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Sheridan Sheet Metal –
Frequently Asked Questions

About Sheridan Sheet Metal

Sheridan Sheet Metal Co. has proudly been part of the Minneapolis community for more than 75 years. We’ve honed our process over decades of successful projects, and our fabrication team is made up of architectural sheet metal experts who’ve worked here for years. If you can draw it, we can make it. And we’ll make sure it fits, functions, and looks first class during installation.

We stock products and accessories that other places don’t, including the best selection of half-round gutters in Minnesota. Our available inventory includes 2,000 unique and specialized products.

Sheridan Sheet Metal has proudly been part of the Minneapolis community for over 75 years, and we’re here to stay! Sheridan Sheet Metal is owned by Eric DeWees. Eric and his family live and work in the community and are proud supporters of other local businesses. Stop by the New Hope shop and say hi any time.

You can find Sheridan Sheet Metal Co reviews on Google, Yelp, Angi, and Better Business Bureau. We take pride in every project! We’re happy to have an A+ rating on BBB and nearly perfect ratings on Google, Yelp, and Angi.

Sheridan Sheet Metal Gutters:
Frequently Asked Questions

Several established contractors install metal gutters in the Minneapolis area. Most use subcontractors to perform the actual installation. Only a few, like Sheridan Sheet Metal, have in-house, custom metal fabrication shops with access to the materials and tools required to ensure a perfect, damage-free fit for your home. Only Sheridan Sheet Metal has been serving the Twin Cities since 1950. For 75 years, we’ve been locally owned and staffed by all-employee, Union crews. Many can install gutters – Sheridan Sheet Metal can help you take care of them for decades to come.

For historical homes, new builds, or as an upgrade to your existing home, copper gutters are a premium, nearly permanent solution. Commonly lasting 50 years or more due to natural rust resistance, copper gutters add unique, high-end curb appeal that develops a protective and aesthetically pleasing green patina over time.

Yes. Steel is more durable and stronger than the aluminum used in “seamless” gutters. Plus, “seamless” is a misnomer, as all gutter systems will have seams at certain points. In places like Minnesota with heavy snow in the winter or potential damage from trees, wind, and hail in the summer, steel is a far better option. The cost difference between aluminum and steel materials is also becoming negligible, with aluminum costs rising to nearly the same cost, for half the performance of steel.

Yes, somewhat, but aluminum is rapidly becoming equally costly.

Yes, gutters are necessary almost everywhere, but especially in Minnesota. With the state's heavy spring rains, frequent severe summer storms, and massive snowmelts, gutters are vital for protecting your home. Without them, cascading water can cause basement flooding, cracked foundations, erosion, and exterior wood rot. Investing in high-quality gutters can surprisingly save you hundreds – even thousands – of dollars.

To get truly maintenance-free gutters in Minnesota, your best bet is to invest in heavy-duty steel or copper gutters from Sheridan Sheet Metal paired with high-quality, custom-fabricated leaf guards. This system will stop ice dam formation and debris buildup, saving you from constant ladder climbing.

Metal gutters, including copper gutters, when designed, fabricated, and installed on your home by experts last twice as long as aluminum seamless gutters.

  • Aluminum seamless: 15–25 years (often less in harsh conditions)
  • Steel or copper: 50+ years when installed correctly

We regularly replace aluminum systems that are on their second or third cycle, while nearby steel or copper systems are still performing.

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the root cause of ice dams is warm air leaking into your attic and melting the snow on your roof. The best way to stop them entirely is to seal air leaks and upgrade your attic insulation to at least an R-50.

While proper insulation and ventilation in your attic are the real cures for ice dams, metal gutters provide several practical advantages in Minnesota winters:

  • Better Construction: Unlike cheaper systems that have joints that snag ice and debris, seamless metal systems eliminate these weak points. This keeps meltwater flowing efficiently rather than pooling and refreezing on your eaves.
  • Durability Under Heavy Loads: Minnesota’s heavy snowfall and ice put immense stress on gutters. Premium metal materials (like steel) resist cracking or sagging under extreme freezing conditions.
  • Thermal Conductivity: Metal reacts to the sun and outdoor temperature changes quickly. While asphalt absorbs and traps cold, metal surfaces can warm up slightly when exposed to sunlight, allowing snow and ice to slide out of the trough before creating a blockage.
  • Optimal Water Flow: Properly sloped and aligned metal gutters ensure that during the spring thaw or midday winter sun, melted water is immediately channeled away from your foundation.

K-Style gutters have a flat back and decorative, crown-molding-style front, holding more water and hugging the fascia tightly. Half-round gutters have a semicircular tube shape, are easier to clean due to their smooth interior, and require visible, exterior hanging brackets.

K-style gutters are angular and hold roughly 30% to 40% more water than half-round gutters of the same width, making them ideal for heavy rainfall. Half-round gutters are U-shaped.

K-style is the most common modern choice and blends seamlessly with traditional or contemporary homes. Half-round gutters offer a classic, vintage, or historic charm, making them popular for older or luxury properties.

Copper gutters typically cost between $25 and $60+ per linear foot installed, or roughly $3,750 to $9,000 for an average 150-foot home. Copper requires specialized soldering and craftsmanship, so choosing the right company is incredibly important.

Premium copper gutter installation requires precise fabrication and hand-cutting, custom miters, and soldered seams to properly handle local weather. Sheridan Sheet Metal has been installing copper gutters in Minnesota since 1950, and our installers have decades of experience.

For heavy Minnesota rain, the best option is a 6-inch, steel or copper K-style gutter. This specific setup prevents overflowing and withstands intense Midwest downpours, especially when paired with oversized downspouts (3" x 4") and debris-blocking gutter guards. Sheridan Sheet Metal specializes in these gutters in many colors and material options, including copper.

Most homes in Minnesota require the larger 3×4 inch downspouts and it’s the new standard in rainwater management. Your home especially needs oversized downspouts (typically 3×4 inches instead of standard 2×3 inches) if you have a steep roof, a large roof surface area feeding into a single stretch of gutter, or a home in an area prone to intense, heavy downpours, like the Twin Cities.

Oversized downspouts can handle roughly twice the water volume of standard sizes, making them highly recommended in Minnesota.

For top-rated gutter installation in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota, homeowners and contractors consistently recommend Sheridan Sheet Metal for steel and copper gutters. Only Sheridan Sheet Metal has been locally owned and operated in the Twin Cities area since 1950.

Gutter installation involves measuring rooflines, cutting and joining gutter sections, spacing hangers, and maintaining a proper downward slope to downspouts.  For copper gutters, all miters and seams are soldered by our professional installers. 

Proper installation prevents foundation erosion and roof rot. A standard residential project typically takes a few hours to one full day to complete. 

In Minnesota, you can start the process by requesting a quick and easy quote from Sheridan Sheet Metal.

Sheridan Sheet Metal:
Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Roofing

Installing a metal roof in the Twin Cities area typically costs between $15,000 and $30,000 for an average-sized home. On a per-square-foot basis, prices range from $20 to $40 per square foot, including both materials and labor. 

Cost by Roof Size:

  • 1,000 sq. ft. roof: $20,000 – $40,000
  • 1,500 sq. ft. roof: $30,000 – $60,000
  • 2,000 sq. ft. roof: $40,000 – $80,000
  • 2,500 sq. ft. roof: $50,000 – $100,000
  • 3,000 sq. ft. roof: $60,000 – $120,000

 

When choosing a provider and installer for your metal roofing, it’s important to make sure your general contractor or roofing company chooses the right metal roofing crew. Sheridan Sheet Metal can help.

Yes, metal roofs are excellent for heavy snow because they are highly durable, and their slick surfaces allow snow to shed easily.

  • Weight Tolerance: Metal panels are lightweight but rigid, which allows them to easily bear heavy snow loads without warping or cracking.
  • Self-Shedding: The nonporous, slick surface helps snow and ice slide off naturally, preventing excessive, dangerous buildup and helping to avoid ice dams.
  • Moisture Resistance: Unlike asphalt shingles, metal will not absorb water. This prevents the panel from freezing, expanding, and cracking as temperatures fluctuate.
  • Snow Retention: In areas above doors or walkways, snow retention is installed on the metal roof to prevent snow or ice from sliding off the metal roof onto people or objects below.

Metal roofing is generally the superior long-term choice due to its 50 to 70 year lifespan, high durability, and energy efficiency. However, asphalt shingles remain the most popular option because they cost about half as much upfront and are perceived as easier to install and repair. Metal roofs don’t need that type of maintenance, so that perception is misleading. 

Metal roofing is an investment, but it’s the last roof you’ll ever put on.

Metal roofs can endure even harsh Minnesota weather for 50 to 70 years with minimal maintenance, easily outlasting two or even three asphalt roofs.

This is a myth. Modern metal roofs, properly installed, are not noticeably noisier than traditional asphalt shingle roofs. When installed over solid roof decking with proper underlayment and insulation, building materials absorb and deaden sound. Rain noise on a metal roof is comparable to standard shingles within 3-5 decibels.

This is a myth. Metal roofs do not attract lightning. Lightning strikes the path of least resistance to the ground, which is typically determined by an object’s height, shape, and isolation, rather than its material. 

Metal roofs are actually safer in a lightning storm. The Metal Construction Association notes these benefits:

  • Safe Dissipation: Because metal is a highly conductive material, a metal roof safely disperses the electrical charge across the building’s surface and down to the ground.
  • No Spark or Combustion: Traditional roofing materials like wood shakes and asphalt shingles can easily ignite when struck by lightning. Metal roofs are non-combustible and carry a Class A fire rating.

This is a myth. A metal roof will not make your home hotter. In fact, metal roofs typically keep your home cooler than traditional asphalt shingles due to their high solar reflectivity and low thermal mass. Metal roofs do not make your home hotter in the summer due to: 

  • Reflection, Not Absorption: While the metal surface gets hot to the touch in the sun, it immediately reflects the majority of the sun’s radiation away from your home.
  • Quick Cool Down: Unlike asphalt, which absorbs and retains heat, metal cools down almost instantly once the sun sets.

Energy Savings: Studies by organizations like Oak Ridge National Laboratories indicate that highly reflective metal roofs can actually lower your home’s cooling costs significantly.

Because of their interlocking panels and lightweight nature, metal roofs have exceptional wind uplift resistance. Wind damage only typically occurs if the fasteners loosen or if severe storms dislodge edge flashings. Proper installation prevents this type of damage in most cases. Properly installed metal roofs withstand winds speeds over 140 mph. 

Metal roofs are structurally much more durable and are generally less frequently damaged by hail than asphalt shingles. Metal roofs (particularly steel) do not crack, split, or lose granules. Most pass the highest industry rating for impact resistance (UL 2218 Class 4).

Metal roofs perform better in Minnesota’s harsh conditions.

Usually, yes. Metal roofs can often lower your insurance rates by 5% to 35%. Insurers view them favorably due to their durability against wind, fire, and hail. Talk to your insurance agent to see how switching to a metal roof could impact your specific premiums.

Sheridan Sheet Metal: Frequently Asked Questions About Architectural Sheet Metal and Architectural Copper Accents

Sheridan Sheet Metal provides architectural sheet metal fabrication for businesses, contractors, and homeowners across Minnesota, ranging from commercial building installations to custom residential metalwork. In addition to fabrication, installation options are available for most products.

You can purchase a copper or steel chimney cap, custom chimney caps, copper architectural accents, chimney saddles, and chimney covers in Minnesota through specialized local chimney sweeps and masonry contractors, or at Sheridan Sheet Metal in New Hope. 

Sheridan Sheet Metal fabricates custom steel and copper chimney covers that keep water, rodents, and insects out, protect flue penetrations, and deliver a clean, finished look that stands up to any weather.

Custom copper and steel bay window roofs, steel cupolas, and other copper architectural accents or steel architectural accents are fabricated and installed by specialized architectural sheet metal companies and roofing contractors like Sheridan Sheet Metal in the Twin Cities. Since these features require custom panel rolling and precise hand-detailing, they should be handled by in-house metal shops. 

Sheridan Sheet Metal specializes in custom copper and steel bay window roofs and architectural accents, backed by over 75 years of experience in the Twin Cities. You can read about the fabrication process, see project photos, and request a quote here.

You can buy copper coils in Minnesota, depending on the type you need. For industrial, manufacturing, and specialty applications, locally owned Sheridan Sheet Metal has a custom fabrication shop that can sell these materials to you. Learn more about our custom fabrication shop here.

For top-rated sheet metal fabrication in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota, contractors consistently choose Sheridan Sheet Metal for their steel and copper needs. Only Sheridan Sheet Metal has been locally owned and operated in the Twin Cities area since 1950.