Light Weight

Portability Durability

The lowest end metal roofing (thin gauge with acrylic or polyester paints) commonly called AG (agricultural) or Utility panels will last 20–30 years which is roughly 2 times the lifespan of an average asphalt roof. Most metal roofing products today come with warranties from 25 to 50 years. Sheet materials like stainless steel, copper, zinc and aluminum are inherently durable; the oxidization of the base material forms a protective patina. Some modern steel roof sheeting materials are coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminum to give it some of the durability of each of those materials at a lower cost and higher strength than either. Copper and Zinc details have historically been proved to last upwards of 100 years with little or no maintenance. The average life-span of asphalt shingles today (since 2001) is 6–9 years [citation needed], while residential and commercial grade metal roofing usually lasts from 50-100+ years, depending on the type. The coatings and fixings on steel roof sheeting can be designed for different environments including industrial and marine locations.

Needs more discussion of typical prices - that's where steel roofs struggle.

I think the struggle is more in the mind of the typical American consumer.  How big,shiny, and cheap can I get it now.  The idea of buying value is long gone.  I put metal on the garage roof and the porch above the garage.  More expensive, yes.  But I think the longer replacement cycle will more than pay for the difference IMO. 

Light color metal roof avail energy star credits

I got an estimate to replace my roof with asphalt as well as metal, and while the metal cost about 50% more, the dollar amount is only about $3,000. Considering it will last 2 to 3 times as long, this doesn't seem like a huge investment.

Asphalt Quote: $5977
Metal Quote: $8964

Pretty biased info in the original post. This seems more balanced:

"Studies have shown that the average lifespan for a 20 year shingle in Phoenix, Arizona is around 14 years. In Minneapolis, Minnesota the lifespan was 19.5 years. And in Reading, Pennsylvania, the lifespan was 20.8 years."

Posted By jonr on 09 Jun 2011 11:39 PM
Pretty biased info in the original post. This seems more balanced:

"Studies have shown that the average lifespan for a 20 year shingle in Phoenix, Arizona is around 14 years. In Minneapolis, Minnesota the lifespan was 19.5 years. And in Reading, Pennsylvania, the lifespan was 20.8 years."

does not mention any hot & humid climates?   I can tell you in Florida a twenty year shingle lasts 7-10 years, 30 year shingle lasts 12-15 years, a 30 year cement tile lasts  20- 25 years

Sounds right. How does steel do along the coast (where salt is an issue)?

Posted By jonr on 10 Jun 2011 09:25 AM
Sounds right. How does steel do along the coast (where salt is an issue)?

Galvalume steel works the best in salt environments, there are also stone coated galvalume shingle /tile roofs that carry a 50 year "non-prorated" warranty

I am a fan of steel roofing. Inspected thousands of roofs, mostly asphalt shingles with problems.

I thought salt stayed in the liquid water during evaporation.

Brad;

the salt stays behind, but everytime it rains it gets washed away with fresh water

I don't understand, maybe because I am in the middle of the content, but why would living near the coast would salt cause and issue?

And why do concrete tiles only last 20-25 years?

Posted By ICFconstruction on 12 Jun 2011 11:28 AM
I don't understand, maybe because I am in the middle of the content, but why would living near the coast would salt cause and issue?

And why do concrete tiles only last 20-25 years?

Brad;

salt is corrosive, think about cars up north where roads are salted

as a rule most concrete tiles are porous and not water proof they only create a decorative look and  protect the "real roof that lies underneath...... hot mopped 90# granular roll roofing or newer roofs are using peel  -n stick bituminous membranes.

When the membrane below degrades , the roof is shot. The cement tile will get brittle with age and break if you try walking on it, not that it matters, it is not the "real" waterprofing feature of the roof , just becomes unsightly

There are some high end glazed clay roof tiles that are water proof like Monier, very pricey, they would hold up a lot longer, but rarely used due to cost

Brad,

 

The problem with salt it that along the coast, it actually becomes dispersed in the air in microdroplets as the waves break onto the beach.  These droplets  travel very easily in the wind.  Now I don't know just what distance that can extend to, but certainly anything within a half mile of the coastline can be affected.

I am 3/4 mile in from the coast and salt air does not blow in that far

Salt in the air declines exponentially with distance - but also depends on climate, winds and waves. Some people find their kitchen appliances rusting away in a few years.

Just being near salt water is not a reliable measure of salt deposition problems. You need consistent onshore winds and/or some significant distances over turbulent water to see any appreciable issues. I live 300 meters from a Pacific coast and the only salt measured here is from dust and soil accumulations just like anywhere else. Neighbors live 200 meters from the mean tideline and they have no salt, either.

However, nearly every metal roof manufacturer has a warranty exclusion for being within one mile of a salt coast. In my case, that was dealt with by contacting the manufacturer and asking for an individual ruling which, in all cases, came back with removal of the clause.

Needs more discussion of typical prices - that's where steel roofs struggle.

Here's what I recently found. Quotes for high-end standing seam metal roofs ran from a low of $750/square (100 square feet) to $1500/square, installed. This is a large job, with the simplest possible 2:12, squared off roof pitches with nearly no peaks or valleys, but more edge flashing then usual. These roofing contractors broke down materials costs as running from $450/square to $1,000/square, with labor accounting for the remaining, i.e. $300 - $500/square.

Upon further investigation, I found that my (direct from distributor) homeowner cost for the entire material package was $225/square. That's half to a quarter of what the roofing companies claimed.

Labor quotes from three independent roofers with from 12 to 30 years metal roofing experience ran from $85/square to $125/square, which was about 1/4 what the roofing companies wanted.

Compare that to the most expensive Home Depot (lifetime warranty) shingles at about $75/square with labor running pretty much anything some can get for it. I see from a number of different sources that the roofing companies like to get $350/square for shingles, installed, which is what I will pay for a high-end metal roof on the self-contracted plan.

Good info, thanks. Seems like a lot of the premium and/or not so common building materials/methods are priced way too high - in this case, 3x.

Posted By ICFHybrid on 16 Jun 2011 09:36 AM

Needs more discussion of typical prices - that's where steel roofs struggle.

Here's what I recently found. Quotes for high-end standing seam metal roofs ran from a low of $750/square (100 square feet) to $1500/square, installed. This is a large job, with the simplest possible 2:12, squared off roof pitches with nearly no peaks or valleys, but more edge flashing then usual. These roofing contractors broke down materials costs as running from $450/square to $1,000/square, with labor accounting for the remaining, i.e. $300 - $500/square.

Upon further investigation, I found that my (direct from distributor) homeowner cost for the entire material package was $225/square. That's half to a quarter of what the roofing companies claimed.

Labor quotes from three independent roofers with from 12 to 30 years metal roofing experience ran from $85/square to $125/square, which was about 1/4 what the roofing companies wanted.

Compare that to the most expensive Home Depot (lifetime warranty) shingles at about $75/square with labor running pretty much anything some can get for it. I see from a number of different sources that the roofing companies like to get $350/square for shingles, installed, which is what I will pay for a high-end metal roof on the self-contracted plan.

ICF;

we are suppling and installing 16" x 1-1/2"x 24. ga.  painted galvalume standing seam roofing on a large job right now for $445./sq.  labor and material

Caution: many "independent" roofers have no workers compensation insurance