Structure & Envelope · Roofing
Standing seam roofs built for Methow snow
Almost every roof we build is standing seam steel: it sheds snow, won't burn, and lasts for decades. How it's built is set by your envelope package and the pitch of your roof, so your choices come down to the look: the panel surface and the color.
Every option is compared on the same five things:
Your options · 1 of 2
Panel surface
The surface of each panel between the seams. Relative cost compares installed roofing on a typical 2,000 square foot home.
Smooth panels (flat pan)
Each panel is perfectly flat between the raised seams, for the cleanest, most modern look. Flat steel can show a slight waviness in low sun, called oil canning.
- Look / Style
- Flat, crisp panels between the seams
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 40-60 years
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Modern and minimal homes
Why people pick it
- Cleanest, crispest roof
- Suits modern and minimal homes
Trade-offs
- Most likely to show oil canning (slight waviness)
- Only on our mechanically seamed panel, not the snap-lock panel used on steeper roofs
Striated panels
Fine lines rolled lengthwise into each panel add a subtle texture and hide most of the waviness flat steel can show. It's the quiet, all-purpose choice that looks right on almost any home.
- Look / Style
- Fine lengthwise lines, subtle texture
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 40-60 years
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Any style; the safe all-round pick
Why people pick it
- Hides oil canning well
- Subtle texture that suits any style
- Available on both of our panel systems
Trade-offs
- Reads a little less crisp than a flat pan up close
Ribbed panels
Small ribs run down each panel between the seams, adding shadow lines and a sturdier, more traditional metal-roof look.
- Look / Style
- Small ribs between the seams, more shadow lines
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 40-60 years
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Farmhouse, barn, and mountain homes
Why people pick it
- Stiffest look, best at hiding waviness
- Traditional, agrarian character
- Available on both of our panel systems
Trade-offs
- Busier look than flat or striated
Your options · 2 of 2
Color
Steel with a factory-baked Kynar paint finish in a wide range of colors, from classic greens and browns to matte black, our most requested color. The finish holds its color for decades with nothing to maintain. One color covers the whole roof: panels, flashing, fascia caps, and snow brakes all match.
- Look / Style
- Factory paint in almost any color, incl. matte black
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 40-60 years
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Most homes; bold or matching colors
Why people pick it
- Wide color range, including matte black
- Factory finish that resists fading and chalking
- Flashing, fascia caps, and snow brakes match
Trade-offs
- Scratches need touch-up paint
- Dark colors run hotter in summer sun
Side by side
| Tag | Smooth panels (flat pan) | Striated panels | Ribbed panels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look / Style | Flat, crisp panels between the seams | Fine lengthwise lines, subtle texture | Small ribs between the seams, more shadow lines |
| Maintenance | Low | Low | Low |
| Lifespan | 40-60 years | 40-60 years | 40-60 years |
| Relative Cost | $$ | $$ | $$ |
| Best For | Modern and minimal homes | Any style; the safe all-round pick | Farmhouse, barn, and mountain homes |
Set by your envelope package
What's under the steel
The roof framing, insulation, membrane, and panels aren't separate choices. They come with the envelope package and ceiling style you pick, so every look above goes on the same snow-ready roof.
Standing seam steel on every roof
Ice and water membrane over the entire deck
Framing and insulation sized to your package and ceiling style
Good package roof
Flat ceilings: raised-heel trusses with R-49 blown insulation. Vaulted ceilings: spray foam plus batts under the deck.
Better package roof
Flat ceilings: deeper trusses with R-70 cellulose. Vaulted ceilings: a warm “hot roof” with rigid foam above the deck under a second deck.
Best package roof
Flat ceilings: R-80+ cellulose. Vaulted ceilings: a vented “cold roof” with an air gap under the metal that keeps snow from melting and refreezing at the eaves.
How we build it
Every roof, every time
Not choices: this is how we build every Bedrock roof, whichever look you pick.
Panels matched to your roof pitch
Every roof is concealed-fastener standing seam steel. On low-slope roofs, and on any roof that will carry solar, the seams are crimped shut with a seaming tool so water can't get in. Steeper roofs can use a snap-together seam that goes on faster.
No screws exposed to the weather
Seams stand above water and snow
Solar mounts clamp to the seams, no holes
Built against ice dams
Ice dams form when house heat melts snow and it refreezes at the cold roof edge. Your envelope package keeps heat out of the roof, every deck is fully covered in ice and water membrane, and we go heavy on flashing tape and sealant at eaves, laps, and openings.
Membrane under the whole roof, not just the eaves
Extra sealing where meltwater backs up
Snow brakes on every eave
A row of clamp-on snow brakes runs along every eave, so snow lets go a little at a time instead of all at once onto decks, doors, cars, or people. On low-slope roofs they also help keep ice from building up at the edge.
Safer entries, decks, and walkways
Clamps to the seams: no holes in the roof
No gutters in snow country
Standard gutters don't survive Methow snow: sliding snow tears them off and ice fills them. We build roofs to drop water and snow clear of the walls instead. Heavy-duty steel gutters built to carry snow are a special add-on.
Nothing to clog, freeze, or tear off
Less upkeep
Flashing and roof openings
Factory trim at the eaves, rakes, and ridge, and custom-bent flashing where the roof meets walls, dormers, and chimneys. Vents go through sealed boots, stove flues through high-temperature boots, and tube skylights (by request) sit on a raised, flashed curb.
Flashing in the same color as the roof
Few, well-sealed openings
Who installs your roof
We install simple roofs ourselves, so the crew that framed and insulated your home also closes it in. Roofs with hips, valleys, and dormers go to an experienced local roofing crew who does that detailed flashing every day.
One crew responsible on simple roofs
Specialists on complex roofs
FAQ
Common questions
Why standing seam metal in snow country?
It sheds snow, won't burn, and has no screws through the roof surface where snow and meltwater sit. The seams stand above the water, and a well-built standing seam roof lasts for decades.
Do I need snow guards on a metal roof?
In the Methow, almost always. We include a row of clamp-on snow brakes along every eave so snow lets go gradually instead of avalanching onto decks, doors, or cars. On low-slope roofs they also help with ice at the edge.
Why don't you install gutters?
Sliding snow and ice tear ordinary gutters off and fill them solid. We build roofs to drop water and snow clear of the walls instead. Heavy-duty steel gutters built for snow are available as a special add-on.
Related decisions
Want to see colors and panels in person?
We'll bring panel and color samples to your site during pre-construction and price the options on your plans.