Installing A Metal Roof: A Good Investment for Your Home?
Guesstimating the cost of installing a metal roof can be a trickier thing than it sounds. First off, the standard materials are going to cost different amounts in different places - it all depends on the cost of labor, the methods of distribution, freight costs and so on. Then there’s the fact that with your typical contractor, they’ll lower the cost per square foot of installation the bigger your roof is. Indeed, if you intend to cut out the middleman and buy the raw materials straight from the manufacturer, you might want try finding someone else that plans to re-roof and buy your metal roof shingles together at a wholesale price. The most popular brands like Met-Tile, Prestige, Decrabond, Gerard or Zappone are preferable as, while they might cost a little more, they offer the best warranties.
Remember that the cost of bringing someone in to redo a poor job will far outweigh cash you might save by going with a less skilled roofer. Never hire a roofer that hasn’t worked with the particular roofing material you plan to use. For any good contractor, they’re likely to charge you less for installing a metal roof than more traditional fiber glass or clay tiles. because the shingles are so lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to clip together. Some metal shingles are even sold in pre-assembled sheets, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to cover the proposed roof surface.
Now, roofs with numerous irregularities - dormers, sidewalls, skylights and so on - are likely to require custom cutting of panels, which is best done on site with a hydraulic cutting device known as a brake. This machine is expensive and requires training for safe use, meaning that if your roof fits the above description you should probably rethink your plans of a DIY installation. The cost of installing a metal roof is directly proportional to the number of unusual features the roof has, so expect to shell out some cash if that’s the case.
The fact is that, in the longer term, a metal roof price that seems high when compared to those of asphalt and fiberglass roofing solutions will be justified by consistent savings. First off, metal roofing can’t burn, and as a result of the protection it offers against fire, you’ll find that your insurance company is likely to offer you a policy on your home at a substantially reduced cost - something in the realm of 25%.
What’s more, metal roofing can be a boon when summer hits. Metals’ naturally reflective qualities mean that sunlight bounces off them instead of being absorbed, so you won’t have to use your air conditioning system as much - which translates into lower electricity bills and less of an impact on the environment. If you purchase shingles with a coating of Kynar (a kind of plastic composite), you’ll increase this reflective effect.
Alternatively, a Zinc-Aluminum coating (of the kind sported by galvalume shingles) will not only have this effect, but also make your roof far less likely to corrode - the only thing you’ll need to do for up-keep is hose it down occasionally. With this treatment, there’s nothing you can build your roof out of that will match copper, stainless steel or aluminum for its durability - indeed, educated estimates suggest that these roofs may last up to seventy years without needing to be re-shingled. With that kind of a timeline, the cost of installing a metal roof seems less like a burden, and more like a valuable investment.
Click these links for more interesting articles on Metal Roof Prices at www.DurableMetalRoofs.com
- Ryan McCall
