Does a Metal Roof Add Value to Your Home?

Choosing metal roofing for your upcoming roof replacement project is a big decision. So, it’s understandable to want to know your return on investment. 

Typically, a metal roof’s main ROI is the number of years it protects your home. But there’s also the question of whether it adds value to your home when putting it on the market. 

For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners understand what’s in it for them when getting a new roof. That’s why I’ll break down if and how much value a metal roof adds to your home. 

This article covers the following:

• Does a metal roof add value to your home?
• 4 more benefits when investing in a metal roof

Just know that this article is geared towards a steel standing seam metal roof, the recommended type for residential roofing.

Does a metal roof add value to your home?

Yes, a metal roof adds value to your home. But even though it adds value when putting your house on the market, you won’t see a full return on investment. 

So, how much value does a metal roof actually add to your home? According to the 2023 COST VS. VALUE REPORT, the 2023 national average cost for a standing seam metal roof is $47,414, with the national average recouped cost being 48.9% of the original price. 

With this metal roof, you can expect your home’s value to increase by about $23,163. Just know that each roofing material increases your home’s resale value differently.

Let’s use an asphalt shingle roof (the most common type of roof in the country) as an example. According to the same report, the 2023 national average for an asphalt shingle roof is $29,136, with the national average recouped cost being 61.1%.

This means you can expect your home’s value to increase by $17,807 of the original $29,136 you originally spent on the asphalt roof. While you will not see a 100% return on investment, a new roof will always add a nice boost to your home’s resale value.

4 more benefits when investing in a metal roof

Now you know that a metal roof does increase your resale home’s value and how much it adds. But a metal roof offers more benefits that make it one of the fastest-growing roofing materials on the market. 

Let’s break down 4 more benefits of investing in a metal roof. 

1. A metal roof boosts your home’s curb appeal

The first benefit of a metal roof is the boost it offers your home’s curb appeal. Curb appeal is subjective, but a metal roof system is proven to have a higher curb appeal than asphalt shingles. 

Getting a full standing seam metal roof system over a home drastically increases the curb appeal. However, most homeowners are scared off once they see the cost.

This is why a lot of homeowners take advantage of metal roofing’s versatility by adding it in certain areas to accent their roof. These areas include front porches, side porches, back porches, bay windows, etc.

Your home gets a big boost to its curb appeal no matter where metal is on your roof. However, I never recommend stretching your budget to increase your home’s curb appeal with metal roofing. 

2. The painted finish that comes on a metal roof’s panels

The next benefit of metal roofing, specifically steel standing seam metal roofing, is the painted finish and its warranty. Kynar 500 is a painted finish all major steel manufacturers apply to the steel panels of a standing seam metal roof. 

Kynar 500’s main job is to protect the metal from the elements and keep the color from fading as it ages. The protection it provides on the metal roofing panels is a huge benefit, but the warranty is just as important.

The Kynar 500 painted finish comes with a 30-year paint warranty after installation. The great thing is that the painted finish doesn’t disappear when it hits 30 years.

But once you get to the 30-year mark, you should start budgeting for a metal roof replacement to ensure you're financially prepared. 

3. A metal roof is durable and long-lasting

The next (and the biggest) benefit of metal roofing is its durability and long lifespan. There’s no reason you shouldn’t get 30 years out of standing seam metal roofing as long as it’s installed properly.

In the right conditions, you could even get up to 50 years before needing a replacement. But you won’t get close to this lifespan if the painted finish is scratched or damaged during installation.

Exposing the fresh steel to dew or moisture rusts and shortens the lifespan of metal roofing. That’s why hiring a local roofing contractor with a strong history of installing metal roofing is crucial to ensure all precautions are taken to protect the painted finish.

4. A metal roof doesn’t require much maintenance after installation

Every roof needs maintenance throughout its life, but the amount it needs depends on the type of roofing material. The last benefit of metal roofing is that it doesn’t require as much maintenance as other materials.

After installation, a standing seam metal roof is virtually maintenance-free, with the only major maintenance needed is checking around penetrations, like vent pipes, gas pipes, etc. Cleaning a metal roof is also considered maintenance, but that’s a personal choice for each homeowner. 

This low maintenance is a huge reason why standing seam is the recommended type of metal roof for residential roofing. Just know that I still recommend getting a standing seam metal roof checked out every year or two to keep it running smoothly and catch potential problems before they start.

What are the disadvantages of metal roofing?

As I said, metal roofing is becoming more and more popular among homeowners. With the benefits listed above, it’s easy to see why. 

However, it’s easy to give a positive spin to make it appealing. The truth is metal roofing has drawbacks that some homeowners see as deal breakers. 

That’s why the real way to determine if a metal roof is the right roofing material for you is by knowing the disadvantages. To be transparent and help you make the right decision, I wrote another article breaking down the disadvantages of metal roofing. 

Check out The Disadvantages of a Metal Roof to truly learn if it's the right choice for your upcoming roof replacement.