Metal Roof Prices: Calculating the Cost of Installing a Metal Roof

May 22, 2009

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 theres the fact that with your typical contractor, theyll 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.

After your purchase ask the manufacturer who in your area is qualified to install that roof, and youll be well on your way to a low-cost, high-quality installation. Never, ever go with a roofer who hasnt worked with the material before. The long term cost of having to re-do the job will easily outweigh any cash you might save by choosing less skilled labor, in addition to which the cost of installing a metal roof is generally low, as the shingles are so lightweight, and are often sold in pre-assembled sheets.

The cost of installing a metal roof will be significantly less the more regular the roof of your home is. Roofs with irregular features like strange angles, skylights, dormers, sidewalls and chimneys will probably require custom, on-site cutting of panels, making them seriously prohibitive for any kind of home DIY-installation effort. Cutting by hand takes far too long for any but the most zen-like roofer to retain his sanity. Instead an expensive, portable machine called a brake is required, as is a professional trained in its operation.

Remember: if you plan to stay in your home for a long time, the initially steep prices youre going to have to pay for metal roof paneling will be more that justified by the long term savings youll make. Youll find that getting an insurance policy on your home not only becomes easier, but cheaper, too, with many insurance companies offering up to 25 percent discounts for homes fitted with the flame-retardant, fire-fighting protection of metal roofing.

Whats 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 wont 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), youll increase this reflective effect.

There is also no roofing solution that can match a copper, aluminum or stainless steel roof for durability. Metal shingles are strong enough to stand up to hail without a dent, and many of them have withstood hurricane force winds without being dislodged. Furthermore, a simple Zinc-Aluminum coating can make metal shingles so resistant to corrosion that all thats required for their maintenance is the occasional hose-down. This is the reason that many companies offer warranties on their shingles of up to fifty years.

To read more about Installing Metal Roofing check out www.DurableMetalRoofs.com