Metal Roofing - Cost-Effective in the Long Run

Many homeowners are operating under an erroneous belief when it comes to metal roofing. They think that it is exorbitantly expensive for what basically amounts to aesthetics and that the money is better spent on something more common and less ostentatious. They feel that the benefits are few over other materials and that really what they are paying for is the prestige of having something more expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact in the years to come it would be surprising if the trend did not move toward these styles to become the norm rather than the exception.

First off let us begin by being up front. The installation and material cost of metal roofing is significantly higher than that of other materials. Asphalt and other shingles are definitely cheaper. We are not talking about initial cost however. We are considering the cost of ownership and the lifetime value of this home improvement.

A typical asphalt roof that you see on most houses today is made out of a series of overlapping shingles that are sealed with asphalt and covered in ceramic granules. It is a great material for water resistance and protection from the elements but as heat and wind and rain continually assault them they begin to degrade. They usually will last a little bit less than twenty years, shorter in warm weather longer in cold, but must regardless eventually be replaced.

Metal roofing on the other hand offers the same protection and in fact is more resilient to leaking and degradation. They also are far more resistant to high winds from storms. Also except for corrosion they are essentially impervious to the elements. It does not take much in the way of maintenance or treatment to prevent even corrosion from happening. Essentially installing metal roofing means it will last for the life of the home.

Now while it is true that it costs more to buy and install initially consider the total price twenty years down the line. An asphalt roof now costs twice what id did at first because it has had to be entirely replaced. Now while metal roofing is expensive it is nowhere near twice the cost of asphalt. Also with recent increases in the cost of petroleum the gap between the two materials has decreased significantly.

The question then comes down to where the priority of the homeowner lies. If it is to save money on the front end in the hopes of spreading costs out over time then perhaps this option is not the right one. If on the other hand they want to buy something that is solid now and will last a lifetime perhaps they should look into one of these other more durable options. It is worth talking to a professional and determining what will be the best choice for climate and the needs of the client.