Are Metal Roofs Noisy in Rain and Hail?

Why barn and shed roofs are so loud

On a pole barn or shed, rain and hail hit thin panels fastened to open framing. Nothing sits between the metal and the open space below, so each drop rings straight through the building.

A house roof is built differently. The metal sits on a full layer of decking, with underlayment between them, and an attic, insulation and a finished ceiling below.

That layered assembly is what absorbs the sound. The metal panel itself is only one part of it.

What keeps a metal roof quiet on a house

The quietest metal roofs are the ones built as a full assembly. These are the parts that matter.

Solid roof decking

Solid decking under the panels dampens the impact of rain and hail. It also gives the panels a firm, even surface to sit on.

Underlayment

Underlayment between the deck and the metal adds another layer between the impact and the room below. Our article on roof underlayment types explains the options.

Attic insulation and the ceiling

Attic insulation and a finished ceiling absorb much of the sound before it reaches living spaces. Rooms under a cathedral or vaulted ceiling, with less space above them, may hear more of the roof.

Panel thickness

Thicker panels vibrate less than thinner ones. A well-built deck, underlayment and attic can make up for much of the difference.

How much louder is a metal roof than shingles?

The difference is small on a properly built house roof. One published comparison measured rain at about 46 decibels on asphalt shingles and about 52 decibels on metal.

That is a modest gap, and you notice it most in a hard downpour. The decking, underlayment and attic below the panels are what keep it that small.

Rain compared with hail

Hail is louder than rain on any roof, because the impacts are harder. On a metal roof over solid decking, the deck and underlayment absorb much of that impact before it reaches the house.

Ask about impact ratings for hail when you compare metal products. Our article on metal roofing vs asphalt in Wisconsin winters compares how the two materials handle our weather.

If your current metal roof is too loud

A metal roof that is loud inside usually has something missing from the assembly below it. Older metal roofs on homes, additions and porches were sometimes fastened over spaced boards or open framing instead of a solid deck.

The main fix in that case is re-roofing the noisy section over solid decking with underlayment. That restores the layers that absorb the sound, and it gives the panels a sound, even base.

Rooms with little or no attic above them, such as additions, porches and rooms under dormers, are where noise shows up most. Adding attic insulation above those rooms also helps, and that part is done by an insulation contractor.

Before deciding, have the roof checked from above and from the attic. The decking, underlayment and insulation tell you more about the noise than the metal itself.

Snow and metal roofs

Snow can slide off a metal roof in sheets once it starts to melt. Snow guards hold it in place so it melts off gradually instead of dropping onto walkways or gutters.

Our guide to snow guards on metal roofs explains where they go and why many Wisconsin homes need them.

Standing seam or stone-coated

Both are residential metal roofing systems that go over solid decking on a house. They differ in look, panel design and how they are fastened.

Our comparisons of standing seam and stone-coated metal and standing seam and corrugated metal explain the trade-offs. For budget planning, see our guide to metal roof cost in Wisconsin.

Questions to ask before you choose a metal roof

A quiet metal roof comes down to how the whole roof is built. Ask any contractor these questions.

• Will the metal go over solid decking, and will damaged decking be replaced?
• What underlayment will be used under the panels?
• What gauge, or thickness, of metal are you quoting?
• Is the attic insulation in good shape, and is the ventilation balanced?

Ventilation matters for more than comfort, because it keeps heat and moisture from building up under the roof. Our attic ventilation service checks and corrects intake and exhaust as part of roofing work.

Talk through metal roofing for your home

Buckshot Exteriors is family-owned, has served homeowners since 1979, and has offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Centerville, Iowa. We install standing seam and stone-coated metal roofs as part of our residential roofing work, and our on-site inspection is free.

Call (608) 909-9109 to schedule your free inspection, or send us a message and we will set a time. If you are still comparing materials, the questions above are a good place to start.