Metal Roofing in Saint Francis, Minnesota — Lifetime Interlock® Aluminum Shingles Installed Locally

Metal roofs shed snow differently than asphalt, but with the right installation they perform excellently in snow climates. Saint Francis gets about 94 cm of snow annually, so snow management matters. Interlock's four-way interlocking panels grip each other, slowing slide-off when properly installed with a solid deck and underlayment. The light weight—the Shake profile installs at just 0.58 lb/sq ft—means your structure handles the snow load far better than slate or tile would. Optional snow guards can be added to match your roof's profile if you prefer staged melting.

Aluminum actually thrives in freeze-thaw cycles because it contains no iron and cannot rust. When water gets under asphalt shingles, freezing and thawing causes rot and mold; aluminum's oxide layer self-heals when scratched and has no substrate to degrade. The Alunar 70% PVDF coating (warranted 30 years against chalking and fading) doesn't absorb moisture, so ice buildup doesn't compromise the material itself. With 94 cm of snow and those 84 annual freeze-thaw days, aluminum eliminates the moisture-damage cycle that shortens asphalt roofs to 15–20 years.

Steel roofs rust because steel contains iron, which oxidizes when exposed to moisture. Aluminum contains zero iron—it physically cannot rust. Instead, aluminum develops a thin, invisible oxide layer that actually protects the base metal and self-heals when scratched. Interlock uses roofing-grade 3105-H24 and 3003-H24 aluminum alloy (ASTM B209) with a two-sided Alunar 70% PVDF fluorocarbon finish for extra durability. This dual-coat approach has been proven from coastal salt-air installations to Antarctic research stations, so Minnesota's roughly 764 mm of annual rainfall poses no corrosion risk whatsoever.

Yes, because aluminum is extraordinarily light. The Mediterranean Tile profile weighs about 0.59 lb/sq ft—roughly 96% lighter than concrete or clay tile—so no reinforcement is needed. Even the heavier profiles install over existing roofs without structural work. Compare that to slate or traditional tile, which often require roof reinforcement costing thousands. With Saint Francis receiving wind gusts to 98 km/h, the four-way interlocking panels and light weight work together: minimal dead load means your existing structure safely handles wind uplift that would threaten a heavier material.

Interlock's four-way interlocking panels are warranted to resist wind speeds up to 120 mph (193 km/h) when installed to specification. That far exceeds Saint Francis's typical wind gusts around 98 km/h. The interlocking design distributes wind pressure across adjacent panels rather than relying on fasteners alone, which is why the system achieves a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating—the highest available. The Guardian warranty covers wind performance, and your installer (Interlock Metal Roofing, serving the region since 2001) ensures the installation meets those specs, so you're protected well beyond local conditions.

Interlock metal roofing holds a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating—the highest hail-resistance classification—and the warranty even covers perforation from hailstones up to 1.5 inches. Class 4 means it withstands impacts that damage asphalt, wood shakes, and standard roofing. Many insurers recognize this durability and offer discounts on comprehensive or full-replacement policies. Contact your agent with the UL 2218 Class 4 rating and ICC-ES ESR-1790 evaluation report (reissued 2025) as proof. Even without a discount, avoiding hail damage eliminates the claim hassle and protects your roof's 50-year transfer warranty.

energy-efficient Interlock colors reflect more solar heat than standard asphalt absorbs. Reflectance reaches up to 0.55 (Aged Copper Penny profile) with thermal emissivity of 0.84, and the Cool Roof Rating Council has rated these finishes, confirming their cooling efficiency. Saint Francis gets about 3,127 sunshine hours yearly, so every reflective hour counts over a 50-year roof life. The two-sided Alunar 70% PVDF coating maintains that reflectance for 30 years (ASTM D4214/D2244 measured), so you don't lose the energy benefit to fading. Cumulative cooling savings, combined with zero replacement costs, make aluminum far cheaper to own than asphalt over the long term.

Virtually none compared to asphalt, wood shake, or tile. Interlock aluminum panels don't curl, crack, split, or rot—conditions that plague asphalt shingles in Minnesota's 84 freeze-thaw days and 94 cm of snow. They don't require sealing, re-coating, or replacing individual damaged sections. The Alunar 70% PVDF finish (both sides) resists chalking and fading for 30 years and sheds dirt and algae naturally in rain. CALGreen-verified for reduced maintenance, this roof is essentially inspect-and-forget. Over 50 years, you'll spend far less time and money maintaining aluminum than you would on two or three asphalt roofs.

Yes—Interlock manufactures five profiles: Slate, Cedar Shingle, Shake, Standing Seam, and Mediterranean Tile. Each replicates the authentic appearance of the traditional material while delivering aluminum's durability, weight savings, and 50-year warranty. The Slate profile gives you slate's elegance without the weight or freeze-thaw cracking. Cedar Shingle and Shake capture that rustic charm but outperform wood in Saint Francis's 764 mm annual rainfall and 84 freeze-thaw cycles. Mediterranean Tile delivers high-end curb appeal at 96% lighter weight than concrete tile, so no structural reinforcement. Your choice isn't between metal or traditional aesthetics—it's between looking authentic and staying affordable, efficient, and maintenance-free.

Upfront cost is higher, but lifetime cost is lower. Asphalt shingles last 15–20 years in freeze-thaw climates like Saint Francis (84 freeze-thaw days annually); you'll replace them two or three times before an Interlock roof reaches its 50-year lifespan. Each replacement means tear-off labor, disposal fees, and new materials. Aluminum never needs replacement under The Guardian's non-prorated lifetime limited warranty (transferable to the next owner for 50 years), which covers rusting, rotting, splitting, cracking, curling, and impact loss. Add energy savings (energy-efficiency reflectance over 3,127 annual sunshine hours), zero maintenance, and potential insurance discounts, and aluminum becomes the cheapest roof you'll ever buy.

Yes. Saint Francis averages about 94 cm of snow, 764 mm of rain, roughly 84 freeze–thaw days a year, with peak wind gusts near 98 km/h. Interlock® aluminum roofing is wind-rated to 193+ km/h (120 mph), UL 2218 Class 4 impact-rated and Class A fire-rated, and its four-way interlocking panels shed snow and resist ice dams and freeze–thaw cracking — all backed by a lifetime limited, transferable warranty.