A full standing seam metal roofing system paired with a complete custom gutter installation on a Los Altos Hills home — plus matching metal roofing and gutters on the ADU, tying both structures together as one cohesive property. Non-penetrating solar-ready clamp detailing preserves the roof's watertight plane. The finished result is tremendously beautiful, and we're incredibly proud of the craftsmanship that went into every detail.
This Los Altos Hills property called for a full standing seam metal roofing system paired with a complete perimeter gutter installation — on both the main residence and the accessory dwelling unit. Every panel, every gutter run, every downspout was specified to match across the two structures so the finished property reads as one cohesive architectural statement rather than a primary home with a separate outbuilding tacked on.
Standing seam is the premium metal roofing system for a reason: concealed-fastener panels interlock mechanically along raised vertical seams, so there are no exposed screws or rubber washers to degrade in sun and rain. The weather seal doesn't depend on gaskets that fail over time — it depends on panel geometry that stays watertight for decades. On a wildland-urban interface property like this one, where Class A fire rating matters and the roof is visible from every angle of the surrounding hillside, that combination of performance and appearance is hard to beat.
The craftsmanship carries through to the gutter system. Custom color-matched half-round gutters with round downspouts — a cleaner architectural match for standing seam than standard K-style profiles, and significantly more demanding to fabricate. Every miter cut, every downspout elbow, every transition across inside and outside corners was handled on site by our crew. We're incredibly proud of how the finished property came together — the aerial view is the payoff, but the work that sells this job lives in the details you'll only notice if you look closely.
A standing seam metal roof is as much an architectural product as a roofing product. Our approach started with specification consistency across the main home and the ADU — same panel profile, same gauge, same PVDF coating color, same substrate assembly, same clip spacing. When a property has two structures that should read as one, every spec decision has to be made once and applied twice. The alternative is two roofs that don't quite match, and the mismatch is obvious from every angle.
For the panel system itself, we specified concealed-fastener standing seam with a PVDF (Kynar 500) finish. PVDF is the premium architectural metal coating — it holds its color against UV for 30+ years with minimal fade and carries manufacturer paint warranties that match the underlying panel warranty. Cheaper SMP (silicone-modified polyester) coatings are common on agricultural or industrial metal roofing, but aren't what we recommend for high-visibility residential work in a premium area like Los Altos Hills where the roof will be looked at closely for decades.
The gutter specification followed the same logic. Custom color-matched half-round gutters with round downspouts — fabricated to match the architectural language of the panels rather than bolted on as an afterthought. Round downspouts require more precise miters and elbows than rectangular profiles, and the mitered inside-and-outside corners on the gutter runs were cut, sealed, and riveted on site rather than substituted with molded plastic components. For solar compatibility we planned the panel layout around S-5! non-penetrating clamp attachment — the industry-standard way to mount solar racking on standing seam without compromising the watertight plane. On a shingle or tile roof, every solar array requires dozens of lag bolts through the deck. On this roof there are zero.
Complete tear-off of the existing roof assembly down to the deck on the main home and ADU. Every sheet of deck inspected for rot, delamination, or prior repair issues. Deck replacement as needed to create a clean, solid substrate for the standing seam system.
High-temperature synthetic underlayment installed across all decking. Metal roofs run hotter than shingle or tile, so standard synthetic underlayments won't hold up long-term — the high-temp spec is required for the panel system to deliver its full warranted service life.
Concealed-fastener standing seam panels installed with factory PVDF (Kynar) finish. Clips attach to the deck, panels interlock along raised vertical seams. No exposed screws, no rubber washers, no gaskets in the weather plane. Panel layout coordinated with future solar array positions so the finished roof supports clamp-on PV mounting.
Custom-fabricated flashing at every dormer, wall intersection, chimney, and skylight. Ridge, eave, and rake trim in matching finish. The flashing work is where a standing seam roof either reads as elegant architecture or reads as an industrial product — we fabricate on site to match the building's geometry rather than forcing stock profiles.
Color-matched half-round gutters installed around the full perimeter of the main home and ADU. Round downspouts with mitered inside and outside corners, fabricated elbows over every pop-out, and straps color-matched to the downspout profile. Concrete splash blocks at grade to direct water clear of the foundation.
For the client's solar array, S-5! non-penetrating clamps grip the panel seams directly — zero holes through the roof. Where plumbing vents required a panel penetration, we used gasketed metal pipe boots compressed against the rib rather than field-formed flashing and sealant. Zero-penetration solar plus properly sealed vent boots = a watertight plane that stays watertight.
Premium architectural metal roofing with vertical interlocking seams and no exposed fasteners in the weather plane. Panels clip to the deck so there are no penetrations through the panel field where water could eventually find a path. The same panel system specified for both the main home and ADU for complete visual consistency.
Premium architectural metal coating. PVDF holds its color against UV for 30+ years with minimal fade or chalking — significantly better than the SMP coatings common on industrial or agricultural metal roofing. Manufacturer paint warranty matches the underlying panel warranty. The right specification for high-visibility residential work.
Metal roofs run hotter than shingle or tile assemblies, so standard underlayments aren't appropriate — the high-temp spec is rated for the elevated substrate temperatures beneath metal panels and delivers the service life needed to match the panel system.
Color-matched half-round profile gutters with round downspouts — cleaner architectural match for standing seam than standard K-style profiles. Corners mitered, cut, and riveted on site rather than substituted with molded plastic. Fabrication precision is what separates architectural gutter work from utility gutter work.
Industry-standard clamp-on system for mounting solar racking to standing seam panels. Clamps grip the panel seams directly — zero penetrations through the roof. Roof warranty stays intact, watertight plane stays intact, and the client's PV array is supported without a single hole through the panel field.
Where plumbing vents required a panel penetration, gasketed metal pipe boots compressed against the rib provide a permanent weather seal — not a field-formed flashing held together with a tube of sealant that will need re-caulking in a few years. The right detail for a roof intended to last for decades.
The finished property is tremendously beautiful. Seen from above, the main home and ADU read as a single cohesive estate — matching panel color, matching gutter profile, matching downspout color, all executed at the same standard on both structures. Every transition, miter, and downspout elbow holds up to the same close-inspection standard as the hero aerial shot. The solar array is mounted without a single penetration through the roof, and every plumbing vent is sealed with a gasketed boot rather than field-formed flashing.
More importantly, the client now has a roof built to last. A properly installed standing seam metal roof with PVDF finish delivers 40-70 years of service life — this is the kind of roof that becomes the last roof the house will need. The gutter system is fabricated to match, positioned for long-term drainage performance, and detailed at a standard that matches the roof. The craftsmanship we're proud of on this project is the same craftsmanship Keith Roofing has been delivering to South Bay and Peninsula homeowners since 1952.
Los Altos Hills sits in the Peninsula foothills just above Los Altos and Palo Alto — a predominantly low-density residential community with large lots, mature oak and eucalyptus canopy, and homes ranging from mid-century originals to contemporary remodels and new builds. The town's architectural vocabulary has shifted meaningfully over the past decade toward modern and contemporary design — clean lines, low-slope rooflines, large glazing, natural materials — and standing seam metal has become the dominant roofing choice for that architectural language.
The other factor that matters specifically in Los Altos Hills is fire risk. Much of the town is classified within California's Wildland-Urban Interface zones or adjacent overlays — the combination of hillside topography, dry-grass exposure, and proximity to open space creates real fire exposure during California's extended summer fire season. Class A fire-rated roof assemblies are a code requirement in these zones, and standing seam metal — along with tile, concrete, and certain Class A composition systems — meets that standard. Unlike shake or unrated systems, metal roofs shed ember-cast fire events without providing a fuel source.
ADUs are the third factor worth noting here. California's expanded ADU legislation has made accessory dwelling units mainstream across Peninsula communities, and Los Altos Hills is no exception. When a property has a main residence and an ADU, the question of whether to match the two structures' finish materials is a meaningful design decision. Matching creates a cohesive estate that supports resale value — appraisers and buyers read the property as a single investment. Not matching — or matching poorly — makes the ADU read as an afterthought regardless of its actual quality. On this project, matching the roof and gutter profile exactly across both structures was a deliberate design choice that shows in the finished aerial view.
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