Metal is a great answer for the right Evanston home — and the wrong answer for many.
Where standing-seam metal works
Contemporary new construction in Evanston (more of which gets built every year). Lakefront homes with high wind exposure where the panel system can be engineered to 140-plus mph wind ratings. Modern additions on otherwise-traditional homes — a standing-seam-roofed dormer or sunroom can look terrific against a slate or asphalt main roof. Low-slope porch and bay-window roofs where shingles do not work.
Where it does not work
Most Evanston Victorians, Queen Annes, and Tudor revivals. The visual reads "industrial" rather than "historic" and the COA process in landmark districts almost always rejects it. Homeowners who try to force metal onto a Victorian usually regret it within five years.
Costs and lifespan
Standing-seam aluminum runs $14–$22 per square foot installed; steel runs $11–$18. Both last 50-plus years. Premium choices (Kynar 500 painted finishes, zinc, copper) add 30–50% but extend life and visual quality further.
Hail considerations
Metal roofing dents in hail. The structural performance is unaffected, but the cosmetic impact is real. Stone-coated steel reduces cosmetic dent visibility; bare standing-seam shows it. This is a real consideration in Evanston given our hail history.