Sheet Metal Contractor in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

A sheet metal contractor fabricates and installs metal components, a fabrication trade distinct from air-conditioning repair even when the two share a job site. Sheet metal shops cut, form, and weld flat stock into HVAC ductwork, exhaust and ventilation systems, kitchen hoods, custom stainless work, flashing, gutters and downspouts, metal roofing parts, and architectural panels. In Chattanooga, a city of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) anchoring a metro that spans southeastern Tennessee and reaches into north Georgia, that work supports a steady base of commercial, institutional, and industrial construction, including hospitals, schools, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities that need custom-fabricated metal.

The Chattanooga market combines commercial development with a strong manufacturing presence, and its sheet metal trade reflects both. Commercial and industrial HVAC projects require fabricated ductwork and ventilation; restaurants, hospitals, laboratories, and food facilities need custom stainless steel hoods, counters, and equipment; and developers need architectural and miscellaneous metal. The field accordingly ranges from dedicated ductwork and ventilation fabricators to stainless specialty shops serving commercial kitchens and institutions, to mechanical and plumbing contractors that run their own sheet metal shops for commercial HVAC work. Buyers benefit from understanding whether a contractor focuses on duct fabrication, stainless and specialty work, or full mechanical contracting.

Tennessee regulates sheet metal work primarily through licensing tied to project value. A contractor’s license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors is required when a project totals $25,000 or more, with the mechanical (HVAC) classification covering ductwork fabrication and installation; smaller residential jobs may fall under the Home Improvement license in the counties where that class applies. Fabricated metal that is sold and installed carries Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax, which in Hamilton County brings the combined rate to roughly 9.25%. Many established shops build to the standards of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and some sheet metal workers in the region are trained through the SMART union (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers).

Anyone hiring a sheet metal firm in Chattanooga can verify a required contractor license through the state at verify.tn.gov before signing. Because most sheet metal work is part of a larger construction or mechanical contract, the scope, project value, and payment schedule should be documented in writing, and buyers should understand that Tennessee’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) gives contractors 90 days from completion to file a lien. Disputes over deceptive practices fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), enforced by the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. Confirming SMACNA-standard fabrication, asking whether ductwork or stainless work is built in house, and clarifying a shop’s focus on commercial, industrial, institutional, or residential work helps match the contractor to the job.

Top Sheet Metal Contractor Providers in Chattanooga

1. Silvey Metalworks, Inc.

Address: 2901 Riverport Road, Chattanooga, TN 37406
Phone: (423) 267-7777
Website: https://www.silveymetalworks.com
Services: stainless steel fabrication, custom sheet metal, commercial kitchen fabrication, residential indoor and outdoor kitchens, laboratory and medical facility fabrication, hospital and school installations
Description: Silvey Metalworks, Inc. is a Chattanooga stainless steel and sheet metal fabricator on Riverport Road that the company describes as having more than 56 years of experience producing quality stainless products across the Southeast. The shop specializes in custom stainless steel fabrication, working primarily in Type 304 and Type 316 stainless, for commercial kitchens, laboratories, medical and hospital facilities, schools, churches, restaurants, and other institutional clients, and it also fabricates residential indoor and outdoor kitchen components. The company is NSF certified and UL certified and holds a BBB A+ rating, and it serves Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, including the Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Huntsville markets. Its focus on specialty stainless fabrication distinguishes it from shops that primarily produce HVAC ductwork.

2. Chase Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc.

Address: 6112 Airways Boulevard, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 899-7899
Website: https://www.chaseplumbinginc.com
Services: custom sheet metal fabrication, ductwork, multiple-process welding, plasma cutting, plumbing and piping, HVAC, medical gas systems, roofing applications
Description: Chase Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc. is a Chattanooga mechanical contractor on Airways Boulevard that performs custom sheet metal fabrication and ductwork as part of its commercial and industrial work. The company’s shop offers multiple-process welding capabilities along with plasma cutting for material up to half an inch thick, supporting fabrication of ductwork and custom metal alongside its plumbing, piping, and HVAC services. The firm emphasizes commercial and industrial projects such as warehouses, hospitals, and office complexes, and its technicians are certified by the NITC for medical gas system work, following standards approved by the NFPA. By combining sheet metal fabrication with mechanical and piping trades, the company can handle ductwork and custom metal as part of larger building-systems contracts.

3. Ooltewah Mechanical Fabrication

Address: 8121 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road, Suite 106, Ooltewah, TN 37363
Phone: (423) 771-9759
Website: https://www.omfcompany.com
Services: HVAC ductwork design and installation, spiral and rectangular duct manufacturing, ductwork fittings and repair, flexible ductwork, furnace ductwork, commercial and residential ventilation systems
Description: Ooltewah Mechanical Fabrication is a ductwork and ventilation fabricator based in Ooltewah, a suburb on the northeast side of the Chattanooga metro, that manufactures and installs HVAC duct systems for the area. The shop fabricates high-efficiency spiral and rectangular ducts, along with ductwork fittings, furnace ductwork, and flexible ducting, and provides design, installation, and repair for commercial and residential ventilation systems. The company describes itself as a dedicated ductwork supplier and manufacturer serving contractors and building owners across the Chattanooga area, supplying fabricated metal ducting and ventilation components rather than operating as a general HVAC repair service. Its focus on duct manufacturing makes it a fabrication-oriented option for projects that need custom-built ventilation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sheet Metal Contractor in Chattanooga

Q: What does a sheet metal contractor do that an HVAC repair company does not?

A sheet metal contractor fabricates and installs metal components such as HVAC ductwork, ventilation systems, custom stainless work, kitchen hoods, flashing, and architectural panels, working from flat stock in a shop. An HVAC repair company diagnoses and fixes heating and cooling equipment. In Chattanooga some firms specialize in duct manufacturing or stainless fabrication, while mechanical contractors may run their own sheet metal shops, so the trades overlap but the fabrication work centers on cutting, forming, and welding metal rather than equipment service.

Q: Does a sheet metal contractor in Chattanooga need a license?

A contractor’s license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors is required for any project totaling $25,000 or more, with ductwork and mechanical fabrication falling under the mechanical (HVAC) classification. Smaller residential projects may fall under the Home Improvement license in the counties where that class applies. Buyers can confirm a contractor’s license and classification before signing through the state’s verification system at verify.tn.gov.

Q: Why are NSF and UL certifications relevant for stainless steel fabrication?

NSF certification indicates that fabricated stainless products meet public health and sanitation standards, which matters for commercial kitchens, food facilities, and laboratories. UL certification indicates that products meet recognized safety standards. For institutional stainless work such as hospital, laboratory, and commercial kitchen fabrication, these certifications signal that a shop builds to specifications required in regulated environments, which is why specialty stainless fabricators often highlight them.

Q: How much sales tax applies to fabricated sheet metal in Chattanooga?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Hamilton County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.25% on materials. On a construction contract, labor and materials may be taxed differently depending on how the contractor structures the transaction, so buyers should request an itemized invoice that separates fabrication, installation labor, and tax.

Q: What is the difference between spiral and rectangular ductwork?

Spiral duct is round ductwork formed from a continuous strip of metal wound and seamed into a tube, often used where its appearance, airflow efficiency, or strength is valued. Rectangular duct is formed from flat sheet into box sections and is common where space or layout favors a rectangular profile. Many Chattanooga shops fabricate both, and the choice depends on the building’s design, the available space, and the airflow requirements of the system.

Q: How do I protect myself on a sheet metal or ductwork contract in Chattanooga?

Get the scope, project value, and payment schedule in writing, and verify any required contractor license at verify.tn.gov. Because Tennessee’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) allows contractors to file a lien within 90 days of completion, structuring payments around milestones offers protection for both sides. Complaints about deceptive practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).