Due to the latest technological advances in the steel manufacturing process, companies have improved tremendously in paint processing. A metal roof made with these materials will last between 50-75 years, if installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Unfortunately, today asphalt shingles do no last as long as they once did. 25 to 30 years ago asphalt shingles had approximately 70% oil content and also contained asbestos. Today, asbestos can no longer be used and the oil content ranges from 18-25%, so asphalt shingles only last for approximately 8-12 years. They are also very susceptible to harsh environments such as high and heavy winds, damaging airborne particles and ozone layer depletion.
- Wood roofing products such as cedar now have a lifespan of 18-22 years.
- Clay roofing tiles can last up to 30 years in warm dry climates, but only about 15 years if the climate is more humid or cooler.
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Roof Material Life Expectancy |
|
|
Metal |
50-75 Years |
|
Cedar |
18-22 Years |
|
Clay |
15-30 years |
|
Asphalt |
8-12 Years |
The price per square foot varies from region to region, but the ratio does not change. For example, the price of an installed asphalt shingle roof may cost between $3-$4 per square foot. While the same house in roll-formed metal would cost about $6-$8 per square foot.
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Installed Cost per Square Foot (Comparison Chart) |
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Life Expectancy |
Material |
Cost |
|
8-12 Years |
Asphalt Shingles |
$3-$4/sq.ft |
|
50-75 Years |
Roll-Formed Steel |
$6-$8/sq.ft |
|
50-75 Years |
Direct-to-Deck |
$7-10/sq.ft |
|
40-50 Years |
Standing Seam |
$8-$14/sq.ft |
|
50-75 Years |
Standing Seam Aluminum |
$15-$20/sq.ft |
|
50-75 Years |
Aluminum Direct to Deck |
$12-$18/sq.ft |
|
18-30 Years |
Clay Tiles |
$18-$22/sq.ft |
|
40-50 Years |
Synthetic |
$10-$14/sq.ft |
|
18-25 Years |
Cedar |
$16-$20/sq.ft |
|
100+ Years |
Slate/Stone |
$35-$45/sq.ft |
- Over time, the metal roof will pay for itself with lower heating/cooling costs, zero cost of roof replacement, lower insurance cost, and an increase in home value.
- The need for regular roof maintenance is eliminated with a metal roof.
- Higher wind resistance – most metal roofs have a guaranteed wind resistance of 120km/hr while asphalt singles will not be able to withstand similar weather conditions
- Higher life expectancy – +50 years
- Reduced insurance cost due to wind, fire & hail ratings. – Class A Fire rating, Hurricane Category 1 Rating and Higher Hail Resistance Class IV.
100% eco-friendly. Green. Material is completely recyclable, unlike asphalt shingles which are banned at many dumpsites due to asbestos and potentially detrimental impact on the environment.
- Initial cost is slightly higher than other roofing products, but over time the higher cost savings far outweigh and offset the initial cost.
- Noise – compared to an asphalt shingle roof, it is an engineered fact that a metal roof is approximately half a decibel louder when it rains.
- Snow – snow and Ice will slide off a roof at a greater rate. Greater care must be taken to make sure that snow guards are installed properly. Gutters should also be well repaired and sized properly.
Metal roofs are designed to be installed over existing shingle roofs. Great care must be taken to make sure all moisture-soaked shingles are removed as well as broken or jagged shingles. A synthetic membrane must be installed over the entire roofing area. You must check with local building codes, as some do not allow this procedure.
As best practice, we recommend that the old shingles are removed before installing a metal roof, when possible.
Installing proper membrane is extremely important. It acts as an insurance mechanism if there are any issues with your roof. It prevents moisture from entering the home. It is also very important to use the correct membrane – it must be waterproof, breathable, and high temperature grade as this will affect the fire rating. If a low temperature grade membrane is the used, it will take the fire rating down to a Class “C”, but a high temperature grade will allow for a Class “A” rating. To cut costs, some installers may choose not to use a membrane – this extremely risky and should not be considered a viable option.
It is a simple fact that some roofing contractors will sacrifice quality in order to win your business. Below are some short cuts that may be used to cut corners and cost:
- They will not strip the existing roof.
- They will not install a membrane.
- They may use a lower cost membrane that is not waterproof, breathable, or high temperature rated.
- They will use a cheaper, thinner, low-grade wood for the strapping.
- They may skimp on the number of straps used.
- They may use an inferior low-grade metal.
- They may use a metal that is not a G90 (ZN 275) such as G45 or G60, which may eventually cause rusting.
- Their metal may have a questionable paint system. This could cause early flaking or even peeling.
- Their fasteners may not be engineered to last the +50 years that the rest of the roofing system is designed for.
While choosing a roofing contractor, it is imperative to ask these questions to ensure that, as a customer, you are paying for a complete roofing system with a life expectancy of ~50 years. A warranty should also be requested.
Both systems are great and will last as long as their warranty states, if installed properly and in accordance with the manufacturers installation instructions. If short cuts are taken in either system, these will shorten the life expectancy of the roof.
It is the engineered fact that when it rains on a metal roof that has been installed properly, it is only half a decibel louder than an asphalt shingle roof. The noise level is minimized due to a layer of plywood, membrane, and strapping which reduces the echo of water falling.
According to Underwriters’ Laboratories UL2218, a metal roof has a Class IV rating, which means it will stand up to hail stones that are approximately the size of a single dollar without any noticeable damage. Hail stones of this size would shatter most asphalt shingle roofs.
Yes, occasional foot traffic will not harm a metal roof. Each metal roofing system has a specific area that allows for foot traffic. Check with your installer to determine where foot traffic is permissible on your roof.
A metal roof should not affect your WiFi connection.
Since it is not connected to the ground, a metal roof is not as conductive to lightning.
No, lightning is not an issue of concern for metal roofing systems.
No. In fact, they are considerably lighter than asphalt shingles. An asphalt shingle roof weighs approximately 300 pounds per 100 square feet while a steel roof only weighs approximately 95 to 100 pounds for the same area. In other words, a steel roof is approximately 65% lighter than an asphalt shingle roof.
One of the best features of a metal roof is that it easily sheds snow and ice, which prevents ice dams from forming. Ice dams are notorious for causing ceiling leaks which can cause thousands of dollars of damage.
No, if installed properly a steel roof will lower the attic temperature by as much as 20% in the summertime, which leads to a substantial energy savings.
Each profile has a standard colour palette, but custom colours are available on request.
According to North American statistics, any money you invest in a new roof of any type will positively affect the home value by approximate 64% of the cost of the roof. For example, if you spend $20,000 on a roof, your home value will increase by $12,800. An asphalt roof will depreciate quickly, and after only 8 years it can have a negative effect on your home value as you may have to replace the roof. A steel roof, on the other hand, will hold its value for up to 50 years.
Yes, they are manufactured using mostly recycled steel, and can be completely recycled at the end of its useful life. Steel roofing helps to keep thousands of tonnes of used roofing material out of our landfills.
There is an overlap line on the membrane which is approximately is 6”
t is recommended to have 16” of space to a maximum of 24” between the 1/2 wood and 1/3 wood.
Normally 135mg is the recommended as it is highly breathable, waterproof and high temperature resistant.
Mechanically standing seam is the only profile which locks in well.
As Northern Slate is designed to go direct to deck, hence no wood strapping is required.
Metal quality used in both profiles is the same. But while calculating a bigger roof northern slate is cheaper than roll formed because wood strapping is not required. Also, based on customer preference for house roof or gazebo the expenses may vary.
Aesthetically northern slate is more appealing as compared to roll formed due to its shingle/slate form factor.