What’s the Best Type of Metal Roof for Residential Roofing?

Interested in adding a metal roof to your home? Are you wondering which type of metal roof is specifically better for residential roofing?

With metal roofing’s rise in the residential industry, this is a common and important question. This is especially true when you consider the investment a metal roof requires. 

So, what is the best type of metal roof for residential roofing? Why is it the best? What do you need to know about it?

For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners make the best purchasing decision based on their needs, budget, and situation. So, let’s look at the best type of metal roof for residential roofing and what you need to know about it. 

This article answers the following questions:

• What are the two types of residential metal roof systems?
• What’s the best type of metal roof for residential roofing? 
• Is a residential metal roof worth the investment?

What are the two types of residential metal roof systems?

There are two metal roof systems used in residential roofing: standing seam and screw down. So, before I can tell you which metal roof is best for residential roofing, you need to know the difference between the two types. 

Let’s look at both residential metal roof systems and their differences. 

Standing seam metal roof system

A standing seam metal roof is a series of panels locked together at the seams or seamed mechanically. The fasteners are “hidden” under the panels, so you’ll also hear it called a hidden fastener metal roof.

The ribs (seams) are usually 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the panels’ length and aesthetics of the home. The clips (fasteners) are installed on the vertical part of the seam on each panel with 2 gimlet screws, which allows the next panel to snap over it to fasten them together.

This installation method allows the panels to glide back and forth when expanding and contracting when going through thermal expansion.

Screw down metal roof system

A screw down panel metal roof (also called an exposed fastener) is a series of panels fastened down to the decking through the metal. This metal roof gets its name because it’s literally fastened down with screws and washers that are left exposed. 

Because the panels are screwed down, they can’t move freely when expanding and contracting. This creates pressure on the screwed down metal panels, which causes the screws to wallow out the holes in the washers. 

You’ll have to periodically replace (every 5-10 years or so) the screws as maintenance before leaks show up or a strong storm tears the roof off completely.

What’s the best type of metal roof for residential roofing? 

In my opinion, a standing seam metal roof is the best metal roofing option for residential purposes. I always recommend a standing seam metal roof if you’re installing it over a heated residential space.

I not only think it looks better, but it also comes down to a screw down metal roof’s lack of expansion capabilities. The more the metal panels heat up and cool down, the more the pressure builds to wallow out the screws. 

This means paying to replace the screws quicker and more often, which makes the potential for leaks higher. However, screw down metal roofs have their place in residential roofing in the right situation.

If you do want a screw down metal roof system, I recommend installing it over a carport, garage, back screened-in porch, barn, or anywhere that’s not a living or workspace.

Is a residential standing seam metal roof worth the investment?

Now, you know a standing seam metal roof is the recommended type of residential metal roof system, but you still need to determine if it’s right for you. In my opinion, a residential standing seam metal roof is well worth the investment if you have the budget. 

There’s a reason metal is becoming an extremely popular roofing material in the residential roofing industry. However, that doesn’t mean it’s right for every homeowner. 

So, let’s look at why a standing seam metal roof is a good investment.

There are plenty of metal options

The great thing about metal roofing is there is a wide variety of metal options. All the metals have pros and cons, but there’s really no bad option.

Below are some common types of metal used for residential metal roofing:

• Steel metal roofing
• Aluminum metal roofing
• Copper metal roofing
• Stainless steel metal roofing
• Zinc metal roofing

There are other metals, such as galvalume and tin, which aren’t bad options. Picking a metal depends on budget, personal style preferences, climate, and how much life you want to get out of your metal roof.

Standing metal roofing offers versatility

A new standing seam metal roof is an investment most homeowners can’t afford. However, standing seam metal roofing’s versatility means it can be installed in plenty of places to accent other roofing materials.

(Standing seam metal roof accents)

These areas include front porches, side porches, back porches, bay windows, etc. Adding a metal accent does a lot for your home’s overall look, but it’ll still be costly.

Unfortunately, even adding a standing seam metal roof accent is too expensive enough for many budgets.

A standing seam metal roof is long-lasting

The biggest reason a metal roof is worth the investment is its durability and lifespan. You’ll get at least 30 years out of a properly installed steel or aluminum standing seam metal roof and even up to 50 years under ideal conditions. 

However, premium metals, such as copper, stainless steel, and zinc, will last well over 50. In the roofing industry, we consider them lifetime materials because they’ll outlast most lifetimes or multiple owners after installation.

Standing metal roof roofing provides high curb appeal

Getting a full standing seam metal roof system dramatically increases your home’s curb appeal. Metal roofing’s look and style are a big reason many homeowners think it's worth the investment. 

Keep in mind that looks are subjective, and everyone has different tastes. So, one homeowner may like the look, while another one doesn’t.

However, a standing seam metal roof system is proven to have a higher curb appeal than the commonly used 3-tab or architectural asphalt shingles.

A standing seam metal roof is energy-efficient 

Metal roofs have reflective properties, which reduce heat absorption when sitting in the sun. This keeps your home cooler, so your AC unit isn’t running as much.

This energy efficiency and its impact on your home’s energy bill is another reason a metal roof is a good investment. However, the energy efficiency of a standing metal roof ultimately depends on the type of metal, color, roof coatings, and your local climate.

Standing seam metal roofing is a low-maintenance material

You already know that screw-down panel systems require regular maintenance to change out wallowed-out screws to prevent leaks. However, every roof needs maintenance in some shape or form.

The great thing about standing metal roofing is that it doesn’t require as much maintenance as the other material options. It’s actually virtually maintenance-free after installation. 

However, I still recommend getting it checked out every year or at least every other year. This just allows your roofer to check around penetrations (vent pipes, gas pipes, etc.) and keep it clear of sitting debris to ensure the lifespan is maximized.

A standing seam metal roof increases your home’s value

In roofing terms, a standing metal roof’s long lifespan and durability are the main return on investment. However, there’s also monetary ROI if or when selling your home. 

According to the 2024 COST VS VALUE REPORT, the national average recouped cost on a prefinished steel standing seam metal roof is 48.1% of the original price. This means (as of 2024) you would get almost 50% of the original cost back when selling your home.

Going back to the report above, the 2024 national average cost for a standing seam metal roof system is $$49,928. At this price, you can expect to get around $24,034 back when selling your home.

Obviously, this largely depends on the real estate market and how competitive it is at the time of selling. The percentage also fluctuates yearly, so it’ll be different down the road. 

However, you’ll always recoup some of a standing seam metal roof’s original cost when selling your home.

Is a residential metal roof right for you? 

After reading this article, you know that a standing seam metal roof is recommended for residential roofing. You also learned why this metal roof system is worth the investment. 

However, a residential standing seam metal roof is a huge investment. In fact, it’ll be out of the budget range for most homeowners. 

So, before deciding if a residential metal roof is right for you, it’s important to know how it matches up to the most commonly used residential roofing material: asphalt shingles. That’s why I wrote another article comparing asphalt and metal roofing on everything needed to make the right decision. 

Check out Asphalt vs. Metal: Which Roof is Right for You to learn which roofing material is right for your residential roof replacement.