Disclaimer

Last updated: 20 September 2026

General information, not professional advice

The guidance on this site is written to help property owners make informed decisions about roofing. It is general information about how roofs behave in this climate.

It is not a structural engineering assessment of your building, and it is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Every roof is specific. No article can substitute for somebody getting on yours.

Building code references

We cite specific provisions — the ice barrier requirement under MN Residential Code R905.1.2, the 50 psf ground snow load under Minnesota Rules 1303.1700, the ventilation ratio — because a citation you can verify is more useful than an assertion you cannot.

Codes are amended. Municipalities adopt amendments and interpret provisions differently. What is published here reflects our understanding at the date above and is not a substitute for the current adopted code or for your building official's determination.

For work in Monticello, confirm requirements with the City of Monticello Building Safety Department on (763) 295-3060. For the surrounding communities, jurisdiction depends on the parcel — see our service areas.

Cost figures

Every price range on this site is an estimate for this market at the date published. Material costs move with commodity pricing and labor availability.

The cost comparisons in our articles — including the fifteen, thirty and fifty year metal versus asphalt analysis — rest on stated assumptions, including an assumed rate of cost escalation. We show the assumptions precisely so you can substitute your own. They are illustrative models, not predictions, and no outcome is guaranteed.

Service life expectations

Figures such as "40 to 60 years" for standing seam describe what a properly installed assembly can be expected to achieve under normal conditions. They are not warranties.

Actual service life depends on installation quality, ventilation, maintenance, exposure and weather events. A warranty, where one applies, is set out in the written contract and in the manufacturer's documentation — not on this page.

Insurance content

Our material on storm claims and on Minnesota Statutes § 325E.66 is general information. We are roofing contractors, not lawyers, insurance adjusters or public adjusters.

Coverage depends entirely on your policy. Whether to file a claim is your decision, and we will not tell you what a claim is worth. For advice on your policy, speak to your insurer, a licensed public adjuster, or a solicitor.

Safety

Some articles describe work homeowners can reasonably do themselves — raking snow from the ground, inspecting an attic, looking at a roof from the driveway.

Roof work is dangerous. Falls are the leading cause of serious injury in this trade. Working at height on a metal surface, in winter, on ice, is dangerous even for people who do it professionally with proper fall protection. Nothing here is an encouragement to get on your roof, and we accept no responsibility if you choose to.

Third-party manufacturers

Manufacturer names appear to identify products we install. Their inclusion does not imply their endorsement of us. Product specifications and warranty terms are set by the manufacturer and may change; confirm current terms with them or with us before ordering.

No guarantee of outcome

We make no representation that following guidance on this site will prevent ice dams, avoid leaks, secure an insurance payout, or produce any particular result. What we can commit to is that the information here is written honestly and that we will tell you when we do not know something.

Questions

If something here is unclear or you think we have got a detail wrong, call (763) 342-0499. We would rather correct it than leave it.