Metal roofing in Great Falls.

Metal roofing is not new to Great Falls. The barn at Colvin Run Mill wears it, and the county's design guidelines for that historic district list metal cladding among the roof materials found there. On today's homes, standing seam suits contemporary estates, the porches and accent roofs on larger colonials, and the long, uninterrupted rooflines of the late-1960s ranches scattered through the community.

A standing seam roof lasts 40 to 70 years, so for many owners it is the final roof the house needs. The panels lock together over hidden clips, leaving no exposed screws to back out. It costs typically two to three times as much per square as asphalt, and we lay out that comparison in writing so you can judge the long-term math yourself.

Great Falls has no town government of its own, and Fairfax County doesn't require a permit for a residential roof replacement, metal included. Switching from shingles to metal can involve changes beyond a simple shingle swap, so we check your HOA and any historic-overlay rules on panel profile and color before we order. In the Colvin Run Historic Overlay District, we also check whether Architectural Review Board approval applies. One exception applies: replacing more than 256 square feet of roof sheathing needs a Fairfax County permit, which we handle whenever the decking calls for it.

HOAs are the other consideration. Falcon Ridge has one, and an association may want to see a panel profile and color before approving metal. We provide manufacturer color charts and drawings for that request. Where there is no association, the choice of material and color is entirely up to you.