Some people hear "metal roofing" and immediately picture an old tin roof on a barn or the long, vertical panels roofing the structures in an industrial park. Well, open your minds, people! Residential metal roofing has come a long way, and there are a dazzling array of styles, materials, colors and finishes available for today's metal roofs. Here's what you need to know when it comes to residential metal roofing:
First, The Good
There are a bevy of benefits inherent to metal roofing - everything from extreme light weight and fantastic durability and resilience to weather-related conditions to eco-friendliness and incredible longevity. Add to that the versatility of this particular roofing material, which comes in more options than any other kind of roofing around (meaning there's a metal roof system to complement just about every kind of architectural style), and it's easy to see why residential metal roofing is a a great option for the home.
Now, The Bad
If there's a downside to metal roofing, it's the cost. Metal roofing, on average, costs anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times that of a mid-range asphalt composition roof. It can be difficult to justify the extra money, particularly during these tough economic times, but here are a few reasons to consider the upgrade:
- If you're planning on staying in your home over the long-term, you'll spend less on the costlier and permanent metal roof system than you would replacing those shingles every 10-20 years.
- The likelihood of required service is drastically reduced with metal, while a shingle roof guarantees some sort of maintenance at some point.
- The right residential metal roof system can actually increase your home's energy efficiency, reducing cooling costs in warm summer months.
- There are federal tax incentives on certain Energy Star certified residential roof systems, so you can get a break from Uncle Sam too.
