here, with standing seam at the top of that range. The paint finish usually fades long before the steel fails.
Exposed-fastener roofs need fastener checks over time, and every metal roof should be looked over after a big ice winter. Our Orléans roofing crews and teams across the city handle those check-ups as well as new installs.
Our crews dispatch from Centretown to every Ottawa community and anywhere within about 30 minutes of the city.
Free roofing estimate
Call or send the form to book a free assessment, where we measure the roof, check the deck and talk through profiles and colours. You get a written quote with panel, gauge, finish and snow guard locations spelled out.