Standing seam metal roofing is becoming a more and more popular choice among homeowners. But the truth is, it’s not the best fit for everyone.
This could be for a few different reasons, but the main reason comes down to pricing. Because of this, it leaves some homeowners wondering if a standing seam metal roof is worth it all.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to determine this on your own.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided transparent information to homeowners looking for the right roofing material. Now, let’s do it with standing seam metal roofing.
I start this article with the pros and cons of a residential standing seam metal roof. After that, I’ll distill all the information and give you my opinion of whether it's worth the investment.
The pros of a residential standing seam metal roof
Let’s get started with the pros of a standing seam metal roof. The pros listed here directly impact most homeowners’ decision-making process.
A standing seam metal roof boosts your home’s curb appeal
The first pro on our list is that a standing seam metal roof boosts your home’s curb appeal. While a new roof always increases curb appeal, a standing seam metal roof has a higher curb appeal and a more visually appealing look than the commonly used asphalt shingles.
Getting a standing seam metal roof over your home drastically boosts your home’s curb appeal. But because of the price, this won’t be an option for most homeowners (more on that later).
(Standing seam metal roof over back porch)
That’s why many people choose to use standing seam metal roofing over front porches, side porches, back porches, bay windows, and more to accent their asphalt roof. Whether you install it as an accent or an entire roof system, a standing seam metal improves your home’s curb appeal.
The paint warranty on a residential standing seam metal roof
The next pro of getting a residential standing seam metal roof is the painted finish and warranty on the metal panels. Major steel manufacturers use a patented process to apply a painted finish called Kynar 500 to the steel panels of a standing seam metal roof.
The Kynar 500 painted finish’s main purpose is to protect the metal panels from the elements and keeps the color you choose from fading. The Kynar 500 comes with a 30-year paint warranty after the standing seam metal roof is installed.
While it’s only covered for 30 years, the Kynar 500 won’t disappear at the 30-year mark. But once you reach the 30-year mark, start budgeting for a roof replacement.
The amount of roof maintenance a standing seam metal roof needs
Every roof needs maintenance throughout its lifespan. However, how much roof maintenance is required depends on the type of roofing material.
With that in mind, the fact that a standing seam metal roof is virtually maintenance-free is a huge pro. After it’s installed, the only major maintenance required is checking for potential problems around penetrations such as vent pipes, gas pipes, etc.
Other than that, cleaning is the only other general maintenance needed, and this is a personal decision for every homeowner. Even though it doesn't require much maintenance, getting your standing seam metal roof checked out every year or two is still important.
This catches potential problems, clears sitting debris that could cause damage, and ensures you get the most out of your standing seam metal roof investment.
A standing seam metal roof is a long-lasting roofing material
The biggest pro of a standing seam metal roof is that it’s one of the longest-lasting roofing materials on the market. After installation, you should get 30 years out of a new standing seam metal roof as long as it’s properly installed.
You could even get up to 50 years in ideal conditions. But just know that if the painted finish on the metal panels is scratched or damaged during installation, the exposed fresh steel will rust because of the moisture in the air.
This shortens the lifespan of a standing seam metal roof investment. That’s why you must hire a local roofing contractor with experience installing standing seam metal roofs and know how to take all the proper precautions during installation.
The cons of a residential standing seam metal roof
After learning the pros of a residential standing seam metal roof, you’re ready to learn the cons. These cons are important to know, but how much they matter varies by homeowner.
Let’s see if the cons of a standing seam metal roof are deal-breakers for you.
The noise factor when rain hits your standing seam metal roof
The first con is the noise factor of a standing seam metal roof when it rains. There will be an echo when rain hits a standing seam metal roof.
Solid roof decking will dull the echo because the wood between the metal panels and your ceiling absorbs some noise. There’s also the option of adding wood fiber insulation boards between your roof’s decking and your metal panels to absorb even more of the noise.
But even though the boards provide an extra barrier, they won’t block out a heavy downpour completely. Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid the fact that a standing seam metal roof makes some noise when it rains.
So, if this is a major issue for you, a standing seam metal roof probably isn’t the right choice for you.
Oil canning can occur on standing seam metal panels
The next con of a standing seam metal roof is an aesthetic issue called oil canning. Oil canning happens when the standing seam metal panels are fastened too tightly together during installation.
While the metal panels have room to expand longways, they can’t expand sideways. This leads to oil canning occurring on a standing seam metal roof.
Oil canning starts as a “bubbling” look that eventually turns wavy. Fortunately, oil canning won’t cause functionality problems.
But it is an aesthetic issue that some homeowners don’t like looking at. So, if curb appeal and aesthetics are big decision-making factors, just know that oil canning is possible on a standing seam metal roof.
The cost of a standing seam metal roof
The last con (and biggest concern for most homeowners) is that a standing seam metal roof is an expensive investment. You can actually expect to pay around three times more than the most commonly used roofing material on the market, architectural asphalt shingles.
For example, a two-story house with a little complexity, good accessibility, and using architectural asphalt shingles costs around $4.76 per square foot. For comparison, you can expect a standing seam metal roof on the same home to be around $15.00 per square foot.
This is a massive price difference, which is why most homeowners avoid a standing seam metal roof. But if you have the budget, a standing seam metal roof is a great option.
Is a standing seam metal roof worth it for your residential home?
After learning about the pros and cons of a standing seam metal roof, you’re ready to learn if it’s worth it for your residential home. In my subjective opinion, a residential standing seam metal roof is well worth the investment.
While the price is steep, the material warranty, lifespan, and added curb appeal are well worth it. But I wouldn’t recommend a standing seam metal roof to anyone looking for affordability.
Remember, there’s still the option of getting a metal accent if you can’t afford an entire standing seam metal roof system. Just keep in mind that it’ll add a good chunk to the final cost of your roof replacement.
Learn everything you need to know about your upcoming roof replacement
After reading this article, you should know if a standing seam is worth it for your residential roof replacement. If it is, you’re ready to find a great roofing contractor to start the process.
But what if it isn’t the roofing material for you? Or what if it is, but you don’t know how to find a trusted roofing contractor?
If you’re running into either one of these problems, I have the buyer’s guide just for you. The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof includes all the pros and cons of the top residential roofing materials.
It also helps you avoid roofing scams, find a great roofer, how to pay for a new roof, and so much more. Get all the information you need about a roof replacement by getting The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof today.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality metal roofing services to thousands of homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas. Whether you want a standing seam metal roof or another roofing material, you can count on our workmanship and lifetime warranty to maximize your investment.
If you’re local to Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Belle Meade, Sumner county, and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas, don’t hesitate to Contact Us today for any of your roofing needs.
Get The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof to find the right roofing material, hire a trusted roofing contractor, and so much more.
