Metal Roofing: Full Roofs, Accent Roofs & Mixed-Material Designs

When most people hear “metal roof,” they picture an entire home covered in standing seam metal. We install complete metal roofing systems, but that is only one way metal can be incorporated into a roofing project.

More homeowners are choosing to combine metal roofing with architectural asphalt shingles, using each material where it makes the most sense for the home.

Full Metal Roofing Systems

For homeowners looking for the durability, appearance, and long-term performance of metal, Mason Roofing installs complete metal roofing systems.

Metal roofing can be a great fit for homes, cabins, barns, additions, and other structures where the homeowner wants a clean architectural appearance and a roofing material designed for long-term exposure to the elements.

A properly installed metal roofing system also requires more than simply attaching panels to a roof. Panel layout, valleys, penetrations, flashing, transitions, trim, and water management all have to work together as a complete system.

That attention to detail becomes especially important on homes with multiple rooflines or architectural features.

Mixing Metal and Asphalt Roofing

One of the roofing styles we are seeing more frequently is a combination of architectural asphalt shingles and standing seam metal roofing.

Instead of installing metal across the entire home, homeowners may choose metal for specific sections such as:

• Front porches

• Covered patios

• Dormers

• Bay windows

• Lower roof sections

• Entryways

• Additions

• Architectural accent roofs

The majority of the home can still be roofed with architectural shingles while these smaller sections receive metal.

This can create contrast and depth without completely changing the character of the home.

Why Use Metal on Porches and Dormers?

Smaller roof sections often have different pitches, drainage patterns, and visual importance than the main roof.

A metal roof over a front porch, for example, can become an architectural feature rather than simply another section of roofing.

Dormers are another popular location. Standing seam metal can visually separate the dormer from the main shingle roof while creating a more customized finished appearance.

Depending on the design of the home, metal can either closely complement the shingle color or intentionally provide contrast.

The Details Matter on Mixed Roofing Systems

Combining two roofing materials requires careful attention to the areas where those systems meet.

Transitions, sidewalls, valleys, flashing, underlayment, trim, and water flow all have to be considered before installation begins.

That is why we look at the roof as a complete system instead of treating the metal and asphalt portions as two unrelated projects.

The goal is for the finished roof to look intentional while also allowing both roofing systems to perform properly.

Metal Doesn't Have to Mean the Entire Roof

If you like the look of metal roofing but do not necessarily want a full metal roof, a mixed-material design may be worth considering.

Sometimes a metal porch roof or a few standing seam accents are enough to completely change the appearance of a home.

Other properties are better suited for a complete metal roofing system.

At Mason Roofing, we install both.

Whether your project calls for architectural shingles, standing seam metal, or a combination of the two, we can help determine how the different roof sections should work together and provide an estimate based on the actual design of your home.

Considering metal roofing for your home?

Contact Mason Roofing to schedule an inspection and talk through the options for a full metal roof or a mixed metal and asphalt roofing system.