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The 9 Benefits of Asphalt Shingles
The Benefits of Metal Roofing
Apr 11, 2017
Metal roofs can be made up of the tin, zinc, aluminum, copper, or steel base material. And right off the bat, each one of them has a degree of affordability, durability, strength, longevity, thermal emittance, and aesthetic appeal to match with your house and your own needs. Other roofing styles simply don’t have that many options, so you’re on the right track.
Let’s look at the qualities that they all share, how each material stands out, and which one is perfect for your home.
Although metal is generally more expensive than its asphalt or wood shake counterparts, it pays for itself and saves money in your pocket by cutting down on heating and cooling costs. If your home has an old roof that already passed its expiration date or is getting close, then it’s rendered obsolete in the insulation and energy-efficiency department.
Metal roofs across all its subclasses of its materials have these qualities to offer your home:
Rust free: Particularly, galvanized steel is coated at the factory with zinc or both zinc and aluminum. What this does is halt any ‘oxygenation’ of the base material, which is what causes rust to form. And with the final layer of paint applied, the roof becomes anti-rust for the duration of its life.
Resilience & longevity: If you’re looking for a roof that can stand the test of time, metal roofs can last 40 to 70 years without cracking or corroding. Under excessive heat stress, metal roofs only buckle slightly without notice while keeping the inside of your home cool and comfortable.
Pays for itself: Metal’s thermal emittance and sunlight reflectivity properties make it an excellent barrier to stuffiness, indoor heat, and the sun’s dangerous ultra-violet rays, potentially saving you 10 – 50 percent in heating costs. What’s more, you can recoup as much as 95 percent from such an investment and increase your chances of a good resale for your home with metal’s ‘curb appeal’ influence.
Available in a variety of styles: Speaking of, metal does not have to look like the top of a factory building, you can choose to have it look like wood shake, slate, and ceramic or have it painted with any color to match your house, albeit it’s hard to color match a defective metal part when it needs a replacement. Your roof would have to be pre-painted before it’s installed.
Acts as a shield: Metal roofs don’t only protect you and your family from storm debris, they can withstand high winds of up to 140 miles per hour and easily fend off Class A fires.
Little to no maintenance: Thanks to the metal’s sturdy body, it won’t be affected much by the elements and will require very little upkeep over the course of its life.
The Labor Costs of a Metal Roof in the Southwestern Region
For purposes of relevancy, only the labor prices for some cities in Southwestern states have been included as they’re the ones that see the brunt of the heat year-round.
| Location | Average Labor Costs (2,000 sq ft. of Roof) |
| Albuquerque, NM | $6,779 |
| Arlington, TX | $8,355 |
| Berkeley, CA | $10,956 |
| Colfax, CA | $8,119 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $8,197 |
| Dallas, TX | $8,670 |
| Escondido, CA | $8,591 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $8,355 |
| Glendale, AZ | $7,724 |
| Long Beach, CA | $9,143 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,749 |
| Mariposa, CA | $10,641 |
| Anderson, CA | $6,936 |
| Carlsbad, CA | $8,907 |
| El Paso, TX | $5,675 |
| Fontana, CA | $8,355 |
| Fremont, CA | $10,641 |
| Houston, TX | $9,774 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $8,434 |
| Longview, TX | $7,882 (National average) |
| Oakland, CA | $10,720 |
Metal Roofing’s One Considerable Disadvantage
While some will argue that metal roofs can be a lot more expensive than asphalt, wood, and membrane roofs, it’s nevertheless negligible considering the cheaper options that metal roofing’s spectrum features in its collection. While high-end options like copper reach costs of $25,500 - $39,600 to install, the steel alternative’s cost of installation can be in the range of $5,100 - $22,000, rivaling that of natural wood or fireproof wood simulating recycled rubber.
Metal roofs’ major drawback which can be fixed is the noise they cause when they’re battered with hail or rain storms. However, they get quieter than any other roofing material with solid sheathing. Asphalt shingles are known to be noisier than metal roofs. If you are experiencing noise problems with a metal roof, among the solutions for this problem is attic insulation, which when applied correctly, insulates the inside of your home from the external noise. What’s more is attic insulation enhances the roof’s air ventilation by as much as 40 percent and reduces heating costs by the same magnitude during the winter season.
