Sheet Metal Contractor in Knoxville

June 15, 2026

A sheet metal contractor is a fabrication trade, not an air-conditioning repair service, even though their work frequently meets on the same job. Sheet metal shops cut, form, and weld flat stock into HVAC ductwork, exhaust systems, kitchen hoods, architectural panels, flashing, gutters and downspouts, metal roofing parts, and custom metal assemblies, then install them on site. In Knoxville, a city of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) and the commercial anchor of East Tennessee, that work supports a mix of institutional, commercial, and residential construction, from the University of Tennessee campus and area hospitals to hotels, restaurants, and homes that need custom ductwork or architectural metal.

The Knoxville market reflects East Tennessee’s blend of commercial development and steady residential building. Mechanical contractors need fabricated HVAC ductwork for large projects, developers and architects need custom and architectural sheet metal such as canopies, wall panels, cornice work, and metal roofing, and homeowners and light-commercial clients need custom duct fittings, transitions, and enclosures that off-the-shelf parts cannot supply. The field accordingly ranges from architectural sheet metal specialists serving designers and general contractors, to mechanical firms running in-house duct fabrication shops, to HVAC companies that fabricate their own metalwork for residential and light-commercial jobs.

Tennessee regulates this 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 Knox 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 Knoxville 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 is built in house, and clarifying whether a shop focuses on architectural, commercial, industrial, or residential work helps match the contractor to the job.

Top Sheet Metal Contractor Providers in Knoxville

1. Baird and Wilson Sheet Metal, Inc.

Address: 2703 Bond Street NW, Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: (865) 523-9982
Website: https://www.bairdandwilson.com
Services: custom architectural sheet metal, aluminum canopies, metal wall panels, ACM and MCM composite panels, sheet metal roofing and cornice work, kitchen hoods and countertops, chimney caps, custom metal fabrication
Description: Baird and Wilson Sheet Metal, Inc. is an architectural sheet metal fabricator on Bond Street in Knoxville that the company describes as East Tennessee’s longtime choice for custom-fabricated architectural metal, with more than 40 years in business. Its work centers on architectural projects for hotels, retail spaces, restaurants, offices, churches, educational facilities, and healthcare buildings, including aluminum canopies, metal wall panels, aluminum and metal composite material (ACM/MCM) systems, sheet metal roofing, and roof cornice work. The shop also fabricates kitchen hoods and countertops, chimney caps, and other custom metal specialties, and maintains a resource section for architects to support design and specification. With a focus on commercial and institutional fabrication rather than HVAC service, the firm has produced metalwork for universities, hospitals, churches, banks, retail centers, and civic facilities across the region.

2. Interstate Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

Address: 3200 Henson Road, Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 588-0180
Website: https://www.interstatemechanical.com
Services: in-house sheet metal fabrication, welded and lined ductwork, oval, round, square and flat duct, exhaust systems and hoods, flashing, dust collection and blow pipe, plasma cutting, mechanical and HVAC contracting
Description: Interstate Mechanical Contractors is a Knoxville commercial and industrial mechanical firm founded in 1982 that opened its own in-house sheet metal fabrication shop in 1987 and produces ductwork the company states meets SMACNA industry standards. The shop fabricates welded and lined duct in oval, round, square, and flat shapes from 10 to 26 gauge, along with exhaust systems, hoods, flashing, and dust collection and blow pipe work, in stainless steel, aluminum, black iron, and galvanized steel. Its equipment includes a Duct-o-matic coil line that the company says produces a single-seam wrap joint roughly every 28 seconds, a computer-driven plasma-arc cutting machine, and hydraulic shearing and breaking equipment, with a dedicated ventilated welded-duct area. The firm employs more than 150 people, serves commercial and industrial clients, and has worked on major Knoxville projects including the University of Tennessee Student Center, the Knoxville Convention Center, and Neyland Stadium, building its ductwork in house to control quality and turnaround.

3. J.C.’s Heating & Air

Address: 3110 Henson Road, Suite 7, Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 388-1712
Website: https://www.jcsheatingandair.com
Services: custom sheet metal fabrication, round and rectangular ductwork, plenums, transitions, elbows and boots, filter boxes and coil cabinets, rooftop unit curbs and adapters, HVAC installation
Description: J.C.’s Heating & Air is a Knoxville HVAC company on Henson Road, founded in 2001, whose team carries more than 35 years of experience and which fabricates custom metalwork in house for its heating and cooling projects. The sheet metal operation builds tailored ductwork, transitions, fittings, and enclosures, including round and rectangular duct, plenums, elbows and boots, filter boxes, coil cabinets, and rooftop unit curbs and adapters, sized to fit each system rather than relying on standard components. The company serves both residential and light commercial clients across Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee communities of Maryville, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Farragut, and Lenoir City. By fabricating its own metalwork, the firm aims to improve airflow, efficiency, and the fit of duct systems on installations and HVAC retrofits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sheet Metal Contractor in Knoxville

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, exhaust hoods, architectural panels, flashing, gutters, metal roofing parts, and custom assemblies, working from flat stock in a shop. An HVAC repair company diagnoses and fixes heating and cooling equipment. In Knoxville some firms specialize purely in architectural or commercial sheet metal fabrication, while HVAC companies may run in-house shops to fabricate their own ductwork, so the trades overlap but the fabrication work centers on cutting, forming, and welding metal.

Q: Does a sheet metal contractor in Knoxville 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: What is architectural sheet metal?

Architectural sheet metal refers to the visible and weatherproofing metal elements of a building, including metal wall panels, aluminum and composite panel systems, canopies, cornice work, metal roofing, flashing, gutters, and trim. It is fabricated to an architect’s design and often requires close coordination on dimensions, finishes, and detailing. Knoxville has specialty shops that focus on architectural fabrication for commercial and institutional buildings, distinct from shops that primarily produce HVAC ductwork.

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

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Knox 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: Should I choose a contractor that fabricates ductwork in house?

In-house fabrication lets a contractor build duct and metal assemblies to a project’s exact dimensions rather than ordering standard parts, which can improve fit, airflow, and turnaround. Several Knoxville firms, from mechanical contractors to HVAC companies, run their own sheet metal shops. For custom, commercial, or retrofit work, asking whether a contractor fabricates in house helps clarify both lead time and how closely the finished work will match the system or design.

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

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).