Benefits of Standing Seam Metal Roofs
Most standing seam metal roofs are field-locked systems, which require a special seam locking tool and an experienced metal roofing installer. While the initial cost of materials for a standing seam metal roof is higher than asphalt shingle roofing or other standard roofing materials, the longevity is far superior.
Metal roofing can also lower your insurance rates because of its fire resistance, especially in states like Texas and California that are vulnerable to wildfires. Standing seam metal roofs can last from 15 to 60 years depending on the which type of metal roofing you decide to install.
Major benefits of installing a standing seam metal roof include:
- Life expectancy of 15 to 60 years
- Up to 90% return on investment
- Resistant to cracking, shrinking and eroding
- High performance in extreme weather, including heavy snow, hail and fire
- Contemporary appearance
- Extensive warranties, often 30 to 50 years
- Environmentally friendly
How Much Does a Standing Seam Metal Roof Cost?
The average cost to install a standing seam metal roof is anywhere between $24,000 to $42,000 depending on the slope, pitch, and size of your roof. You can expect to pay $8 to $14 per square foot, or $800 to $1,400 per square, installed on a standard sized single story home. The cost to replace a roof will vary on quite a few cost factors.
Installation costs vary depending on where you live, the size and structure of your roof, and other factors. You may also need to tear off your current roof in order to install a new metal roof, which requires a tear-off and disposal fee. In some cases, you may be able to install a metal roof over an existing asphalt roof and save money. Call standing seam metal roof installers in your area for quotes, but you can expect to pay at least a few thousand dollars for labor as a reference.
Standing Seam Metal Roof Types
There are 3 main types of standing seam metal roofs, which offer different benefits as discussed below.
Painted Aluminum Standing Seam Roofs
Aluminum is the most affordable standing seam roofing material. It may dent more easily than steel, but it offers quality corrosion resistance and can be painted in a variety of colors, which can allow for a more congruent aesthetic on any type of home which makes it a popular choice for standing seam metal roofing.
Galvalume Steel Standing Seam Roofs
Galvalume steel roofs have a corrosion-proof coating of zinc aluminum alloy, this type of coating is as tough as steel and as resistant to corrosion as aluminum. It tends to be the most expensive type of standing seam roofing material you can have installed.
Galvanized Steel Standing Seam Roof
A galvanized steel roof also referred to as a G-90 standing seam roof is zinc-coated steel roof that is one of the most common materials used for standing seam roofing. The steel is strong and provides durability, while the zinc coating protects against corrosion.
Copper or Zinc Standing Seam Metal Roofs
Standing seam metal roofs can also be built with copper roofing or zinc roofing materials, but due to the premium costs often associated with these types of metal, they are not as common of a material to use when installing a standing seam metal roof unless you have a large budget for your roofing project.
Standing Seam Roof Durability
There is no material more capable of protecting a structure from wind, rain, hail, fire, insects, or rot than a standing seam metal roof. One of the great advantages of standing seam roofs in particular, is that the seams, the weakest point in any roof and a potential entry point for moisture, are raised above the level of the roofing panel.
Additionally, because the metal panels run unhindered from the top to the bottom of the roof, not only are there no horizontal seams but in total the roof has a far fewer number of seams than other roofing systems.
