What is the Cost to Replace a Roof?
Metal roofing has become very popular and has entered the mainstream and become an excellent option for many homes. Because of metal increasingly being available, metal roofs are no longer only to be found in high-end homes. Now, conventional homes are also the proud owners of metal roofs. They have become so popular because the cost to replace a roof such as a metal roof actually costs you less in the long run due to their excellent durability and warranty. According to industry statistics, the market share for metal roofing has been increasing at a rate of roughly 3% every year over the past few years. That means currently around 15% of all roofing installations are metal roofing. Metal roofs can be manufactured from a variety of alloys and metals including aluminum, steel, copper, zinc, and terne.
Some advantages of metal roofing
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Versatility
If you have shingles on the home you have just bought, you can just install metal roofing over the existing shingles roof. Just make sure that the local building codes allow it. Still, it is better to remove the shingles, but it is a messy job and just adds to the costs. A problem could occur in that water vapor could get trapped, allowing the moisture to build up which could cause rotting and mold. You wouldn’t want that! But professional roofers could install a vented metal roof, and that would dispel those potential problems.
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Well insulated
Some people question metal roofs about the noise they make when rain falls on them for instance. But metal roofing has fantastic insulation which provides a sound barrier, and if you have an attic, that provides insulation as well. Inhabitants hardly notice any sound increase when a metal roof is installed. And metal roofs do not attract lightning either and are less combustible than other roofing types as well.
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Cost-effective
Most metal roofing products will carry a warranty that is comparable to the best of asphalt shingles (about 30 years). Metal roofs are known to last over 50 years. You just need to make sure that the materials used on your metal roof are tested and labeled by UL, FM Global, or similar, and that you also check with your local building department for code requirements. A homeowner who installs a metal roof will generally only install such a roof once in his or her lifetime. When you compare that with an asphalt shingle roof which can be replaced 2-4 times in a 50 year period, a metal roof is really worth thinking about! OK, metal roofing is more expensive than asphalt roofing, almost double the price, but it has double the benefits and can save money over a long period. Metal roofing is not affected by fire, insect damage, and rot. With the dangers of wildfire on the rise, metal roofing has become the roofing material of choice. Even though metal roofs are long-lasting, when the time does come to replace it, the old metal is readily accepted at metal recycling outlets.
How much does a new roof cost?
Before we go any further, here is a link to our roofing calculator! It will answer your question – How much does a metal roof cost? Why is it more expensive? It is because it lasts so long and is virtually maintenance-free, being very durable by facing up to all the harsh environmental elements. Not only that, by installing a metal roof, you will save as much as 40% on cooling costs compared to asphalt shingles. That’s a lot! As mentioned above, metal roofing is more expensive than other roofing. Did you know that to install a metal roof requires special training, tools, knowledge, and equipment that many general roofing contractors don’t have?
Click the link above to open our metal roofing calculator. Then follow these steps to get a pricing estimate:
Step 1: Input area of your house in feet
The roof cost calculator will estimate the area using the length and width of your house. The width is the distance between two corners on the short side of your house. The length is the distance between two corners on the long side of the house.
Step 2: Select the number of stories
How many floors does your house occupy? A one-story house has all rooms on ground level while a two-story house has rooms spread on two levels.
Step 3: Select the roof slope.
Does your roof have a low, medium or high slope? The slope is determined by the vertical rise for every horizontal foot the roof runs. A moderate slope has a vertical rise of 6 inches for every 12 inches horizontally. A steep slope rises 12 inches for every 12 horizontal inches.
The roofing calculator is useful in estimating your roofing costs. However, it excludes replacement of damaged roofing structures, quality of materials from various brands, and the effect of geographic location on cost. It also excludes permits or taxes required to replace roofing and any other roofing systems that may need replacement.
If a tear-off of the old roof is necessary, the average cost to tear off and replace the roof will entail a separate cost which can cost about $100-$150 per square average.
Metal roof colors and styles
Styles:
- Vertical
- Corrugated
- Ribbed
- Stone-coated
A lot of metal shingles have been manufactured to look like natural slate, cedar shakes, clay tiles, and in some instances, even to look like the traditional asphalt shingles. When you decide to install a metal roof, you will be excited to know that you have such a variety of color choices, to the point that you could get lost in all that is on offer. Just remember to choose carefully as it will affect the look, style, and feel of your home.
Here’s to a long life
Thanks to their exceptional longevity, metal roofs, frankly, have a very low life cycle cost. This means that while you might spend more money in the beginning, upfront, on a metal roof, in the long term, you actually save money – you won’t need to repair or replace your new metal roof again, i.e. as long as it was properly installed the first time around. A lot of manufacturers will offer a 30-50 year materials warranty on a properly installed roof, but a contractor who installs a metal roof needs to offer you his own installation warranty.
Environmental impact
Installing a metal roof to your home is like really going green. This is because metal roofs usually use the least amount of resources in the manufacturing process. Also, metal roofing doesn’t contain any petroleum by-products, and as mentioned above, old metal roofing can always be recycled. An old roof never ends up on the landfills at the end of its service life and that means savings on the precious landfill space and helping to protect the environment. You might not have known it, but many new metal roofs will contain anything from around 30-60% of recycled metal content. In fact, metal roofs; any metal for that matter, can be recycled over and over again without suffering from any material degradation.
What about return on investment on a metal roof?
Out of all the roofing materials available out there on the market, it is metal that will provide you with the highest return on your investment. Actually, a metal roof can be a massive selling point when you want to sell your home because potential buyers will be happy that they don’t have to worry about any roof-related problems. Homes that have been fitted out with metal roofs typically have a 6% resale value upper hand over the homes that have asphalt shingles roofs. A lot of insurance companies will reward you with a very satisfying discount in the area of about 30% on your homeowner insurance if your home has a quality metal roof on it. Homeowners’ renovating their homes with metal roofing can usually recoup the high rates of their roof costs, usually about 85.9% according to national averages, with homes in the Eastern states even recouping up to 95.5%. In some states, like Texas, for example, a metal roof can even lower your homeowner’s insurance by up to 35%. When you do decide to sell your home, it is more than likely that you are guaranteed to be a winner, particularly if you have lived in your home for quite a long time.
A metal roof makes you a winner!
So how much does it cost to replace a roof? A lot, as you can see. Metal roofs have simply leaped generations beyond the roofs we remember from years back – those old, tin roofs that we saw on many barns of yesteryear. The ones of today are hugely sought after, modern, exciting colors and textures and made to last maybe longer than you! Not only that, metal can be cut into a number of different styles, and has so many advantages to them that owners today realize that even though they might cost a bit more in the beginning, in the long term they are highly cost- effective. It is only showers of blessing that fall on a metal roof.
Here at Top Metal Roofs, we pride ourselves on our customer support and satisfaction. If you are planning to install a new commercial roof for your project, you can be part of our success stories. Top Metal Roofs will handle all your commercial roofing projects in Toronto and our consultants will guide you through each step. Call us at 647-470-7161 and we will deliver a roof that not only protects you from the elements but also reflects your business style!