Metal Roof Installation in Los Angeles, Explained Step by Step
Most people buying a metal roof have never watched one go on. This site walks through the whole installation the way our crew actually does it on Los Angeles homes, from the first measurement to the inspector signing off, so you know what to expect before anyone climbs a ladder.
- Since 2006Installing metal roofs in Los Angeles
- Van NuysPanels custom-fabricated in our own shop
- No subcontractorsOur own crew on every roof
An installation guide written by the people who do the installing
Metal Roofing Install is run by Eclipse Metal Roofing, a Los Angeles roofing company that has been putting metal roofs on homes since 2006. We form our own standing seam panels in our Van Nuys shop and install them with our own crew, with no subcontractors. We work on homes only, not commercial buildings.
-
01 / 06Walk and measure
We inspect the roof and deck, then measure every plane.
-
02 / 06
Scope and permit
Written scope, then the permit from your city.
-
03 / 06Form the panels
Panels are formed to length in our Van Nuys shop.
-
04 / 06Strip or prepare
Tear-off to the deck, or prep for an allowed overlay.
-
05 / 06Underlay and flash
Deck repairs, underlayment, edge metal and flashing.
-
06 / 06Panels and inspection
Seams locked, trim on, site cleaned, final inspection.
A finished standing seam roof. Every valley, skylight and wall meets its own flashing detail.
What actually goes on your roof
A standing seam roof is a system, not just the panels you see from the street. From the bottom up, a typical install includes:
- A sound deck. Plywood or board sheathing, repaired or replaced where it is soft or damaged.
- Underlayment. A high-temperature membrane rated for use under metal, which keeps water out if anything ever gets past the panels.
- Edge metal and flashing. Drip edge, valley metal, wall and chimney flashing, and boots around vents.
- The panels. Long metal pans that run from eave to ridge, held down by hidden clips so no screws go through the face of the panel.
- Trim. Ridge, hip and rake trim that closes off the roof and gives it its finished lines.
Standing seam is our specialty. We also install corrugated metal roofing and metal roofing that imitates shake, tile or slate, which follow the same order of work with a different panel on top.
Metal roof installation in Los Angeles
What an install involves on an LA house: the deck, fire zones, cool roof rules, and why the panels are formed to length.
Read the overview
The installation process and timeline
Every stage in order, what you will see each day, and what moves the schedule.
See the process
Over the existing roof, or tear-off?
When an overlay is allowed in California, when it is a bad idea, and how permits work.
Compare the twoA metal roof is a bigger decision than a re-shingle, and most of the anxiety around it comes from not knowing what happens on the job. How long will the crew be there? Does the old roof have to come off? Who pulls the permit? What does the inspector look at? The three guides below answer those questions in detail.
Four decisions that shape every install
- Tear-off or overlayCalifornia only allows a new roof over an old one in limited cases. Most of our jobs are full tear-offs, and our overlay vs tear-off guide explains why.
- Panel, color and seamSeam height, panel width and finish color change how the roof looks and whether it meets cool roof rules.
- Permit pathThe City of Los Angeles, the county and cities like Glendale or Burbank each have their own building department. We file with whichever covers your address.
- SchedulePanel forming, permit approval and the weather all feed the start date. The installation process page shows how the days usually fall.
Start with a free on-site estimate
We come to the house, look at the roof from the ground and from the roof itself, measure it, and walk you through what the install involves, step by step. You get a written scope and price for the roof that is actually there.
Prefer to talk first? Call (424) 419-1254.
Installation questions homeowners ask
How long does a metal roof installation take?
It depends on the size and shape of the roof, how much deck repair turns up, and when the inspector can come out. We give you a written schedule at the estimate. Our page on the metal roof installation process breaks down each stage.
Can a metal roof go over my existing roof?
Sometimes. California code allows one new roof over a single existing layer in good condition, but not over two layers, a wet or damaged roof, or tile and slate. Read metal roof over existing roof vs tear-off for the details.
Do I need a permit for a metal roof in Los Angeles?
Yes, a re-roof needs a permit from the building department that covers your address, and the work is inspected. We handle the permit as part of the job. See metal roof installation in Los Angeles for how it works.
Who actually does the installation?
Our own crew. Eclipse Metal Roofing does not use subcontractors, and we form our standing seam panels in our own Van Nuys shop.
How do I check your license?
Look up California license #888710 on the Contractors State License Board website. It is held by Eclipse Remodeling & Roofing Inc, doing business as Eclipse Metal Roofing, with C-39 roofing and C-43 sheet metal classifications.
No subcontractors. Our own crew on every roof. CSLB #888710, verify the license.