In the rolling landscape between Springfield and Joplin, Missouri, a striking residential project is nearing completion. The Tracy Woods home, with its highly durable metal roof and low-maintenance board and batten siding, represents both the growing popularity of metal in residential construction and a significant milestone for Midwest Metal Roofing.
Midwest Metal Roofing, founded in 2011, has built its reputation on quality craftsmanship and technical expertise. "We try to focus on standing seam mainly because we like the more technical side of roofing, not just slapping it up with the exposed fastener style," explains Corbin Ekstedt, Estimator, who now leads the company after founder Olan Yutzi passed away two years ago.
The Tracy Woods project is a testament to quality and craftsmanship. It features a burnished slate standing seam metal roof manufactured by Midwest Metal Roofing using McElroy Metal coils, paired with bone-white 24-gauge McElroy Metal Nostalgia board and batten siding and Matrix soffit. Together, these elements create a striking, durable alternative to traditional building materials.
What makes this project particularly noteworthy is that it represents Midwest Metal's first foray into steel board and batten siding. "We like the board and batten, and it's a newer product for us," Corbin notes. "We were very interested in trying the Nostalgia Board & Batten product. And we like it. So we're gonna push forward a lot more."
The project's technical details highlight Midwest Metal's expertise. The standing seam roof was formed on-site using the company's recently acquired roll former. "It's a lot easier on the bidder," Corbin explains. "We don't have to measure each piece going up the valley. You can just print out what you need at the job."
For this particular project, they utilized a nail strip standing seam system rather than clips. "I do like the nail flange standing seam better than the clip style, because a lot of times you can see the clips if the sun's hitting a certain way," says Corbin. This approach works well for residential projects, such as Tracy Woods. However, as an industry veteran, and Director of Marketing and Sales Training for McElroy Metal, Kathi Miller points out, "larger commercial buildings with longer panels may benefit from clip systems that allow for greater expansion and contraction".
The 24-gauge steel used for the board and batten siding for the Tracy Woods project was explicitly chosen to prevent the rippling effect that can occur with lighter gauges.
"We've seen a noticeable increase in demand for board and batten panels like our Nostalgia," Miller shares. "Homeowners love the classic look of board and batten, but with steel, they get the charm without the worry of wood rot—and the low maintenance is a big bonus. It's a trend that continues to gain traction in residential projects."
The Tracy Woods project reflects broader market trends that Midwest Metal Roofing is well-positioned to capitalize on. Metal roofing has become increasingly competitive with traditional shingles, partly due to rising shingle costs but also because of growing consumer awareness about longevity. As Corbin puts it, customers "would rather pay just a little bit more for a roof that lasts a lot longer."
Similarly, steel board-and-batten siding is experiencing a surge in popularity. "I get a lot of people asking for the steel board and batten style. It seems to be a pretty hot topic right now," says Corbin.
Midwest Metal's business approach has evolved under Corbin's leadership. While founder Olan Yutzi typically maintained only a week's worth of scheduled work, Corbin has expanded the company's backlog to about three months. This strategic shift has enabled the company to remain consistently booked for the past year.
Corbin also employs clever scheduling tactics to maintain workflow throughout the year. "All last summer, I told everybody who wanted a building built to call me in the wintertime. So we ended up building buildings all winter because people don't call for roofing," he explains. This approach keeps his nine-person crew busy throughout the year.
The Tracy Woods project also highlights the importance of supplier relationships in the metal roofing industry. Midwest Metal works with several suppliers but reserves higher-end projects involving premium materials, such as Kynar 500® finishes, for their preferred supplier, with whom they have a close relationship with Chrissy Friesen, Manager of the McElroy Metal Service Center in Diamond, MO.
The company's emphasis on quality extends to its selection of fasteners as well. "With the exposed fastener products, we use the zinc alloy cap screws for any roof we do instead of the quarter inchers because they're just higher quality. That's one of our biggest selling points," notes Corbin.
Although initially scheduled for 14 days, the Tracy Woods project is on track for completion in just 10 days – a feat that Corbin attributes primarily to his experienced team. "I've got a good crew. That's the biggest reason," he states simply. "A lot of house roofs we're in and out of in one to 2 days. But this is a pretty big house, and pretty complicated."
This efficiency is no accident. Midwest Metal's team includes former electricians and subcontractors with diverse construction backgrounds. As Corbin explains, Olan "found guys like us who were already doing well and paid us well, and we just get in there and do it quickly instead of how the standard by-the-hour worker might approach the same project."
As the Tracy Woods project wraps up, Corbin is already looking ahead to similar projects that will incorporate the same combination of standing seam roofing and board-and-batten siding. With metal roofing continuing to gain market share and architectural trends favoring the clean lines of these systems, Midwest Metal Roofing is well-positioned for continued growth.
The successful execution of this project demonstrates how small, specialized contractors can adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences while maintaining their commitment to quality craftsmanship. As Corbin puts it simply, "We've got an excellent team."