Your existing roof needs replacing and you’re considering going with metal. You’re wondering if a new metal roof is worth it, if it’s worth the additional expense. It’s a good question considering metal is among the more expensive roofs, initially. It’s understandable why traditional asphalt shingles might be tempting. Afterall, they’re the most affordable roof short-term. However, there’s more to consider when getting a new roof, such as long-term cost and durability. Consider the following and determine for yourself if a metal roof is worth the additional cost.
Types of Metal Roofs
- Sheets
- Standing Seam
- Corrugated/PBC
- Stone-Coated
- Tiles
- Shake
- Shingles
Currently, metal roofing can be divided into two primary types: sheets and stone-coated. Sheet metal roofs are just what they sounds like – long metal sheets. Profiles include standing seam, corrugated/PBC, PBR, and others. Stone-coated metal roofs resemble traditional asphalt shingle roofs in that they’re coated with small granules and they’re about the same size – 1′ x 3′. Profiles of stone-coated metal roofs include shingles, shake, and tiles. All metal roofing is secured down with screws.
Why a Metal Roof is Worth it
- Low-Cost Long-Term
- Fewer Interruptions
- More Fire Resistant (Especially Sheet Metal)
- Highly Durable
- Recyclable
- Long-Lasting
- Cool (Sheet Metal Roofs)
Low-Cost Long-Term
A metal roof is worth the initial added expense for a number of reasons, primarly because of its low long-term cost. Although a new metal roof often costs more than a traditional asphalt shingle roof, they often last 3x as long or longer. This makes them potentially cost less over the life of the roof.
Fewer Interruptions
An often unthought of perk to having a metal roof is your life is interrupted less frequently with a new metal roof. Consider this: your average asphalt shingle roof lasts about 20 years. A new metal roof lasts about 70 years. Everytime you get a new roof, you’re inconvenienced by having workers on your roof, a dumpster in your driveway, etc. If you live in your forever home and you’re a young adult, your life is being interrupted at least 3x for a new asphalt shingle roof. With a new metal roof, on the other hand, only once. 🙂
Fire Resistant
Another great reason why a new metal roof is worth the additional cost is that they’re highly resistant to wild fires. Anybody living in Colorado or who was paying attention to the news in recently years will remember the wild fires in Colorado. Red embers were raining down in various cities and towns along the Front Range. Because there’s no flammable materials used in sheet metal roofs, there’s nothing to catch fire. If a hot ember lands on a standing seam metal roof, it will self-extinguish or blow away.
Highly Durable
Metal roofing is also much more durable than most other roofs. This alone makes metal roofing worth the additional cost. Metal roofs contain no organic material, therefore, they won’t rot nearly as easily as with real wood shake or shingles. Sheet metal roof, such as standing seam and corrugated/PBC is slick. As a result, heavy snow fall simple slides right off. That’s not the case with other roof coverings. Steel is much stronger than fiberglass, wood, clay or concrete. So, metal stangs-up much better to hail than traditional asphalt shingles or clay tiles or real wood shake.
Long-Lasting
Metal roofing is among the longest-lasting roofs available today. This is because it’s so much more durable than other roofs and requires so little maintenance. Wood roofs require regular maintenance and treatments. Wood roofs are also susceptible to splitting and rotting, not to mention they’re especially vulnerable to fire. Asphalt shingles, on average, last 15-20 years because they’re not very durable. Clay, concrete, and slate roofs can crack and break when struck hard enough with an object, such as large hail stones. Roofs with more seams, such as asphalt shingles, and clay or concrete tiles, are vulnerable to high-wind damage. All metal roofing is held-down by screws. Screws have much better holding power over nails, which are used to secure other roofs down. All metal roofs, such as standing seam, last on average 70 years or more.
Recyclable
Real wood shake is treated with chemicals to make it resistant to mold, rot, mildew, and fire. Therefore, wood roofs aren’t recyclable. There is a national asphalt shingle recycling program, but not a local Colorado one. So, asphalt shingles aren’ recyclable in our area. Metal roofing, including standing seam and stone-coated, on the other hand, is recyclable. We’ve identified metal recycling centers in Denver and Fort Collins and in between.
Cool (Sheet Metal Roofs)
Sheet metal roofs, such as the popular standing seam, are among the coolest and energy efficient roofs on the market. This is because they do a better job at reflecting heat and release absorbed heat from the sun than any other roof. As a result, your attic is cooler and so is your home. This translates to a lower Summer utility bill. With the state getting warmer, this is a very attractive benefit to a sheet metal roof.
The Bottom Line
A metal roof used to be mean a copper one, or zinc-covered corrugated sheet metal. Most metal roofs were installed in the agriculture business, since metal roofs meant low-maintenance and longevity. Today, however, with the invention of stone-coated metal shingles, shake, and tile, and standing seam, homeowners are also becoming interested in metal roofing. Given that a new metal roof lasts longer than most other roofs, is more resistant to wild fires, rot, hail and high-winds, costs less long-term, and is recyclable, is it worth it to you?
If you’re interested in a new metal roof, contact us for a free consultation and estimate. We’ll let you know if a metal roof is a good fit for you or not. All our metal roof installations are backed by our 5-year workmanship guarantee. We manufacturer our own standing seam sheets so you get a perfect fit.