Metal roofing projects fail on schedule for predictable reasons: incomplete material lists, unplanned lead times, jobsite delivery constraints, and staging that turns premium product into damaged product before installation even starts.
Because Top Tier Metals is supply-only, the ordering process is where you win or lose time. If you want your order reviewed for completeness and jobsite readiness before you submit it, start here:
Schedule a free metal roofing contractor order review and materials check
This guide covers what contractors should do in 2026 to manage lead times, avoid missing trim and flashing, stage materials correctly, and receive shipments without surprise costs or delays.
Step 1: Confirm the system and lock scope before you order
The ordering timeline depends on the system. In general, premium profiles and special colors can change lead times, packaging, and accessory availability. Before you quote a start date, confirm which profile you are using and keep every accessory in the same system family.
Browse system categories:
- Metal shingles: Shop metal shingle roofing systems for contractors
- Metal shake: Shop metal shake roofing systems for contractors
- Metal tile: Shop metal tile roofing systems for contractors
- Metal panels: Shop metal panel roofing systems for contractors
- All systems: Browse all premium metal roofing systems from Top Tier Metals
If the homeowner is still comparing brands, start here:
Step 2: Build a takeoff that is complete enough to order once
The most common contractor mistake is treating a metal roofing order like a field-material-only order. Trim, flashing, closures, sealants, and penetration details are where jobs get delayed and where leaks get created.
Use these two resources before finalizing quantities:
- How to measure a roof for metal roofing and avoid ordering mistakes
- Metal roof accessories and trim options that prevent leaks and improve finish
If you want a fast sanity check on completeness before ordering, use:
Get a free bill of materials review to confirm trim, flashing, closures, and fasteners
Step 3: Plan lead times the contractor way
Lead time problems usually come from one of four places:
- Changing the system or profile after selection
- Choosing a color or finish that is less common
- Needing accessories in matching color that were not included in the first order
- Re-ordering due to incomplete takeoff or unexpected field conditions
Lead time planning checklist
- Confirm the exact profile and color before you schedule tear-off
- Confirm all trim, flashing, and closure line items in matching color
- Confirm underlayment selection, especially for heat and slope conditions
- Confirm penetration plan and pipe boot sizes before ordering
- Build in a buffer for weather and deck repairs after tear-off
For shipping expectations and delivery planning, review:
Top Tier Metals shipping policy for processing, freight, and delivery timelines
Step 4: Color selection and matching accessories without surprises
Color selection is not just a homeowner preference. For contractors, color is a logistics issue. Your accessories must match, and if you miss an accessory line item, you do not just delay the project. You risk a mismatch if you have to source the missing part later from a different batch or timeline.
Contractor best practices for color control:
- Confirm the exact system family and choose accessories within the same system family
- Order all trim and flashing in the same order as the field material
- Verify whether the roof has wall transitions that require sidewall and headwall flashing
- Validate ridge and hip components early, because those line items are easy to omit
If the project involves higher-risk environments, confirm selection and detailing before ordering:
Metal roofing performance in coastal and salt-air environments and how to plan materials
Step 5: Staging and storage so premium product stays premium
Most jobsite damage happens before installation. Forklift mishandling, wet storage, and staging on uneven ground can deform, scratch, or trap moisture in ways that create preventable failures.
Jobsite staging checklist
- Confirm delivery truck access, turning radius, and unloading location
- Stage materials on flat, dry ground with dunnage to keep bundles off soil
- Keep packaging intact until installation, and avoid stacking beyond safe limits
- Protect from standing water and prolonged contact with wet surfaces
- Stage accessories and small parts in labeled bins to prevent loss
- Confirm the install crew has the correct cutting tools and does not use heat methods that damage finishes
For delivery requirements and expectations, review:
Shipping and delivery requirements for metal roofing orders from Top Tier Metals
Step 6: Delivery day inspection and sign-off process
The delivery receipt is your protection. Treat delivery day like a quality-control step, not a formality.
Delivery inspection checklist
- Have a responsible person onsite to inspect and sign
- Count bundles or pallets and confirm they match the packing slip
- Inspect packaging for visible damage before you sign
- Photograph the shipment from multiple angles
- Set aside any visibly damaged items and document immediately
- Move accessories to secure storage to prevent loss
Once delivery is complete, use a materials checklist to confirm nothing is missing before tear-off starts. This prevents you from discovering the missing ridge cap or flashing after the roof is already open.
Metal roofing materials checklist for a complete system before installation
If you have not published that checklist yet, link this section to the checklist post once it goes live and keep it as a permanent internal link between the two articles.
Step 7: Penetrations, leak points, and the items contractors forget to order
Penetrations and transitions are the highest-risk areas on metal roofs, and they are also the most common place for missing accessories. Plan them before ordering and confirm you have the correct boots and flashing approach.
Use this resource before the first cut:
How to detail metal roof penetrations without leaks for skylights, vents, and chimneys
Also review warranty considerations, because incorrect detailing can void coverage:
Metal roofing warranty guide and common mistakes that void coverage
Contractor quick checklist: order, stage, install without delays
- Lock the system and color before scheduling tear-off
- Build a complete bill of materials including trim, flashing, closures, sealants, and penetration items
- Confirm lead time and create a buffer for weather and deck repairs
- Stage materials correctly to prevent damage before installation
- Inspect delivery and document everything before sign-off
- Confirm materials are complete before tear-off begins
