Metal Siding Cost: Wall Panels, Metal Cladding Pros & Cons

Steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc are the four primary materials for metal siding. Whether corrugated, ribbed, bevel-style or vertical panels, metal continues to be highly versatile in its application for residential siding and wall cladding.

Cost Basics

The average cost to install metal siding can range from $9.50 to $16.50 per square foot. While that is a rather wide price range, your total cost per sq. ft. installed will depend on the choice of material, number of levels and overall difficulty of work, and your home’s location.

Note that in the ultra-expensive real estate markets like pockets of California including San Jose, SF Bay Area, hot areas in LA, NYC, Boston, Seattle, Miami, the cost for high-end metal siding can often exceed the above range, with costs as high as $20.00 per sq.ft. installed.

Zinc House by Jose Garia

The cost of zinc siding, a premium and ultra-durable and long-lasting metal, can range from $15.00 to $25.00 per sq. ft. installed. Copper siding can cost as much as $22.00 to $35.00 per sq. ft. installed on some high-end residential and commercial applications.

In terms of total project cost, for a typical 2,000 sq.ft. siding project, you can expect to pay between $19,000 and $33,000 for a contractor to install new metal (steel or aluminum) siding on a typical house.

If going with zinc or copper, you can expect the average price to jump to $41,000 for zinc, and up to $70,000 for copper siding installation.


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Top 10 Causes of Roof Leaks – How to Find and Fix Common Roof Leaks

They are the two most dreaded words in a homeowner’s vocabulary: a leaky roof. Water is the most insidious foe, eager to penetrate your home covering’s most vulnerable defenses. And once inside, the damage and destruction may be taking place far from the point of the initial attack, making the initial source of a roof leak difficult to identify.

a handy woman on the roof

The best homeowner defense is vigilance and fast action. Maybe a new roof is in the near future and it seems like a folly to bother with a leak.

However, even a small, out-of-the-way drip in a house that seems like nothing more than an inconvenience is a major repair bill waiting to happen!

Did you know? Roof leaks can ruin insulation, become a breeding ground for black mold, damage interior ceilings and walls, and rot the wooden framing.

So, let’s look at the ten of the most common culprits in causing your roof to leak and what you can – and should – do about them (other than recruiting a bucket brigade):

1. Villain: Age

an-old-asphalt-roof

Roofing materials, especially asphalt shingles, get old and tired. Expansion and contraction with the change in temperatures cause aging roof protection to turn brittle and eventually crack.

Years of harsh rays from direct sunlight can melt the tar that holds composition shingles together.

Father Time has not lost a battle yet and when roofing materials run up against their life expectancy, it will be time to budget for a new roof at the first sign of a leak.

New Shingle Roof

$7,500
Average price
New Metal Roof

$14,500
Average price
New Flat Roof

$8,225
Average price

See costs in your area Enter Your Zip Code

2. Villain: Brick Chimneys

leaking-chimney Source: Roof.net

Have you ever seen house ruins from 200 years ago? The chimney is often the only thing standing. While brick chimneys may seem indestructible, the mortar that binds the bricks together is nothing more than a hard-working mixture of water, sand, and cement.

Exposed to the weather elements, the mortar can erode and crumble over time. Check the mud cap on top of the chimney for deterioration and inspect the mortared joints where the chimney enters the roof. If patches are required, it is a cheap and quick fix.

3. Villain: Failed Flashing

chimney-flashing Source: Runyon and Sons Roofing

Speaking of chimneys, compromised flashing is a common problem on a roof. Flashing are thin strips of metal installed at danger points for leaks around a roof. For a chimney, they are bent at a 90-degree angle to attach to both the roofing material and the brick chimney.

Flashing needs to be properly sealed to protect against water intrusion. It also needs to remain nailed in place and even if that is all squared away, the metal can rust or crack.

Expect the cost of replacing old flashing to run several hundred dollars per major penetration like chimney, depending on the job size and desired material (aluminum, lead, copper, steel, etc.).

Although it may be tempting to marshal the forces of caulking and roof cement in the battle against faulty flashing, this would be only a temporary solution best reserved for situations where you know the roof will soon be replaced.

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Rafters Vs. Trusses – What’s the Difference Between Rafters & Trusses?

It is common to read that “rafters are the way they used to frame roofs. Now everyone uses trusses.” First, that is plain wrong, and an oversimplification at best.

Secondly, rafters can have important advantages over trusses in certain building projects; If you’re planning for an out-of-the-ordinary, custom roof design or want to make use of the attic space, then rafters might be more appropriate.

In this guide, we will define roof trusses and rafters and explain the pros and cons of each for comparison. We will also outline the best uses of each, so you can decide whether rafters or trusses are the right choice for your building project.

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