Guesstimating the cost of installing a metal roof can be a trickier thing than it sounds. First off, the standard materials are going to cost different amounts in different places - it all depends on the cost of labor, the methods of distribution, freight costs and so on. Then there's the fact that with your typical contractor, they'll lower the cost per square foot of installation the bigger your roof is. Indeed, if you intend to cut out the middleman and buy the raw materials straight from the manufacturer, you might want try finding someone else that plans to re-roof and buy your metal roof shingles together at a wholesale price. The most popular brands like Met-Tile, Prestige, Decrabond, Gerard or Zappone are preferable as, while they might cost a little more, they offer the best warranties.

Remember that the cost of bringing someone in to redo a poor job will far outweigh cash you might save by going with a less skilled roofer. Never hire a roofer that hasn't worked with the particular roofing material you plan to use. For any good contractor, they're likely to charge you less for installing a metal roof than more traditional fiber glass or clay tiles. because the shingles are so lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to clip together. Some metal shingles are even sold in pre-assembled sheets, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to cover the proposed roof surface.

The cost of installing a metal roof will be significantly less the more regular the roof of your home is. Roofs with irregular features like strange angles, skylights, dormers, sidewalls and chimneys will probably require custom, on-site cutting of panels, making them seriously prohibitive for any kind of home DIY-installation effort. Cutting by hand takes far too long for any but the most zen-like roofer to retain his sanity. Instead an expensive, portable machine called a brake is required, as is a professional trained in its operation.

The fact is that, in the longer term, a metal roof price that seems high when compared to those of asphalt and fiberglass roofing solutions will be justified by consistent savings. First off, metal roofing can't burn, and as a result of the protection it offers against fire, you'll find that your insurance company is likely to offer you a policy on your home at a substantially reduced cost - something in the realm of 25%.

Aside from lowering your fire-hazard rating, the outlay of cash that the cost of installing a metal roof calls for will make for immediate savings on your electricity bills. When sealed, metal roofing panels can be pretty much airtight, keeping warm air from escaping your home in winter. In summer, on the other hand, the panels reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it the way asphalt shingles would, meaning that you won't have to run your air conditioning round the clock just to keep your home cool. Getting shingles with a plastic Kynar coating can enhance this reflective effect, making your home even more environmentally friendly.

Alternatively, a Zinc-Aluminum coating (of the kind sported by galvalume shingles) will not only have this effect, but also make your roof far less likely to corrode - the only thing you'll need to do for up-keep is hose it down occasionally. With this treatment, there's nothing you can build your roof out of that will match copper, stainless steel or aluminum for its durability - indeed, educated estimates suggest that these roofs may last up to seventy years without needing to be re-shingled. With that kind of a timeline, the cost of installing a metal roof seems less like a burden, and more like a valuable investment.