Asphalt roofing has been the most popular roofing material in the nation for decades. While it’s still the most common choice among homeowners today, there’s another roofing material closing in.
This material is metal roofing, specifically a steel standing seam metal roof. Metal roofing is actually on track to overtake asphalt as the most popular roofing material on the market.
Metal has always been a great roofing option, especially for commercial properties. However, it found its way into the residential sector and is here to stay.
But why is metal roofing becoming so popular? What does it offer that asphalt doesn’t?
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners keep up to date on current trends in the roofing industry. Because of this, I’ll help you understand why metal roofing is set to become the most popular material in the future.
Just know that this article is geared towards a steel standing seam metal roof, the most common and recommended type of metal roof for residential roofing. So, keep in mind that I’m talking about a standing seam metal roof when I say metal roofing.
Metal roofing is durable and long-lasting
One of the biggest reasons for metal roofing becoming popular is that it’s durable and long-lasting. You’ll get at least 30 years out of standing seam metal roofing as long as it’s properly installed and your attic is adequately ventilated.
You could even get up to 50 years out of metal roofing under ideal conditions. However, scratching or damaging the painted finish on the steel roofing panels during installation exposes fresh steel, leading to rust from dew or moisture in the air.
This shortens the lifespan of metal roofing. That’s why you must hire a local roofing contractor with experience installing metal roofing and will take all the proper precautions during installation.
Metal roofing comes with a great material warranty
All major steel manufacturers apply a painted finish called Kynar 500 to the steel panels of a standing seam metal roof. This painted finish protects the metal from the elements and keeps the color from fading as it ages.
But while this painted finish protects the metal panels, the warranty is what’s making metal roofing popular. The Kynar 500 painted finish on steel panels comes with a 30-year warranty after the standing seam metal roof is installed.
Even though the painted finish is only covered for 30 years, it won’t necessarily disappear after 30 years. But once the metal roof hits the 30-year mark, I recommend budgeting for a replacement to ensure you're financially prepared.
Metal roofing is a versatile roofing material
The truth is, most homeowners won’t be able to afford a full standing seam metal roof system. However, the great thing about metal roofing is that it can be installed in plenty of places and used for accent purposes.
(Metal accents over different roof areas)
This versatility is a big reason metal roofing is becoming so popular in residential roofing. Metal roofing is a popular option for front porches, side porches, back porches, bay windows, and other areas to add a clean look to their asphalt roof or other roofing material.
This can do a lot for your home’s look, but it still isn’t cheap. So, even though it won’t cost as much as a full metal roof system, adding metal roofing to your roof is still an expensive investment.
Metal roofing offers a big boost to your home’s curb appeal
As I just said, metal roofing can do a lot for your home's look. This boost to your home’s curb appeal is a big reason why metal roofing is becoming more popular.
(Standing seam metal roof over an entire home)
A standing seam metal roof system has a higher curb appeal and more appealing look than the commonly used 3-tab or architectural asphalt shingles. Getting a standing seam metal roof system over your entire home drastically increases your home’s curb appeal.
But remember, this isn’t an option for most people because of the cost. This is where you can take advantage of metal roofing’s versatility by adding it to accent certain areas.
(Standing seam metal roof over front porch)
Your home will get a big boost to its curb appeal no matter where you decide to add metal roofing. However, I don’t recommend stretching your budget just to increase your home’s curb appeal with a metal roof.
Metal roofing is virtually maintenance free
Every roof needs maintenance throughout its life. But the amount and how often your roof needs maintenance depends on the type of roofing material.
This brings us to the last reason metal roofing is becoming more popular; it’s virtually maintenance-free. After installation, the only major maintenance required is checking around penetrations, like vent pipes, gas pipes, etc.
Other than that, cleaning is the only general maintenance needed, but it’s a personal choice. While I say it’s virtually maintenance-free, you should still get a standing seam metal roof checked out every year or two.
This catches potential problems, clears sitting debris that could cause damage, and ensures you get the most out of a standing seam metal roof investment. This lack of maintenance is also a big reason why a standing seam metal roof is preferred over a screw down panel metal roof.
How much does a metal roof cost?
Now you know why metal roofing is on its way to becoming the most popular roofing material. All of these reasons make metal roofing worth the investment.
The problem is that you can’t know if a metal roof is in your budget if you don’t know how much it costs. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find honest pricing when it comes to roofing.
Most content out there gives the impression that it’s more affordable than it is, but they only account for the material itself. They don’t include all the other cost factors that ultimately determine the cost of a metal roof system.
I believe in being completely upfront with homeowners, especially around pricing. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the cost of a full metal roof system per square foot.
Cheek out How Much a Metal Roof Costs Per Square Foot to learn the budget you’ll need to add metal roofing to your home.
