Metal Roofing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Yes—aluminum's physical properties actually improve in freeze-thaw conditions. With about 79 freeze-thaw days per year in Milwaukee, material brittleness and cracking are real concerns for asphalt and clay. Aluminum doesn't absorb moisture, so it won't expand and contract with ice formation the way wood shakes or concrete tile do. The 3105-H24 aluminum alloy used in Interlock panels is rated to ASTM B209 standards and has been installed from coastal salt-air environments to Antarctica—it's engineered for extreme thermal cycling. Your roof will move slightly with temperature swings, but the four-way interlocking panels flex without failure.

Milwaukee averages about 120 cm of snow annually, and the smooth, sloped aluminum surface sheds snow and ice far faster than asphalt shingles, which trap moisture and ice. The Interlock panels weigh as little as 0.41 lb/sq ft (Shingle profile)—so light that snow load is never a structural concern, and you won't need costly reinforcement like you would under slate or concrete tile. The panels are warranted to 120 mph wind speeds, which handles the gusts that dislodge snow and prevent ice dam formation. Metal's thermal conductivity also helps—heat escapes through the roof, reducing the freeze-thaw cycle at the roof line that causes ice dams in the first place.

Aluminum cannot rust because it contains no iron—the element that oxidizes in water and oxygen. Instead, aluminum forms a microscopically thin oxide layer that self-heals when scratched, protecting the metal underneath indefinitely. With 822 mm of annual rainfall in Milwaukee, corrosion resistance is critical. Steel roofing can rust through at scratches or panel edges; aluminum never will. Interlock panels use roofing-grade 3105-H24 and 3003-H24 aluminum alloy (ASTM B209), plus a Alunar 70% PVDF fluorocarbon coating (30-year warranty against chalking) applied to both sides for extra protection. In a damp Great Lakes climate, this chemical immunity is a genuine long-term advantage.

Absolutely. Milwaukee's typical gusts reach 96 km/h, with occasional severe storms pushing higher. Interlock's four-way interlocking aluminum panels are warranted to withstand 120 mph (193 km/h) winds when installed to specification. The interlocking edges lock each panel to its neighbors, preventing the panel lift and blow-off that plague traditional shingles in high-wind conditions. The warranty isn't theoretical—it's backed by UL testing and covers actual performance. Given the region's exposure to Lake Michigan influence and seasonal storms, the mechanical strength of an interlocked system beats single-fastener asphalt or wood every time.

The Guardian lifetime limited warranty is non-prorated for the original owner—meaning no depreciation curve—and covers rusting, rotting, splitting, cracking, curling, and loss of impact resistance. It's also one-time transferable, giving the next owner 50 years of coverage from completion. Most asphalt warranties are 20–25 years and prorated heavily after year 10, so you're paying out-of-pocket for repairs sooner than the fine print suggests. With Interlock, you're buying the last roof you'll install—or the last one before you sell. The aluminum's chemical stability (it cannot rust or rot) and the Alunar coating's 30-year fade warranty mean the material doesn't degrade the way organic roofing does.

Interlock offers five profiles—Slate, Cedar Shingle, Shake, Mediterranean Tile, and Standing Seam—so you get the appearance you want without the weight or maintenance. The Slate and Cedar Shingle profiles suit traditional Milwaukee neighborhood aesthetics, while the Shake and Tile replicate higher-end materials. The Mediterranean Tile profile is about 96% lighter than real clay or concrete tile, so it installs over most existing roofs without structural reinforcement. Standing Seam gives a clean, modern look. Each profile uses the same four-way interlocking aluminum core, so your choice is purely aesthetic. All profiles are available in energy-efficiency colors, and the Alunar coating comes in multiple finishes to match brick, siding, and stone.

Aluminum requires virtually none compared to asphalt, wood, or tile. There's no moss or algae growth (asphalt and wood invite both), no cracking from freeze-thaw cycles (Milwaukee gets about 79 per year), and no curling or splitting. You don't need to replace flashing or seal seams every few years like you do with asphalt. Occasional gutter cleaning and debris removal are all that's needed. The Alunar coating is warranted for 30 years against fading and chalking, so you won't see the white oxidation that makes old metal roofs look dull. The ICC-ES evaluation report ESR-1790 specifically verifies reduced maintenance under CALGreen standards. Over a 50-year lifespan, the labor savings alone often exceed the material premium over asphalt.

Interlock's energy-efficient colors reflect, not absorb, solar heat—with initial solar reflectance up to 0.55 and thermal emissivity of 0.84, rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. Dark asphalt shingles absorb that same sunlight and radiate it into your home, raising cooling costs. Milwaukee gets about 3,128 sunshine hours per year; even in the northern climate, summer heat gain through a dark roof adds real cooling load. Reflective coatings also slow the thermal cycling that degrades asphalt over time. You won't see massive energy savings like you would in the Southwest, but the combination of reflectivity and the aluminum's conductivity means your AC runs less in hot weather. It's a genuine efficiency gain in a Great Lakes summer.

Yes, in most cases. The aluminum panels weigh as little as 0.41 lb/sq ft (Shingle profile) or 0.59 lb/sq ft (Tile), so they install directly over most existing asphalt roofs without structural reinforcement. This cuts labor time and disposal costs compared to tearing off the old roof and hauling it to the landfill. The installer applies underlayment, fastens the panels according to ESR-1790 specifications, and installs flashing and trim. The entire process is typically faster than a tear-off-and-replace job. Interlock has served the Milwaukee region since 2001, so local installers understand roof geometry, ice dam exposure, wind loading, and the 822 mm annual rainfall your roof sees. A site inspection confirms whether your existing deck is suitable; if structural repairs are needed, they're identified upfront.

Yes. Interlock aluminum is about 95% recyclable, and at end of life—whether 50 years or 100 years from now—the panels are salvaged for new aluminum products rather than landfilled. Asphalt shingles, by contrast, end up in landfills by the millions of tons each year because they can't be recycled economically. With 822 mm of annual rain in Milwaukee, asphalt roofs fail faster due to moisture infiltration and freeze-thaw stress, creating a replace-every-25-years cycle. Interlock breaks that cycle. The panels are manufactured in Delta, BC, using established processes, and their longevity means you're not discarding and replacing roofing multiple times over a century. Choosing aluminum also eliminates the embodied carbon of repeated asphalt production and installation labor.