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 there’s the fact that with your typical contractor, they’ll 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 you’ll be well on your way to a low-cost, high-quality installation. Never, ever go with a roofer who hasn’t 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.
Simplicity of design is what makes for an easy roofing job, so if you roof’s replete with irregular features like skylights, gable-fronted dormers and chimneys you can expect to pay a mint compared to the guy in the cottage shaped block that had his house re-shingled last week. The reason for the extra cost of installing your metal roof will be that making the odd, irregular parts will require the presence of an expensive, portable device that roofers use to cut panels on site - it’s known as a brake, and uses hydraulically powered, razor sharp teeth for incredible slicing accuracy. Don’t even consider renting one yourself - it’s definitely not for the use of an amateur builder, and has a long record of relieving unwary dilettantes of their fingers.
The fact is that, in the longer term, a metal roof price that seems high when compared to those of asphalt and fiberglass roofing solutions will be justified by consistent savings. First off, metal roofing can’t burn, and as a result of the protection it offers against fire, you’ll find that your insurance company is likely to offer you a policy on your home at a substantially reduced cost - something in the realm of 25%.
Aside from this, you’ll save on electricity (and your carbon footprint!) when summer hits, as the reflective properties of metal will help keep your house from absorbing solar heat - running your air conditioner round the clock to no effect will be a thing of the past.Try shingles with a Kylar coating - a plastic layer that will enhance the reflective properties of your roofing, and their aesthetic appeal with it. You’ll find that the cost of installing metal roofing just about pays for itself.
Alternatively, a Zinc-Aluminum coating (of the kind sported by galvalume shingles) will not only have this effect, but also make your roof far less likely to corrode - the only thing you’ll need to do for up-keep is hose it down occasionally. With this treatment, there’s nothing you can build your roof out of that will match copper, stainless steel or aluminum for its durability - indeed, educated estimates suggest that these roofs may last up to seventy years without needing to be re-shingled. With that kind of a timeline, the cost of installing a metal roof seems less like a burden, and more like a valuable investment.
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- Ryan McCall