Installing solar panels on a roof is a very popular trend - and growing in popularity. One of the most overlooked aspects of this type of upgrade to a home or business is the type of roof material over which the new solar panels will be installed. Does it make sense to anyone to attach an expensive, hi-tech solar collection system to a roof that won't last as long as the panels? I can't imagine anyone answering that question positively, but I see it all the time. Bad enough that some solar panel installations are installed on new roofs with a proven poor track record (asphalt composition, anyone?), but it has to be even less rational to install a new solar system on an older roof that isn't far from the end of its service life.

We're spreading the Metal Roof Network gospel as far as we can, because we think it's important to turn everyone into educated roof consumers. It's why we offer our FREE re-roofing booklet, nearly 50 pages worth of valuable information that helps you:

Among the most common questions we hear on a regular basis is: "How much for a new metal roof?" It's not an unusual question, but it's one that proves extremely difficult to answer with anything less than more questions. Metal Roof Network has metal roofs it sells for prices ranging from 99 cents a square foot up to nearly $30 a square foot. How to you "ball park" the cost of a metal roof with such an enormous range of options? There are at least half a dozen different types of metal roofs (more than one type of galvanized steel, natural steels, aluminum, copper, zinc and other uncommon types as well), a wide range of thicknesses and alloys for each material, different finishes and a big variety of profiles too. Add all of these variables into the mix and you can see why attempting to approximate the price of a metal roof becomes an exercise in guesstimating!

Here's a quick-and-dirty approximation for metal roof pricing: low end metal roofing (like our finished steel value panel) is typically in the $1 to $2 per square foot range (with most contractors installing these in the $1 to $3 per square foot range depending on the specifics of the job). Average quality metal roofing often ends up costing somewhere between $2.5 and $5 per square foot (plus roughly the same range of prices for installation) and high end metal roofs are between $6 and up to as high as $30 per square foot (plus installation costs). It's a very wide range and probably not very helpful, which is why we offer our free homeowner's guide to re-roofing booklet. There's a lengthy formula in there just for metal roof pricing, so it's certainly worth a read to anyone considering a new roof. Another option? Give us a call! We can ask you a few questions over the phone, narrow down the style and material you're most interested in, and provide general numbers specific to your job.

Recently I was asked to price a new metal roof for a client who was in need of replacing his 30 year old concrete tile roof. The existing concrete had lost its sealer coat and the remaining porous concrete was not only discoloring and showing mold growth, but the weight of the heavy tiles was causing sagging and movement in the roof framing members. Besides the heavy weight of the concrete tiles themselves, what surprises many is that they can become significantly heavier still when absorbing water. In this case not only were the old tile very unsightly, but they were literally crushing the house. Observing the extreme sagging of the rafters visible from outside, as well as the cracks in the ceiling drywall on the inside, the client knew the roof was a liability and needed changing.

It made sense for him to consider metal because he wanted the combination of tile and light weight in order to unload his roof structure and arrest further damage. A metal tile was the perfect solution:  tile appearance and only one fifth of the weight of the old, moldy concrete tile. He would literally be reducing the load on his roof structure from more than 15 tons down to about three. Plus the assembled metal roof would provide increased sheer strength to the entire roof area making his home safer in an earthquake. Take a look at the image below of homes with heavy concrete roofs that collapsed in an earthquake, and then ask yourself - which roof would you prefer to be hanging over your head in earthquake country?

Metal roofing tiles solve problems all the way around in this case. Not a tough choice. Read more about the benefits of metal roofing, and give us a call or fill out our contact form if you'd like to discuss your re-roof options.