Metal Shingles Can Be Specifically Coated to Look Like Slate, Tile, or Even Cedar.
The time has come to put your first home on the market, and you’re wondering about practical ways to increase property value. Of course, there are all the major interior updates to the bathroom and/or kitchen. There’s even the little functional upgrades, such as fancy water filtration systems. But what about your home’s exterior? What about the roof?
Today, we’ll be talking about roofing upgrades, specifically metal. Does a metal roofing system add value to your home, or is it a money pit too expensive to recoup your costs? By the end of our discussion, you should have the information needed to answer that question yourself! Let’s dive in.
Metal Roofing for Homes
First off, metal roofing owns a fantastic reputation in the building industry and among homeowners, for good reason. Whether you prefer corrugated, standing seam, or even metal shingle, there are plenty of customization options to choose from. On top of these styling capabilities, you’ll also experience a notable improvement in your home’s energy efficiency, as more sunlight (and heat) is deflected away from the house. Finally, metal roofing provides fantastic protection against the weather hazards, be it hail or severe wind.
Metal roofing certainly sounds great, but there are several crucial considerations to make when determining whether or not it’s right for your home.
Lifetime
How Long Do Metal Roofs Last?
Another impressive feature of metal roofing is a substantially long lifetime. With proper care, most metal roofs will endure for at least 50 years, though many have been known to last considerably longer. While there are several premium roofing solutions that may last this long on the residential market, few are as cost-effective or durable as metal roofing.
Comparisons
Why Metal Roofing vs Shingles?
Let’s examine how metal roofing stacks up against the most common choice in residential roofing: asphalt shingles. On average, a metal roof will likely cost two times as much as a traditional asphalt shingle system. With that being said, we’ve already show how metal roofs can last 50 years and longer, several decades longer than asphalt shingles. Considering the fact that metal systems rarely require repairs or heavy maintenance, the cost-per-year difference between the two options becomes even slimmer.
Are metal roofs better than shingles? In practically every way. You budget and design needs however, will determine whether or not metal roofing is right for your home.
Maintenance
How Do You Maintain a Metal Roof?
While the maintenance requirements for metal roofing may be considerably lower than other premium roofing systems, a metal system should receive professional or DIY maintenance at least twice a year. The typical routine should include a brief inspection for deep scratches, a full roof rinse, smudge cleaning, and (potential) paint touch ups. With the right materials, the whole process should take an hour or less each time.
Disadvantages
What are the Disadvantages of a Metal Roof?
Cost is the primary disadvantage of metal roofing.
Are metal roofs expensive? By comparison, metal roofing clearly costs more than traditional shingle roofing, though it also comes with a substantially longer lifetime. However, lower maintenance requirements means that homeowners pay less for repairs (on average) over the lifetime of the roof. The only other disadvantage that metal has is that it needs to be re-coated every 10 years.
Which Metal Roofing is Best?
Steel offers an impressively high value-per-square foot, which makes it ideal for large roofing projects. With that being said, most homeowners prefer aluminum’s outstanding energy savings and corrosion resistance. Aluminum is practically immune to rust.
Corrugated panels offers a very affordable entry point for homeowners wanting to get into metal roofing. At an intermediate price point, metal shingles create a more homey appearance for your property. Metal shingles may also be coated with stone and other materials to imitate different high-dollar roofing solutions. However, the most respected metal roofing systems utilize standing seams, which provide an outstanding waterproof barrier that greatly reduces the chance of leaks.
In summary, the best type of metal solution (as shown by homeowner preference) is aluminum standing seam metal roofing. There are more expensive options available on the residential market (such as copper), but these go well beyond the budgets of most homeowners.
Can I Put a Metal Roof Over Shingles?
That depends on local building codes. Some cities do not permit more than one layer of roofing. However, the process is very doable with sheet metal roofing. The metal roofing should have a new underlayment or furring strips. It’s critical that the area be properly ventilated to prevent moisture buildup and subsequent mold growth.
Will it Add Value for Your Home?
Standing Seam Systems are Typically Regarded as the Best in Metal Roofing.
Yes. According to Executive Report, you can generally estimate the home value improvement by taking 70% of the total cost of the new roof. Metal is a highly favored solution in many parts of the country, so you may earn an even higher percentage based on where you live. You can also recoup up to 95% of your roofing installation costs.
If you like to learn more about metal roofing solutions, our team at Armour Seal Exteriors, Roofing, Masonry and Contracting would love to answer any questions you have. We provide residential roofing in Chester, PA and throughout the tri-state area. To get started, give our friendly staff a call at 267-622-7158.