North Carolina · Aluminum shingles
Aluminum shingles in North Carolina
Aluminum shingles are stamped aluminum roof panels that look like slate, cedar or tile and cannot rust, because there is no steel inside. For North Carolina homes they answer salt air, humidity and storm wind; the trade-offs are a higher up-front cost and cosmetic dents in big hail. Metal Roof NC installs Interlock® aluminum shingles statewide.
By Metal Roof NC · Updated October 17, 2026
Thickness
0.019 to 0.0276 inch
Base-metal aluminum, by profile (ICC-ES ESR-1790).
Weight
About 0.41 to 0.59 lb/sq ft
Installed, by profile (ICC-ES ESR-1790).
Wind
Warranted to 120 mph
When installed to manufacturer specification.
What are aluminum shingles?
Aluminum shingles are roofing panels stamped from aluminum sheet and finished with a baked coating, shaped to look like slate, cedar shingle, shake or tile. Unlike steel shingles, there is no steel core under the finish, so a scratch or a cut edge has nothing to rust. Exposed aluminum forms an oxide film that slows further oxidation (ASM International).
Interlock® aluminum shingles lock to each other on all four sides. The fasteners sit under the course above, out of the weather, so the roof has no exposed screw heads and no rubber washers to dry out in North Carolina summers. They are made in North America by Interlock Roofing and installed in North Carolina by Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock dealer.
How do aluminum shingles compare with asphalt and steel shingles?
Aluminum shingles cost more up front than either, do not rust, and weigh the least. Here is the side-by-side for a North Carolina house.
| Architectural asphalt | Steel shingles | Interlock aluminum shingles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lowest | Middle | Highest: about 2.5 to 3 times asphalt by Metal Roof NC's rule of thumb |
| Rust in salt air | Not applicable; granules and mat weather | Protected by its zinc or aluminum-zinc coating; can rust where the coating is cut or worn | Aluminum does not rust |
| Life expectancy | About 20 years on published averages (NAHB / Bank of America, 2007) | Depends on the coating | Aluminum has been known to last over 100 years: a property of the metal, not a promise |
| Weight | Heavier than aluminum | Heavier than aluminum | About 0.41 to 0.59 lb per sq ft (ICC-ES ESR-1790) |
| Fasteners | Nailed under the tab above | Exposed or concealed, by product | Concealed; panels interlock on four sides |
| Dents | Bruises and loses granules | Resists dents better than aluminum at the same thickness | Can dent cosmetically under large hail |
Price comparison is Metal Roof NC's rule of thumb; prices vary job to job with roof size, pitch, tear-off and other conditions, and an on-site estimate is required for an accurate price.
What are the specifications of Interlock aluminum shingles?
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Base metal | Heavy-gauge aluminum alloy per ASTM B209 (3105-H24 for the shingle and slate profiles) |
| Base-metal thickness | 0.019 inch (Slate, Cedar Shingle); 0.0276 inch (Shake, Mediterranean Tile), per ICC-ES ESR-1790 |
| Installed weight | About 0.41 lb per sq ft (Slate, Cedar Shingle), about 0.58 lb (Shake) and 0.59 lb (Tile), per ICC-ES ESR-1790 |
| Code evaluation | ICC-ES ESR-1790 (International Building Code and International Residential Code), covering the shingle, slate, shake and tile profiles |
| Finish | Alunar® 70% PVDF coating (AAMA 2605), CRRC-rated colors; Alunar® coating warranted 30 years |
| Wind | Warranted to 120 mph when installed to manufacturer specification |
| Impact | UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating (Delta Building Products listing, tested by Intertek) |
| Fire | Class A Fire Rated Available. When installed with two layers of GAF VersaShield® underlayment over a 15/32-inch plywood deck, the Interlock roof assembly can achieve a Class A fire rating (ASTM E108 / UL 790) |
| Minimum slope | 3/12 |
| Material warranty | Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty: material and finish, for the original purchaser while they own the home, transferable once |
| Made | In North America, by Interlock Roofing |
Sources: ICC-ES ESR-1790, the UL 2218 listing (Delta Building Products, tested by Intertek) and Interlock Roofing technical specifications. Read the full warranty before you sign.
How do aluminum shingles hold up to North Carolina weather?
They hold up well because North Carolina's main roof stresses (salt air, humidity, tropical-storm wind, hail and ice) attack things aluminum shingles don't have: a steel core, granules, nailed tabs or wood fiber.
Hail and dents
Hail is most common in late spring and early summer, and May has seen the most hail in North Carolina (State Climate Office of NC). The impact rating in the table above addresses cracking and leaks; aluminum can still dent cosmetically in a severe storm. Ask your insurer how cosmetic damage is handled on your policy.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Florence came ashore near Wrightsville Beach in September 2018 as a slow-moving Category 1 hurricane and dropped more than 30 inches of rain in parts of the state (NWS Wilmington); Matthew in 2016 brought coastal gusts above 70 mph (NWS Raleigh). Interlocked shingles have no tabs to peel back, and wind resistance is warranted to 120 mph when installed to manufacturer specification. No roof is immune to hurricane damage; see hurricane-resistant roofing.
Salt air
From Wilmington to Morehead City and Beaufort, salt spray finds every scratch on a steel roof. An aluminum shingle has no steel core to rust. Corrosion-resistant is the right word, not corrosion-proof: flashings and fasteners must be compatible metals.
Heat and humidity
The Alunar® finish is a PVDF coating in CRRC-rated colors, and humid summers have no granules or wood fiber to work on. Pine needles and leaves still need clearing from valleys and gutters, as on any roof.
Ice storms
The western Piedmont is the iciest part of the Southeast, with Charlotte and the Triad among the hotspots (State Climate Office of NC). Aluminum absorbs no water, and interlocked courses give ice-laden branches no tab edge to catch.
Coastal code wind zones
Parts of coastal North Carolina sit in design wind zones of 130 mph and above under the NC Residential Code, where extra fastening rules apply (NC OSFM). Your permit office, and an engineer where required, sets the requirement for your house.
Which aluminum shingle profiles and colors can I choose?
Four shingle-style profiles: Slate (the most popular), Cedar Shingle, Shake and Mediterranean Tile. Slate and Cedar Shingle suit brick Colonials, Craftsman and Tudor homes across Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill; Shake suits coastal cottages and Lowcountry-style homes; Mediterranean Tile suits Spanish and Italianate designs. Two neighboring Durham homes finished in July 2023 chose Slate in Deep Charcoal.
Ten colors: Solid Copper, Copper Penny, Hunter Green, Black, Deep Charcoal, Musket Grey, Tile Red, Colonial Brown, Tudor Brown and Sierra Tan. Lighter colors reflect more summer sun; the CRRC ratings for each color are on the manufacturer's specification sheets.
Do I need HOA approval for aluminum shingles?
Often, yes. Many Triangle and Charlotte-area subdivisions require architectural review before a change in roof material or color, under the community's declaration and design guidelines. Get approval before you sign for the work. We provide samples, color charts and product documents for the application; Slate and Shake profiles in muted colors often read as a traditional roof from the street.
Can aluminum shingles go over my existing roof?
Sometimes. A single layer of asphalt may be roofed over only if an inspection finds it suitable and the local code allows it. Cedar shingles and shakes, concrete or clay tile and natural slate always come off first. We tell you which applies after looking at your roof and decking.
How much do aluminum shingles cost in North Carolina?
Metal Roof NC's rule of thumb is that an Interlock aluminum roof typically costs about 2.5 to 3 times a traditional asphalt-shingle roof. Prices vary job to job with roof size, pitch, tear-off and other conditions, and an on-site estimate is required for an accurate price.
Financing is available through Service Finance for qualified homeowners, subject to lender approval and terms. More detail: metal roof cost in NC.
What warranty comes with Interlock aluminum shingles?
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty from Interlock Roofing: material and finish, for the original purchaser while they own the home, transferable once (the second owner is covered to 50 years from substantial completion). Workmanship is excluded.
- Alunar® coating warranted 30 years.
- Metal Roof NC 5-Year Labor Warranty, covering workmanship for five years.
Questions, answered
What are aluminum shingles?
Aluminum shingles are roofing panels stamped from aluminum sheet with a baked finish, made to look like slate, cedar shingle, shake or tile. Interlock® aluminum shingles interlock on all four sides with concealed fasteners.
Do aluminum shingles rust near the NC coast?
No. Aluminum does not rust; it forms an oxide film that slows further oxidation, and there is no steel inside an aluminum shingle. It is corrosion-resistant, not corrosion-proof, so flashings and fasteners must be compatible metals.
Are aluminum shingles good for hurricanes?
They interlock on four sides with concealed fasteners, and wind resistance is warranted to 120 mph when installed to manufacturer specification. No roof is immune to hurricane damage, and some coastal areas have higher design wind speeds set by the code and your permit office.
Do aluminum shingles dent from hail?
They can dent cosmetically under large hail. Interlock carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating (Delta Building Products listing, tested by Intertek), which addresses cracking and leaks rather than appearance.
How thick are Interlock aluminum shingles?
The Slate and Cedar Shingle profiles are 0.019-inch base-metal aluminum; Shake and Tile are 0.0276 inch, per ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-1790. The alloy meets ASTM B209.
How much do aluminum shingles weigh?
About 0.41 lb per square foot installed for Slate and Cedar Shingle, and about 0.58 to 0.59 lb for Shake and Tile (ICC-ES ESR-1790). Natural slate and concrete tile weigh many times that.
Are aluminum shingles worth the cost?
On a house you plan to keep, often yes; on a house you will sell soon, asphalt may make more sense. Metal Roof NC's rule of thumb puts an Interlock aluminum roof at about 2.5 to 3 times a traditional asphalt-shingle roof, varying with roof size, pitch, tear-off and other conditions.
Who installs aluminum shingles in North Carolina?
Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock aluminum roofing dealer based in Raleigh, installs Interlock® aluminum shingles across the Triangle, the Charlotte area, the Triad and Piedmont, and the coast.
What colors do aluminum shingles come in?
Ten Interlock colors: Solid Copper, Copper Penny, Hunter Green, Black, Deep Charcoal, Musket Grey, Tile Red, Colonial Brown, Tudor Brown and Sierra Tan, all CRRC-rated, with the Alunar® coating warranted 30 years.
Sources
- ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-1790, Interlock Roofing (PDF)
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty (full document, PDF)
- Interlock Roofing: aluminum shingles, technical specifications
- J.R. Davis, "Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys", ASM International (2001)
- National Weather Service Wilmington, NC: Hurricane Florence (2018)
- National Weather Service Raleigh: Hurricane Matthew, October 8, 2016 event summary (PDF)
- State Climate Office of North Carolina: Hail Hath No Fury Like a Springtime Storm (2016)
- State Climate Office of North Carolina: wintry precipitation and freezing rain
- NC Office of State Fire Marshal: formal interpretation, NCRC fasteners in high wind zones (130 mph and above)
- National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America: Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007)
- UL 2218 Class 4 impact listing, Delta Building Products, tested by Intertek (PDF)
Product specifications are the manufacturer's (Interlock Roofing). Weather and code facts are from the public agencies listed. Published by Metal Roof NC (Everlast Improvements LLC), updated October 17, 2026.
Related guides
- Interlock roofing in NC
- Hurricane-resistant roofing
- Aluminum roofing in North Carolina
- Interlock roofing in North Carolina
- Hurricane-resistant roofing in NC
- Metal shingles: a buyer’s guide
- Steel vs aluminum roofing
- Metal roof vs asphalt shingles
- Metal roof cost in North Carolina
- Metal roof warranties explained
Where we install in North Carolina
Metal Roof NC installs Interlock® aluminum roofs across the Triangle, the Charlotte area, the Triad and Piedmont, and the coast. See every service area.
Charlotte area
Triad and Piedmont
Get aluminum shingles estimated.
A project-specific estimate before work begins, from Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock aluminum roofing dealer. 5301 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606