Metal Roofing Cost vs. Asphalt Shingles: Metal Roof Prices 2019
Replacing the roof of your home is something all homeowners face at one time or another. Whether storm damage or simply time, wear, and tear have caused your need for a new roof, you now have the opportunity to consider changing things up. Should you go metal roof this time? Let’s look at the cost of a metal roof as well as the various factors that go into determining said cost.
A good starting point for determining your overall cost for this project is to expect to pay between $5.50 and $12.00 per square foot of metal roofing installed. Now, that may seem like an extremely wide range in cost, but bear in mind the style of metal roof can make a huge difference. You can expect a metal shingle roof to average between $7.00 to $10.00 per square foot installed, while a standing seam metal roof will cost between $9.00 to $12.00 per square foot installed. Throughout this guide you’ll learn the differences between different materials and installation practices as well as pricing guides for the choices you have to make. First, let’s look into why a metal roof can be a great investment for your home.
Why Choosing a Metal Roof is a Wise Investment
Durability, Longevity, ROI and Recouped Value
Compared to its asphalt counterpart, metal roofing has superior durability and longevity. Without storm damage, an asphalt roof can last on average 17 years. Alternatively, a metal roof can protect and style your home for 35 or even up to 50 years without much or any concern for storm damage.
Curb appeal is another definite advantage to going with metal roofing. Sleek, strong, boldly colored, and unique, a metal roof gives a wow factor that asphalt never will.
If you’re worried about spending the money on a home you may not be in for 50 years? Never fear, recouped values of metal roofs tend to be around 90%. At the same time, you’re saving on energy bills and home insurance premiums to boot.
Green, Fully-Recyclable Material
For environmentally-conscious homeowners, a metal roof will often contain over 30% of post-consumer, recycled metal content. On top of that, a metal roof is fully recyclable while every year, billions of pounds of asphalt end-up in landfills.
Standing Seam Means Solar!
On a note about being green, a standing seam metal roof can accommodate seamless PV solar panels. Because the seams are raised, PV solar panels can be mounted over the raised seams without having to drill holes in your brand new metal roof.
Before we begin: some key points that impact price before materials or contractors are chosen.
- As a general rule of thumb, the price per square foot goes down as the size of roof goes up. This is especially true if you opt for standing seam panels. Small-size orders requiring less than 300 square feet of material tend to be the most expensive. If you’re doing a smaller project (like a shed) see recommendation below.
- The complexity of your roof matters. If you have a roof with multiple cut-up angles, dormers, sidewalls, chimneys and/or skylights requiring metal flashing, then your total installation cost will be proportionally higher.
- Geography. When all is said and done, the final pricing of your metal roof installation can vary a great deal based on where you live. Generally speaking, if you live somewhere where the cost of living is above average, you can expect to pay more. Labor expenses will be high for this project, but do not be tempted to skimp out. Trusting this huge job (literally the roof over your head) to someone who cuts a deal can turn into headaches you don’t want to have. The durability and longevity of a new metal roof is largely determined by its proper installation. It’s best to get it right the first time and know that you’re setup for the long term.
Why this project can be pricey:
At this point you might be wondering if a metal roof is really the way to go. It may help to understand exactly why installing a metal roof can come with a bigger price tag. When comparing the cost of residential metal roofing to traditional asphalt shingle, you’re paying for more than just a higher quality product. You’re also paying for a generally more costly install that requires highly skilled professionals and equipment to be done properly.
The fact of the matter is, installing asphalt roofing requires a nail gun, while installing a metal roof requires a contractor with specific skills, expertise, and equipment not used in traditional asphalt roofing installations. There is no forgiveness in metal roof installation. Every component is perfectly measured and placed like pieces to a puzzle.
As previously mentioned, there are multiple other factors that can influence your final price for a new metal roof such as the choice of metal and the overall styling of the roof itself. Is your house a simple A-frame, or does it have multiple peaks and gables? If you are still unconvinced and balking at the high price of a metal roof, find a friend that has had one successfully installed. After having a positive experience with a company, 77% of customers would recommend it to a friend.
The Pricing Guide
In the following pricing guide, the base pricing information includes installation of premium breathable synthetic roof underlayment, along with basic, necessary pipe boots and roof vents. The underlayment will add an extra $30 to $40 per 100 square foot (square) to your total cost of install. All the necessary trim and prefabricated roof flashing is included in the cost of materials. As previously discussed, a standard installation price for a residential standing seam metal roof starts at around $9.00 to $10.00 per square foot or $900.00 to $1,000.00 per 100 foot square installed. This figure does not include the cost of removing and disposing of the old roof. Now, let’s take a look at the prices you can expect to pay for various types of metals and profiles including standing seam, steel shingles, metal tiles, and stone-coated steel shingles. Remember, each of these differing styles and types of metal will result in variations to overall installation costs.
Aluminum Roof
While steel is a perfectly good choice for a residential metal roof installation, aluminum will be a step up in quality and longevity (and in price). If you reside in a coastal area, aluminum is a more appropriate choice to avoid corrosion.
Just as with steel, aluminum roofing options can vary in both style and cost.
Aluminum Shingles:
If you choose to go with the superior durability of aluminum in shingle form, you can expect the materials cost to range from $3.75 to $5.50 per square foot or $375.00 to $550.00 per square. With the cost of installation factored in, your overall project cost will be around $9.00 per square foot or $900.00 per square for a basic residential roof, without the tear-off of old roof.
Aluminum Standing Seam:
As you might expect at this point, aluminum standing seam panels will cost more than shingles. You can expect prices to start around $5.00 per square foot or $500.00 per square. Full install of aluminum standing seam panels will run you in the neighborhood of $11.00 per square foot or $1,100.00 per 100 foot square.
Steel Roof
G-90 – Galvanized Steel:
There’s no reason you can’t consider the most economical of the metal roofing options. Galvanized steel is generally going to be your least expensive material option. If you’re looking to roof a shed building or separate garage building, you might consider a lower grade of steel like G-60. It is even less expensive than G-90 but not suitable for a full home roof project. G-90 steel will give you the most bang for your buck for a high quality product at an affordable cost.
G-90 steel coil or sheet steel is coated with with a thin layer of zinc oxide, which provides a reasonable degree of corrosion resistance and protection from the elements. The panels are also typically finished with Kynar-500, a paint finish known for high quality and longevity. For these reasons you can expect a steel roof to last and to look great for a long time to come.
You have additional choices when it comes to steel roofing:
There are lots of options when it comes to metal roofing. Each of these choices comes with it’s own unique styling and pricing. Here are some considerations when deciding on your steel roof.
Interlocking Steel Shingles:
Interlocking steel shingles are a solid choice if you prefer a more traditional looking roof but want the durability of metal. You can expect the materials alone to cost around $3.00 to $3.50 per square foot or $300.00 to $350.00 per 100 foot square of painted steel shingles with trim included. Including installation, the base total should wind up around $7.50 per square foot or $750.00 per square, not including the removal of old roof.
Stone-Coated Steel Shingles and Tiles:
By far providing the most variety in overall aesthetic, stone-coated steel roofing products are available in styles and profiles like tile, slate, shake, and shingle. Material costs for steel coated shingles and tiles range from $3.50 to $4.25 per square foot or $350.00 to $450.00 per square including any trim pieces necessary to complete the project. With a professional installation, you should be at a price range of about $10.00 per square foot or $1,000.00 per square, not including the tear off and disposal of the old roof.
Steel Standing Seam:
To have a standing seam steel roof installed on a residence, you should be prepared to spend about $10.00 per square foot or $1,000.00 per square, not including the cost of removing the old roof. The panels of steel used in this type of installation are fabricated and cut to order according to the specifications of your home’s roofing needs. Because of this, you can expect to pay between $4.00 and $4.50 per square foot for standing seam steel panels, a slightly higher rate than prefabricated tiles or shingles.
Galvalume Steel
Galvalume steel has a coating of corrosion resistant aluminum-zinc alloy applied by a continuous hot dip process. This coating makes Galvalume steel it a superior product when it comes to overall strength and durability.
In fact, most residential standing seam steel panels are manufactured from Galvalume steel, not galvanized (G-90 steel) due to its ability to withstand the elements.
Copper or Zinc Roof
By far the most expensive options, these premium metals will surely give your home a high quality finish you can expect to last for decades.
Shingles or Standing Seam Panels
If you’re wanting the most premium quality metal and are unafraid of a hefty price tag, you may want to consider using copper for your metal roof. You can expect to pay anywhere from $9.00 to $14.00 per square foot or $900.00 to $1,400.00 per square for materials alone whether considering copper shingles or standing seam panels.
The weight and thickness of the copper shingles or standing seam panels will be a large determinant of cost. Installation cost can also vary greatly depending on your chosen style of roof. For example, soldering copper panels can be a pricy endeavor as it takes precision and expertise.
The cost of a zinc roof will run you about 20% to 30% less than copper, simply because the price for materials is lower. Install will likely be comparable.
Final Finish Considerations
Color options abound with metal roofing as any product can be coated in a special painted and durable coating. Unlike with traditional asphalt roofing, where at the very most you may find some green, red, or golden hughes, metal roofing can have bold and beautiful paint finishes that really stand out from the crowd.
The golden standard for paint finishes is Kynar-500. With a price difference of only a few hundred dollars, you can be sure that the final look of your metal roof will be premium looking and durable for years to come. Kynar-500 also comes with a lifetime warranty which is well worth the minimal added expense.
As with any home improvement, be sure to discuss with a contractor you trust about the specifics of your home and what that means for the best metal roof choices in your area.
Additional Color Options
One definite consideration is whether to include an energy efficient CoolRoof rated color for your metal roof.
If you’re investing the money in your roof, you may as well get as much return on investment as possible. Lowering your energy bills is one such way to accomplish this. Keep in mind that you will generally have a wider variety of color choices from panels than from shingles.
