Does A Metal Roof Cost More Than A Typical Roof?
Because metal roofing is a premium home product, you can expect your new roof to cost roughly two to three times what an asphalt shingle roof costs. However, a metal roof is comparable in price to tile roofing or cedar shake roofing. If you currently have a slate roof, you can expect your metal roof to cost less.
No matter what kind of metal roofing style you choose, you’ll never have to worry about your roof again. Most come with a true 30 to 50 year warranty. Plus, your new metal roof will add to the resale value of your home, save you money on your energy bills, and give you peace of mind that you’ll likely never have to re-roof again.
How Much Longer Will A Metal Roof Last Than Common Roofing Like Asphalt or Wood Shingle?
You can expect a metal roof to last at least 2 to 3 times longer than a regular roof. In general terms, count on a metal roof lasting 30 to 50+ years since metal roofs can often be repainted versus replaced.
To put it in context, the average lifespan of an asphalt roof is 12 to 20 years. That lifespan can be shorter depending on the pitch of your roof and the climate in your area. Made of oil impregnated paper or fiberglass, asphalt begins to deteriorate as soon as you expose it to normal weather. A metal roof, however, will never decompose.
Other roofing materials like wood shingle, shake and tile have varying degrees of weather-related problems that lead to breakdown. Wood shingle and shake roofs often need replacement before twenty years. Concrete tile roofs can crack and warp in the freeze/thaw cycle of more northern climates.
All of the above roofing materials are well-outlasted by metal roofing, which retains its good looks and durability decade after decade after decade.
IS A METAL ROOF RIGHT FOR MY HOME?
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right material for your roof.
For more information, download the MRA Buyer’s Guide.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF METAL ROOFING?
What are the benefits of metal roofs?
Installing a quality metal roof is one of the best investments you can make to boost your home’s value and performance. Delivering beauty, longevity, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability – metal roofing offers benefits for any size home no matter the region.
For details on the specific benefits of metal roofs, click here.
What makes metal roofs sustainable?
Metal is considered the most environmentally friendly and sustainable roofing material available. Metal roofs are 100% recyclable and made with a minimum of 25% recycled material, depending on the type of metal. Metal roofs can often be installed over an existing roof, eliminating the environmental impact of disposal. Metal roofing weighs half as much as asphalt, allowing newly constructed homes to be designed with a lighter structure. In contrast, a typical asphalt roof contains hundreds of gallons of crude oil and needs to be replaced every 12-20 years depending on the pitch of the roof. Approximately 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills every year.
Metal roofing lasts 50-plus years – nearly two to three times longer than other materials. It is 100% recyclable and can be recycled at the end of its long life – that means less in landfills and more reuse and with most other roofing products. Quality metal roof coatings can also mean lower long-term maintenance by naturally resisting moss and fungus, which reduces the need for strong chemical treatments that can be harmful to the environment.
How Will A Metal Roof Stand Up to Extreme Weather?
A metal roof can withstand decades of abuse from extreme weather like high winds, heavy snow, hail storms and even wildfires. Metal roofing has a 140-mph wind rating, meaning it can withstand wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour. Under high wind conditions, says architect Rich Carroll, “Metal roofing systems have wind resistance and uplift resistance that is above the new building code requirement. That gives us a sense of relief in that we can use the best material to meet those criteria.”
In locations that see heavy snow, metal roofing has been the choice of homeowners for years. It sheds snow fast, which protects the structural integrity of the roof. If you live in a part of the country that is prone to wildfires, metal roofing can protect your home should burning embers land on your roof. Note: there is little difference between metal and other materials when it comes to noise from rain or hail.
ARE METAL ROOFS ENERGY EFFICIENT?
Metal is one of the most energy efficient roofing materials available and can typically save you between 10-40% in energy costs. The secret to metal roofing’s energy savings is in its variety of finishes. The basic, unpainted metal roof will reflect more solar radiation than an asphalt roof, which absorbs and holds heat. For homes in warmer climates, pre-painted or granular coated metal roofing systems reflect solar energy and cool your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed. A highly reflective and highly emissive painted or granular-coated metal roof is optimal for reducing energy consumption and can actually re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation. (NOTE: Reflectance in relation to metal roofing refers to UV and Infrared light rays being reflected from the roof surface. These rays are what impact the heating/cooling of the roof surface.)
The most effective energy-saving finish for metal roofing is commonly referred to as cool-metal roofing. These highly reflective coatings use cool pigments in the paint to increase solar reflectance and lower the surface temperature of the roof. Cool-metal roofing systems help reduce the energy requirements need of air conditioned buildings and make unconditioned buildings more comfortable.
To learn more, visit Energy Savings.
HOW ARE METAL ROOFS INSTALLED?
The installation of a metal roof depends greatly on the size, pitch and complexity of the existing roof structure. Installation of roofing panels should be performed by a licensed metal roofing professional with experience installing the roof style you choose.
To learn more about the specific steps in the roofing process, download the MRA Buyer’s Guide
WHAT PRODUCT OPTIONS ARE THERE WITH METAL?
Residential metal roofing is available in a wide variety of materials:
And coatings:
Modern day metal roofs offer all of the style and beauty of traditional roofing materials, only they are stronger, more durable and last longer. There’s certain to be a metal roof style that compliments your home perfectly:
For more information about these options, visit Materials, Styles or Gallery.
HOW DO I GET AN ESTIMATE?
Your local MRA Member Contractor will be glad to help. Before providing an accurate estimate, the contractor will need to know two things:
A contractor will need to see your roof first-hand before they’ll be able to accurately estimate. In fact, the shape and pitch of your roof will influence the estimated installation cost more than the style of metal roofing you choose. Other items that your contractor will look at that will directly impact their estimate are property qualities such as staging area, material storage, hips and valleys, etc.
To get a true estimate, click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
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