Built for Hermantown’s Snow Load and Temperature Swings
Hermantown homes deal with wide weather swings each year. Normal January lows sit just above zero and drop below it on roughly half the nights that month, and by July we’re into the high 70s with humid stretches. Add about 86 inches of snow in an average year and the wind that comes through with both winter storms and summer thunderstorms, and that’s a lot of range for one roof to handle. It’s also one of the main reasons more Hermantown homeowners are asking about metal roofing instead of another round of asphalt shingles.
Empire Roofing installs metal roofing systems built to handle exactly this kind of climate. The age range of homes here is part of why the question comes up so often. The median Hermantown home was built around 1992, and a large share went up during the 2000s and 2010s, which means a lot of houses in town are right at the age where the original asphalt roof is due. When that bill is coming either way, metal is worth pricing out next to another round of shingles.
If you’re considering metal roofing in Hermantown, MN, it helps to talk through the options with a local team that installs them year-round in this exact climate.
Ready to Talk Through Your Metal Roofing Options?
A quick conversation now can save you a costly repair later. Reach out, and we’ll walk you through what makes sense for your roof.
What to Expect With Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is a system of interlocking metal panels installed over your roof deck, typically with an underlayment layer beneath for extra moisture protection. Unlike asphalt shingles, which are made of overlapping individual pieces, metal panels run in longer continuous sections or interlocking segments. This cuts down on the seams where water and wind can find a way in.
The panels themselves come in several profiles and finishes, so the look can range from a modern standing seam style to something that mimics traditional shingles or shake. What stays consistent across styles is the core advantage: metal sheds snow and rain more effectively than shingles, resists wind uplift better, and holds up to decades of temperature swings with very little upkeep. That shedding is a real benefit here, but it comes with a tradeoff worth knowing about. Snow can release off a metal roof all at once, so on homes in this area we install snow guards or a retention system above doorways, walkways, and driveways to keep it from coming down in one slide.
Metal Roofing Options We Install
You’ve got a few different metal roofing styles to choose from, so you can pick the one that fits your home’s look and your budget.
Standing Seam Panels
Vertical panels with raised, interlocking seams; a clean, modern look with strong resistance to wind and water intrusion.
Corrugated Metal Panels
Wavy-profile panels that are more budget-friendly, often chosen for garages, outbuildings, or a more rustic residential look.
Metal Shingles
Styled to resemble slate, shake, or tile, giving you a traditional appearance with the durability of metal underneath.
Stone-Coated Steel Panels
A hybrid option that pairs steel’s strength with a textured, stone-coated finish for a higher-end appearance.
Each option is installed with the same attention to flashing, fastening, and sealing details that keep a metal roof performing well through Hermantown winters. Once we know your home’s style and your priorities, whether that’s cost, appearance, or maximum snow performance, we’ll help you land on the right fit.
See What Metal Roofing Looks Like on a Home Like Yours
Signs Your Asphalt Roof Is Struggling in This Climate
Freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snow load take a toll on asphalt roofs faster in this region than in milder climates. A few signs are worth watching for:
- Curling or Cupping Shingles
Repeated freezing and thawing lifts shingle edges, which lets wind and water get underneath. - Granules Collecting in Your Gutters
This usually means shingles are wearing down faster than expected, often sped up by ice and snow sitting on the roof for months at a time. - Staining or Icicles Along the Eaves
This points to ice dam activity, where heat escaping into the attic melts roof snow that refreezes at the eaves and backs water up under the shingles. Worth knowing: ice dams are an attic problem more than a roofing problem. A metal roof and a full ice-and-water barrier help manage the water, but the real fix is attic insulation and ventilation, which we check as part of every estimate. - Missing or Damaged Shingles After a Wind Event
Asphalt shingles are more prone to wind damage than interlocked metal panels, especially on older roofs.
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s worth having Empire Roofing take a look. Sometimes a full roof replacement makes sense, and sometimes there’s a more targeted fix.
Why Hermantown Homeowners Choose Empire Roofing
Empire Roofing is locally owned and operated by a Duluth native who started in the roofing trade in 1994 and opened Empire Roofing here in 1998. We’re a GAF Master Elite certified contractor, a level GAF awards to less than 2% of roofing contractors in the country. That certification comes with real requirements around licensing, insurance, and training, and it’s a fair read on how a crew works whatever material is going on your roof. On a metal project, your warranty coverage comes from the panel manufacturer, and we’ll walk you through exactly what it covers before you sign anything.
For storm-related roof damage, our team also helps homeowners work through the insurance claim process, since that paperwork is often the most confusing part of getting a damaged roof repaired or replaced. Whether you’ve been in Hermantown for decades or just moved into a newer build off Stebner Road, we approach every metal roofing project with the same standard of work.
What Hermantown Homeowners Are Saying
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I just want to say that Empire Roofing responded very quickly to my emergency service call. Metal roofs are HARD to button up from moisture. Two plumbing vent pipes were leaking terribly and Dean came out with all the material needed to properly make the penetrations water-tight. I was impressed! Price was very fair as well and friendly service. Call Empire; they will take care of you!”
– Joshua B., Verified Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We’ve hired Empire Roofing for several projects. Michael and his crew have done excellent job. Good communicators, good craftsmanship, and helped through the insurance process. Thank you!”
– Tyler B., Verified Customer
Upgrade to a Stronger Roof
Proudly Serving Hermantown and the Surrounding Area
Empire Roofing installs metal roofing throughout Hermantown, from the busier eastern side along the Miller Trunk Highway corridor to homes on Maple Grove Road, Arrowhead Road, and Stebner Road, and out toward the quieter western side of the city near the Solway Township line. Proctor sits just south of us and Duluth borders the east side, and we work regularly in nearby communities like Cloquet, Superior, and Two Harbors.
Hermantown Metal Roofing FAQs
Is metal roofing noisy during rain or hail in Hermantown?
Not with a properly installed system. Testing puts rain on a metal roof over solid decking and underlayment at roughly 6 decibels above asphalt shingles, a gap most homeowners never notice once you add attic insulation and a finished ceiling. The loud barn roof reputation comes from bare metal over open framing, which is nothing like a finished home in Hermantown.
How long does a metal roof installation take?
Most residential metal roof installations in the Hermantown area take a few days to about a week, depending on the size of the roof, the panel style chosen, and weather conditions during the project. Empire Roofing will give you a specific timeline once we’ve assessed your home. Schedule a free estimate to get a project timeline for your property.
Can metal roofing be installed over my existing asphalt shingles?
Sometimes, yes. The Minnesota residential building code allows a maximum of two roof covering layers, so if your home already has two, a tear-off is required before anything new goes on. A recover also isn’t allowed if the existing roof is water-damaged or deteriorated. Hermantown issues its own building permits for reroofing, and we handle that paperwork. We’ll check your deck and layer count during the free estimate and tell you which way your roof has to go.
Does metal roofing affect homeowners insurance in Hermantown?
Often, yes. Many Minnesota insurers discount impact-resistant roofs rated UL 2218 Class 4, and most metal roofing systems carry that rating. The discount is never automatic, so you’ll need to ask your carrier and send them the certification. Some carriers also ask you to sign a cosmetic damage waiver on a metal roof, since dents don’t affect performance. We’ll pull the paperwork you need during your estimate.
Will a metal roof look out of place on an older Hermantown home?
Not necessarily. Metal roofing is available in styles like metal shingles and stone-coated steel panels that are designed to resemble traditional shingle, slate, or shake roofing, so it can complement older architecture as easily as it suits a newer build.
Is metal roofing noisy during rain or hail in Hermantown?
Not with a properly installed system. Testing puts rain on a metal roof over solid decking and underlayment at roughly 6 decibels above asphalt shingles, a gap most homeowners never notice once you add attic insulation and a finished ceiling. The loud barn roof reputation comes from bare metal over open framing, which is nothing like a finished home in Hermantown.
How long does a metal roof installation take?
Most residential metal roof installations in the Hermantown area take a few days to about a week, depending on the size of the roof, the panel style chosen, and weather conditions during the project. Empire Roofing will give you a specific timeline once we’ve assessed your home. Schedule a free estimate to get a project timeline for your property.
Can metal roofing be installed over my existing asphalt shingles?
Sometimes, yes. The Minnesota residential building code allows a maximum of two roof covering layers, so if your home already has two, a tear-off is required before anything new goes on. A recover also isn’t allowed if the existing roof is water-damaged or deteriorated. Hermantown issues its own building permits for reroofing, and we handle that paperwork. We’ll check your deck and layer count during the free estimate and tell you which way your roof has to go.
Does metal roofing affect homeowners insurance in Hermantown?
Often, yes. Many Minnesota insurers discount impact-resistant roofs rated UL 2218 Class 4, and most metal roofing systems carry that rating. The discount is never automatic, so you’ll need to ask your carrier and send them the certification. Some carriers also ask you to sign a cosmetic damage waiver on a metal roof, since dents don’t affect performance. We’ll pull the paperwork you need during your estimate.
Will a metal roof look out of place on an older Hermantown home?
Not necessarily. Metal roofing is available in styles like metal shingles and stone-coated steel panels that are designed to resemble traditional shingle, slate, or shake roofing, so it can complement older architecture as easily as it suits a newer build.
Ready to Switch to a Metal Roof?
Metal costs more up front than another round of shingles. That’s the honest tradeoff, and for a lot of Hermantown homeowners it still pencils out, because you’re buying decades instead of fifteen or twenty years. If you want a straight number for your roof, or you just want to see what metal would look like on your house, reach out to Empire Roofing.
