Metal Roofing

Metal Roof vs Asphalt Shingles Cost – Is a Metal Roof Worth It?

When comparing the cost of metal roofing vs. shingles, there are a few factors to consider. Here is an in-depth look at the cost comparison between the two roofing materials:

  1. Initial Cost: The initial cost of metal roofing is generally higher than that of shingles. Our research shows the average cost to install a new metal roof is between $11.50 and $20.50 per square foot, depending on the type of metal and project specifics, while asphalt shingles typically cost between $4.50 and $9.50 per square foot.
    2. New Shingle Roof

    $7,500
    Average price
    New Metal Roof

    $14,500
    Average price
    New Flat Roof

    $8,225
    Average price

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  2. Long-term Cost: Although metal roofing is more expensive initially, it can be more cost-effective over the long-term. Metal roofing is more durable than shingles and can last 30 to 60 years, while shingles typically last 15 to 30 years. This means that you may need to replace shingles multiple times over the lifespan of a metal roof, increasing the long-term cost of shingles.
  3. Energy Efficiency: Metal roofing is generally far more energy-efficient than shingles. Metal reflects solar radiant heat, which can reduce the amount of heat absorbed into your home and lower your energy bills. Look for CRRC colors with a Kynar 500 paint finish to maximize energy savings with a metal roof. Additionally, some metal roofing systems can be installed with insulation to further increase  your home’s energy efficiency.
  4. Maintenance: Metal roofing is very low-maintenance and requires little upkeep over its lifespan. Shingles, on the other hand, can be prone to damage from storm winds, wind driven rain, ice dams, moss and mildew growth, and other weather conditions, and may require more frequent maintenance and repair.
  5. Resale Value: In the short run, an asphalt roof can offer better cost-to-value return than metal. In the long run, though, a metal roof will maintain its value for decades, whereas an asphalt roof will not. So, 10-15 years down the road, an asphalt roof may offer very little in terms of retained value and may be viewed more as a liability by potential buyers.

While the initial cost of metal roofing is higher than that of shingles, it can be more cost-effective over the long-term due to its durability, longevity, and energy efficiency. Additionally, metal roofing can add lasting value to your home and increase its resale value, maintaining it for decades to come.

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Top 10 Surprising Standing Seam Metal Roof Facts You MUST Know!

If you are one the savvy homeowners considering a new standing seam roof as an alternative to shingles, then read on to learn the top 10 things you MUST know about standing seam metal roofs before ultimately making a buying decision. Standing Seam is the Most Expensive Metal Roof System Types of Standing Seam: Architectural … Read more

Corrugated Metal vs. Standing Seam: Corrugation Myth Busters

Who Invented the Original, Corrugated Iron / Steel Roofing Style?

Henry Robinson Palmer learned his civil engineering under Scotsman Thomas Telford, the greatest builder of roads, canals, and bridges in the British Empire in the early 19th century.

Standing seam vertical sheet metal panels

In 1821 Palmer applied for a patent for a single elevated rail supported by pillars spaced ten feet apart that sported wheeled carriages hanging down from either side that would roll along the rail when pulled by a horse. Henry Robinson Palmer had invented the world’s first monorail.

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If you research Palmer’s life today, every source details the creation of the monorail. For most thumbnail sketches of Palmer’s life that is the end of the story, but Palmer himself did not concern himself much with the monorail after building the first one in 1825, about one mile long, in Cheshunt, a town twelve miles from London.

Two years later the 32-year-old Palmer landed a job as resident engineer for the London Dock Company. It was his responsibility to construct the walls along the Thames River to keep the world’s busiest port humming.

The aging wooden docks were in constant need of upgrade. To keep up Palmer patented a lightweight metal building panel that was self-supporting due to a series of waves or folds molded into the sheets.

Palmer’s manufacturing process consisted of pushing his sheet metal across fluted rollers to create the ridges that gave the metal strength. He called this “corrugation”, from the Latin word for “wrinkled.” It remains a common method for manufacturing corrugated metal today.

Palmer erected the world’s first corrugated building on the Thames River docks in 1829 and he continued to patent improvements in the construction of arches and roofs.

It is ironic that today Henry Robinson Palmer is remembered for the invention of the monorail, which is rarely encountered outside of amusement parks, airports, and a classic Simpsons episode. He is scarcely recognized for the development of corrugation, which became so ubiquitous in the 19th century for cheap shelter that most people – and historians – assumed it had been with us since antiquity.

Historical Significance of Corrugation

Corrugated metal roof-on a single-story house

Without corrugated metal there would have been no rapid development of the United States frontier, a less frantic California gold rush, much slower settling of farmland on the Great Plains and much harsher living conditions on the battlefield.

The strength to materials imparted by corrugation extended beyond the sheet metal shop to other industries; it was critical to the development of the cardboard, for instance.

Metal Roof Construction

metal-roof-on-a-log-home

By stiffening the metal sheets, corrugation permits a greater span across a lighter framework, ideal for the balloon construction techniques that became widespread in the 19th century.

However, metal for roofing has been used for centuries, although it was rare in early America. Thomas Jefferson was a metal roof fanboy and installed tin-plate iron on the roof of his beloved Monticello in rural Virginia.

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