The Cost And Benefits Of Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is fast becoming a popular option for homeowners for a variety of reasons. In fact, metal roofing has a lot of advantages over other roofing materials. For one, the life of metal roofs is quite long. Metal roofs can last as long as the house itself if installed properly. This type of roof can seal out water, last through strong winds, and keep snow from accumulating on the roof.

Metal roofing is also resistant to fire, mildew, insects, and rot. Clearly, metal roofs offer a lot to the consumer, so it’s not surprising why they’re becoming more and more popular. And most companies guarantee their products for up to 50 years. Metal roofing materials are very lightweight as well. Because these roofs weigh so little, it’s even possible to apply the new roof over 1-2 existing roofs without taking down the old material or installing more structural support.

Another plus – metal roofing goes up quickly and easily. Most metal roofing materials arrive in sheets or sections of shingles, so someone with a decent amount of experience can throw them together in a very short amount of time. It is true, however, that you can purchase single metal shingles that are more expensive and time-consuming to install, so make sure you purchase the faster version.

The fire resistant quality of a metal roof is one of the most important advantages. Steel roofing is non-combustible, so it has been given a Class A fire rating – the highest a material can receive. But take note that if you will be applying a tin roof over a combustible material, such as wood shingles, the overall safety rating of your home will go down.

Steel roofing is made of metal, so it reflects radiant heat away from your house. This minimizes heat gain during the day, which has the potential to reduce energy costs in your home. This also benefits the environment. A tin roof is not as effective when it comes to insulation, but oftentimes contractors will leave some dead air space in between the tiles and the roof deck to allow for some insulation.

As you can see, metal roofing has a lot of advantages, but the one disadvantage is cost. The cost of metal roofing initially is on the expensive side. Comparable to other high-end materials, the price of metal roofing ranges from between $150 and $600 per 100 square feet. But the good news is that the price doesn’t necessarily make this material the most expensive option. You get back what you put in if you stay in the house for a long period of time, and don’t plan on moving anytime soon.

When it comes to metal roofing you have to make a decision – pay a little more for a high-quality product from the start and benefit from all it has to offer down the line, or choose another material that may end up costing you more in the long run? It’s all up to you, but after learning the facts, the choice should be clear.

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Please help to answer the question about metal roof contractorShould a shingle completely cover the metal rake edging?
I have a brand new roof installed. The contractor installed a "drip edge" on the rake edges consisting of a 90 degree piece of metal. However, they did a sloppy job of cutting the rake edge shingles and some of the top portion of the drip edge metal is visible (maybe about 1/3" in the worst spots). Since the drip edge goes under about 3" and has ripples to catch water and run it down the edge, should that be ok to prevent leaks? Note that the contractor did not put any cement or tar on the edges since he said that the roof needs to "breath" and let water run out. We have a ton of wind here. I'm concerned that since some of the metal top of the rake edging is showing and the shingles are not sealed to the edge by cement or tar, that I'm going to have problems with the roof. Should I believe what the contractor is telling me? Thanks.
Just to clarify, the metal edging runs the whole length of the rake edge. For a portion of the run, the shingles cover to the edge of the rake edge, but for some portions (6" length or so at a time), the shingles stop short of reaching the rake edge by up to 1/3" and thereby exposing the top of the metal rake edging".
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