North Carolina · Metal shingles buyer's guide
Metal shingles in North Carolina: how to choose
Metal shingles are steel or aluminum panels stamped to look like shingles, slate, shake or tile. In North Carolina the base metal decides it: steel lasts as long as its coating keeps it from rusting, which matters most near the coast, while aluminum does not rust and weighs about a third as much. Aluminum costs more up front.
By Metal Roof NC · Updated October 17, 2026
Painted steel
Usually the lowest price
Protected by its metallic coating and paint.
Stone-coated steel
A matte, granular look
Steel underneath, with the same coating dependence.
Aluminum
Does not rust
About one-third the density of steel (ASM International).
What are the three kinds of metal shingles?
Metal shingles come in three kinds: painted steel, stone-coated steel and aluminum. They look alike from the street and behave differently on a North Carolina roof for decades. The difference is the metal under the paint.
| Type | What it is | What protects it | Weight | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painted steel shingles | Steel sheet with a metallic coating and baked paint, stamped to a shingle, tile or slate look | A zinc (galvanized) or aluminum-zinc (Galvalume) coating under the paint | Heavier than aluminum at the same thickness | Rust can start where the coating is cut, scratched or worn through, and at cut edges as the coating is used up; salt air speeds that up |
| Stone-coated steel shingles | Steel shingles with stone granules bonded to the surface for a matte, textured look | The metallic coating, plus the granule layer | Heavier than painted metal | Granules can wear off in valleys and walkways; the steel underneath has the same coating dependence |
| Aluminum shingles | Aluminum sheet with a baked finish, interlocked panel to panel | Aluminum's own oxide film; there is no steel to rust | About one-third the density of steel | Can dent under large hail or foot traffic; usually costs more than steel up front |
Steel coating behavior: ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Galvalume product information) and Gibraltar Building Products. Aluminum properties: ASM International. Full references at the end of the page.
Which metal shingle suits a North Carolina home?
For most North Carolina homes you plan to keep, aluminum shingles are the longest-lived choice, and near the coast they are the safest choice against rust. Painted or stone-coated steel costs less up front and can be a sound roof inland, provided the coating stays intact. Here is what decides it in this state.
Coast vs Piedmont
Within reach of salt spray (Wilmington, Jacksonville, Morehead City, Beaufort, New Bern) steel depends entirely on its coating, and cut edges and scratches are where rust starts. Inland in the Triangle, Charlotte and the Triad, steel's coating has an easier life, and the decision turns more on budget, hail and looks.
Tropical-storm wind
Matthew in 2016 brought gusts above 70 mph along the coast and 40 mph or more across much of the Piedmont (NWS Raleigh). Shingles that interlock with concealed fasteners have no tab or screw head for wind to work on. See hurricane-resistant roofing.
Hail
May has seen the most hail in North Carolina (State Climate Office of NC). Interlock carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating (Delta Building Products listing, tested by Intertek). Any metal shingle, aluminum or thin steel, can still dent cosmetically in large hail; ask how dents are handled.
Humidity, heat and pine straw
Long humid summers stain asphalt and wear on finishes. Look for a PVDF finish rather than a polyester paint, and keep valleys and gutters clear of pine needles, which hold moisture against any roof.
What should I ask a metal shingle contractor in NC?
- What is the base metal, steel or aluminum, and what is its thickness?
- Who is the warrantor of the material warranty, the manufacturer or the contractor, and does coverage reduce over time?
- Is the finish warranty separate from the material warranty, and what does it cover (chalking, fading, peeling)?
- Are the fasteners exposed or concealed?
- Will my old roof come off? If you plan to roof over it, what does your inspection check first?
- Does the installation meet the wind requirements for my county and the permit office?
- Have you handled HOA architectural approval in my community before?
- Will you show me your liability and workers' compensation insurance certificates and your NC licensing status where the job requires one? (See choosing a metal roofing contractor in NC.)
- Is the estimate project-specific and in writing, and what happens if you find rotted decking once the old roof is open?
What are Interlock® metal shingles?
Interlock® metal shingles are heavy-gauge aluminum panels that interlock on all four sides with the fasteners concealed, made in North America by Interlock Roofing and installed in North Carolina by Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock aluminum roofing dealer. Profiles: Slate, Cedar Shingle, Shake and Mediterranean Tile, plus Standing Seam and Solid Copper.
The specification: aluminum alloy per ASTM B209, 0.019-inch base metal in the Slate and Cedar Shingle profiles and 0.0276 inch in Shake and Tile (ICC-ES ESR-1790), an Alunar® 70% PVDF finish (AAMA 2605) with the coating warranted 30 years, and the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty on material and finish, for the original purchaser while they own the home, transferable once. Wind resistance is warranted to 120 mph when installed to manufacturer specification. Installation workmanship is covered by the Metal Roof NC 5-Year Labor Warranty.
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). Full detail on Interlock roofing in North Carolina and aluminum shingles.
How much do metal shingles cost in North Carolina?
Metal shingles cost more than asphalt up front. For Interlock aluminum, 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. Steel shingles usually come in below aluminum.
Compare written estimates over the years you expect to own the home, counting the next asphalt replacement. See metal roof cost.
Questions, answered
What are metal shingles?
Metal shingles are roofing panels stamped from painted steel, stone-coated steel or aluminum to look like asphalt shingles, slate, cedar shake or tile. They install in overlapping or interlocking courses rather than as long vertical sheets.
Are metal shingles good for North Carolina?
Yes, for a house you plan to keep. They handle humid summers, tropical-storm wind and Piedmont ice better than asphalt. Near the coast, choose aluminum: steel depends on its coating to keep from rusting, and aluminum does not rust.
Steel or aluminum metal shingles?
Steel usually costs less up front and resists dents better at the same thickness. Aluminum does not rust, weighs about a third as much, and suits coastal salt air and shaded, damp roofs. Both can dent under large hail.
Do metal shingles cost more than asphalt?
Yes. 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 with roof size, pitch, tear-off and other conditions, and an on-site estimate is required for an accurate price.
Can metal shingles go over existing asphalt shingles?
Sometimes. A single layer of asphalt may be roofed over only if an inspection finds it suitable and local code permits. Cedar shingles and shakes, tile and natural slate always come off first.
Will my HOA allow metal shingles?
Many do, but most Triangle and Charlotte-area communities require architectural review first. Slate and Shake profiles often read as a traditional roof from the street. Check your design guidelines and apply before signing.
Are metal shingles noisy in the rain?
Over a solid roof deck and underlayment, which is how residential metal shingles are installed, they are not the drumming of a bare metal barn roof.
Who installs metal shingles in North Carolina?
Metal Roof NC, an authorized Interlock aluminum roofing dealer based in Raleigh, installs Interlock® aluminum metal shingles across the Triangle, the Charlotte area, the Triad and Piedmont, and the coast.
Sources
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco: Galvalume™ steel sheet, product information
- Gibraltar Building Products: why are the edges of my painted galvanized roof rusting?
- J.R. Davis, "Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys", ASM International (2001)
- ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-1790, Interlock Roofing (PDF)
- UL 2218 Class 4 impact listing, Delta Building Products, tested by Intertek (PDF)
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty (full document, PDF)
- 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)
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
- Aluminum shingles
- 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 Interlock® metal 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