Metal Roof Replacement in Knoxville, TN
Thinking about trading worn shingles for steel on your home in Knoxville, TN? Roof Replacement Knoxville TN is a free referral service: we do no roofing and offer no prices of our own. We pass your request to one independent local roofer who can inspect the house and price a metal roof in writing.
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What a Metal Roof Changes
Most residential metal roofs fall into two broad types. Exposed-fastener panels are screwed through the face of the steel and usually cost less. Standing seam hides its fasteners under raised seams and usually costs more. Both look very different from shingles, which matters more in Knoxville than in many cities.
That is because of the historic overlays. Fourth and Gill, Old North Knoxville, Mechanicsville, Edgewood-Park City and the other overlay districts send any change in roof material to the Historic Zoning Commission. On a Victorian or craftsman house there, switching to metal is a design question before it is a construction one. Call Knoxville-Knox County Planning at 865-215-2500 before you sign anything.
What Gets Done
- Moving from shingles to steel. Owners tired of repeat shingle repairs often ask what a metal system would cost on the same roof.
- An older metal roof wearing out. Rust at the fasteners, loose panels or failed seams can mean the panels themselves need replacing.
- A house inside a historic overlay. The Historic Zoning Commission reviews the material change, so its decision shapes what the roofer can propose.
- A porch or addition only. Some homeowners put metal on one section and keep shingles elsewhere, which the roofer can price separately.
The Cost of Metal Roof Replacement
Steel generally costs more per square foot than shingles. We quote nothing ourselves, so here are published figures with their sources and years:
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee re-roof, average | about $8,518 (range $6,703–$20,071) | This Old House, 2026 |
| Tennessee architectural shingles, per sq ft | about $5.05 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee impact-resistant shingles, per sq ft | about $6.25 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee exposed-fastener steel, per sq ft | about $8.45 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Knoxville re-roofing, per sq ft | about $7.36 | ContractorPlus, 2026 |
Our cost calculator uses $8.25 to $13.50 per square foot of roof surface for metal, from exposed-fastener steel at the low end to standing seam at the top. Your roofer's written estimate replaces any of these numbers.
Timeline and Stages
- Send the request. Call (865) 555-0147 or fill in the form, and one independent local roofer receives it.
- Inspection and measuring. The roofer checks the deck and framing, then measures for panel lengths and trim.
- Check the overlay map. If the home sits in a historic district, call Planning before you commit to a material.
- Written estimate. It should name the panel type, steel gauge, finish, underlayment and trim.
- Permits and install. The roofer handles any permit, removes the old roof as needed and fastens the new panels.
Neither local codes office publishes a rule specific to re-roofs. Ask your roofer whether the job needs a permit, then confirm it with City of Knoxville Plans Review and Inspections, (865) 215-4311, if you live inside city limits, or Knox County Codes Administration, 865-215-2325, if you do not.
Why the Process Matters
The job's size decides which license applies. In Knox County, Tennessee treats roofing as home improvement: a residential job from $3,000 to $24,999 needs a state Home Improvement license, and a job of $25,000 or more needs a state contractor license. Search the roofer at verify.tn.gov.
- Insurance and warranties. Get proof of insurance plus the panel maker's warranty and the labor warranty in writing.
- A line-by-line contract. Panel type, trim and tear-off should each have a price.
- No large deposit. The Tennessee Attorney General cautions against paying more than one-third up front.
Good to Know
Can I put a metal roof on a house in Old North Knoxville?
Possibly, but the Historic Zoning Commission decides on material changes there. The neighborhood's guidelines call for roof colors such as dark green, charcoal gray, black or dark reddish brown. Talk with Knoxville-Knox County Planning at 865-215-2500 early, before a contract is signed.
Does Roof Replacement Knoxville TN sell metal roofing?
No. We sell no materials, do no installation and set no prices. We are a free referral service that sends your request to one independent local roofer. The site can earn a referral fee from the roofer, never from you.
Can metal go over my existing shingles?
It depends on the deck, the number of layers already on the house and the panel system. Some roofers prefer a full tear-off so they can check the wood underneath. Ask the roofer to explain the choice in writing and to price both approaches if both are possible.
Who arranges the permit?
The roofer handles any permit. Your part is knowing which office covers your address and, in a historic overlay, getting the Historic Zoning Commission's review before the work is booked. Ask the roofer to show you the permit once it is issued.
You May Also Need
Not settled on steel? Read about shingle roof replacement, or start with full roof replacement and the Tennessee roofing rules.
See What Metal Would Cost
Call (865) 555-0147 or send the form and mention that you are considering metal. One independent local roofer will reach out, and the written quote comes from that roofer, not from us.