How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? – 2023 Buying Guide
Metal roofs comprise a wide range of roofing materials like standing seam, impressed metal roofing, stone-coated steel, r-panel, and corrugated roofing. Each metal roof has its unique benefits, faults, and, of course, price tags.
Choosing a material for your metal roofing can be daunting with all these different metal roofing options. Never fear; we are here to simplify your choices with our Metal Roofing Buying Guide for 2022.
This Metal Roofing Buying Guide will explain the different types of metal roofing available, the pros and cons of each material, and the price you can expect to pay per square or 100 square feet.
Types of Metal Roofing
Standing Seam
Standing seam metal roofing is one of the most attractive metal roofs. It is named standing seam due to the seams of each panel standing 1 to 1.5” high. These seams are joined together by one of two different methods; snap lock or mechanically fastened. It also comes in two basic profiles; smooth and ribbed.
Snaplock Standing Seam
A snap lock standing seam roof system is installed by snapping the two metal panels together and securing them using a clip. Several types of clips are used, but all work in the same fashion. This snap lock standing seam system should not be used on low-slope roofs with a pitch less than 4/12”.
Mechanically Fastened Standing Seam
Mechanically fastened standing seam roofs are typically used on low-slope roofs with a pitch between 4/12” and 1/12”. These seams are secured using a special machine or hand tool that clamps the two panel’s seams together. Mechanically fastened seams can be a single lock or double lock.
Single lock panels are folded over 90 degrees like an L. One panel has a taller seam than the other so that it folds over and underneath the other seam. A double lock seam is folded over 180 degrees. Double lock systems are more secure and more often used than single locks, although they require more work to install.
Standing Seam Panel Profiles
Standing seam panels come in two profiles, smooth and ribbed. Smooth panels look sleek but are prone to oil canning which is when the panel warps in hotter temperatures. This warping will not be permanent and will smoothen out again in cooler temperatures. Ribbed panels are more robust than smooth and help to reduce oil canning significantly. They also will resist denting slightly better than a smooth panel.
Standing Seam Pros and Cons
Pros
- An attractive metal roofing option that adds to home value.
- Durable and long-lasting
- Comes in a variety of colors.
- Can be used on steep-slope and low-slope roofs
Cons
- It is one of the more costly metal roof systems
- It can easily dent with large hail (although the dents will likely only be cosmetic)
- Oil canning can create unwanted looks
Standing Seam Metal Roof Costs Between $900 – $1500 per Square
Impress Metal Roofing
Impressed metal roofing, also known as stamped metal roofing, is a metal roofing material that is stamped into form. Several profiles of impressed metal roofing are available; the most common profiles are designed to mimic shingles, wood shake, or tile.
Shingle and Wood Shake Profiles
Shingle and wood shake impressed metal roofing profiles offer the durable and long-lasting benefits of metal with the classic looks of wood shake and shingles.
Wood shake is becoming increasingly uninsurable over recent years. Many insurance companies refuse to insure wood shake roofs due to fire risk. Additionally, your insurance policy may not cover wood shake roofs that are prone to rot and mold.
Shingle roofs do not last nearly as long as most would think. A 30-year roof may only last 15 years. To understand why this is the case, read our article “How Long Does a Roof Last in Texas?”. However, impressed metal roofs with shingle profiles give the roof the classic shingle look with increased durability, and it will last 50 years or more.
Tile Profiles
Impressed metal roof with a tile profile is common because the roof is more affordable than clay or concrete tile roofs. It is also much lighter than a tile roof. Therefore, it will not require the additional framing support that most other tile roofs need.
Impressed Metal Roofing Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offered in a variety of colors
- Allows for the looks of tile, shingles, and shake with the benefits of metal
- Available in other non-traditional profiles from some manufacturers
- Durable and Long-lasting
Cons
- Hailstones can create cosmetic damage that might not be covered by insurance
- Should not be used on low-slope roofs
- Difficult to walk on without causing damage to the panels
Impressed Metal Roofs Costs Between $415 – $625 per Square
Stone Coated Steel Roofing
Stone-coated steel roofing is similar to impressed steel, with the difference being that it is coated with stone granules. This stone coating adds strength to the metal panel, making it more rigid, which helps it to resist hail impacts.
Stone-coated steel roofing comes with the same profiles that impress metal roofing offers; tile, shingles, and shake.
Pros
- Offers all the same pros as Impress Metal Roofing
- Stone-coating adds durability and rigidity to the metal panel
Cons
- Same cons as Impressed Metal Roofing
- Stone-coating granules can be knocked off when trying to walk on the panels
Stone-Coated Roofing Costs Between $450 – $700 per Square
Corrugated Metal & R Panel Metal Roofing
Corrugated metal and R panel metal roofing materials are very similar. Each material was designed to be easily manufactured, inexpensive metal roofing materials. Both roofing materials come in various colors and are available in galvanized or galvalume. Additionally, they both are exposed fastener systems.
The difference between corrugated and R panel metal is the profile. Corrugated metal roofing is traditionally round and wavy, although corrugated could be ridges. The corrugations come in different heights of each wave and in various thicknesses.
R panel is more durable than corrugated metal roofing and provides better aesthetics. R panel metal has raised areas and is flat in between. This profile was designed to allow for easy attachment to purlins for metal buildings.
Pros of Corrugated Metal & R Panel Metal Roofing
Pros
- Come in many color options
- Affordable roofing materials
- Can be used for roofing and siding
- Durable and have a long lifespan
- Easy to install
Cons
- Some colors and types are less resistant to rust than others.
- Exposed fastener systems are prone to leaks when neoprene washers deteriorate.
- Require more maintenance and inspections than other metal roofing types
Corrugated Metal Roofing Costs Between $350- $680
R panel Metal Roofing Costs Between $375 – $750
