The Rise of Metal Roofing

Synopsis: Metal roofing is growing more popular due to a widening range of styles available and longer service life. Contributing writer Scott Gibson delves into all the different options for metal roofing, from materials to installation details. The article includes explanations of rating standards for metal roofing, as well as descriptions and pricing for a variety of roofing products, from modular panels made to look like shakes, shingles, and tile to classic standing-seam or through-fastened panels.

Metal roofing has a long history in the U.S., but until 20 years ago it was a bit player in residential construction, with just a 3.6% share of the reroofing market. That number has roughly quadrupled since then, according to an industry trade group.

What happened? Metal roofing is now available in a range of styles—from standing seam to a variety of stamped metal shingles that look like slate, clay tile, and even asphalt. Paint and stone coatings are more sophisticated and durable, giving metal roofing a long service life while appealing to homeowners with a variety of aesthetic preferences.

The industry is also working harder to win over consumers who once thought that metal roofing was too hot, too heavy, noisy, or prone to rust, says Dick Bus, president of ATAS International and head of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “Those myths are gone, and people want to reroof with something that has some permanence to it,” he said. Metal roofing may never catch up to asphalt in the residential arena simply because of sticker shock. A standing-seam or metal-tile roof can be two or three times the initial cost of asphalt. But its longevity, recyclability, high fire resistance, and low maintenance has increased its acceptance.

Select a base metal

Steel and aluminum are the two most common and least expensive metals used for residential roofing. “On about 80% of all homes, either metal will work just fine,” says Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries, a manufacturer of a wide range of metal roofing products. “On the other 20%, it tends to be driven by climate in that area.”

Steel’s weakness is its potential for rust. One way to prevent it is to galvanize it by adding a coat of zinc to the surface before painting. The amount of zinc is key. A G-100 coating (1 oz. of zinc per sq. ft.) makes a long-lasting substrate for roofing, says Ken Gieseke, vice president of marketing at McElroy Metal, a Louisiana-based manufacturer. Galvalume is another, and widely regarded as better, option. In this process, bare steel is coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminum (generically, this coating is referred to as an AL-Zn alloy) before it’s painted or clear-coated. The treatment is especially useful in harsh weather conditions. McElroy cites a side-by-side comparison in which Galvalume- coated panels were two to four times as durable as galvanized steel after 23 years of weather exposure.

Bus prefers aluminum as the base metal over steel (his company manufactures both types). In “aggressive” environments—along the coast or in regions with highly acidic rain—aluminum is less likely to corrode, and if the surface is scratched, the panel won’t rust. Aluminum is slightly more expensive—7% more than the steel roofing leaving his plant.

There are several other choices, all of them more expensive but also extremely durable. The best known is probably copper, with installed costs around $2000 per 100 sq. ft.

Zinc is another option with an extremely long service life—hundreds of years, according to Bus—but it’s never been as popular as copper in the U.S. Metal thickness ranges from about 0.014 in. to 0.05 in., depending on the profile and the type of metal. Manufacturers may use the metal’s gauge as a measurement—the lower the number, the thicker the material.

Select the finish coat

Treated steel and aluminum roofing substrates also get a topcoat. The most durable finish is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); two of the most popular brands are Kynar 500 and Hylar 5000. These coatings resist fading and chalking much better than silicone-modified polyester (SMP) and polyester finishes. They also are more expensive. On a typical residential reroofing job, Kynar 500 may add a couple of hundred dollars to the cost, but SMP surfaces can begin to fade in less than 10 years.

“The technology is real,” Gieseke says of PVDF coatings. “It’s not a marketing gimmick. It’s really the best-performing system out there.”

Stone-coated steel is another finish option that some manufacturers offer. In a process that Boral says was developed in the 1950s, tiles start with Galvalume-protected steel, followed by an acrylic primer, then an acrylic resin binder to which the ceramic granules are bonded. The granules provide color and UV resistance.

While stone-coated roofing can be just as durable as any other type of metal roofing, Renee Ramey, the executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance, suggests buyers discuss product specs with their installers. “The U.S. is experiencing an issue with subpar products being imported,” Ramey said. Dealing with MRA-member manufacturers is one way of avoiding a problem with substandard base metals and coatings that can shorten product life.

Both paint and stone-coated surfaces can be engineered so they reflect heat from the sun for cooler roofs and reduced cooling loads. The Cool Roof Rating Council describes a cool roof as one that reflects solar energy that hits the surface (solar reflectance) and radiates heat that is absorbed (thermal emittance). These properties are measured and described by a number between 0 and 1—the higher the ­number, the cooler the roof. In general, white and light-colored roofs will reflect more solar energy than black or charcoal-colored roofs, but even darker shades are now available with cool roof coatings. (For a product directory, check the Cool Roof Rating Council’s website.)

3 Materials lead the pack Although metal roofing can be made from zinc, stainless steel, and even lead-coated copper, steel, aluminum, and (to a lesser extent) natural copper dominate the market. Steel and aluminum are generally painted, so it may be hard to tell the difference between the two after installation. Copper is uncoated, and turns green with age. Steel Steel is the strongest metal roofing material and is often used in commercial buildings with long spans between structural elements for this reason. It’s available in through-fastened, standing-seam, and modular panels, and offered in styles to mimic shakes, shingles, and tile. Most economical metal roofing option Can be galvanized or protected with a Galvalume coating before it’s painted; if choosing a galvanized substrate, coating should be a minimum of G-90 Better crush resistance than aluminum in areas where severe hail and very heavy snowfalls are a threat Prone to rust if surface is damaged to expose bare metal Aluminum Aluminum roofing is painted with high-performance coatings to further resist corrosion. It is available in modular and standing-seam panels, and less often as through-fastened panels. Like steel, the panels come in styles to mimic shakes, shingles, and tile. Slightly higher cost than steel Higher rate of thermal expansion and contraction than steel Outlasts steel in marine and acid-rain environments Copper Copper has been installed on roofs for centuries; today’s copper roofs are available in standing-seam and modular panels. The uneven verdigris color is tough to replicate with coatings, but copper roofing can leave green stains on siding and flatwork. Extremely durable Ages to natural patina Most expensive common metal option

A variety of panel and tile choices

The most basic type of metal roofing is corrugated, galvanized panels roughly 3 ft. wide that run from eave to ridge. They are attached to the roof deck (or strapping) with screws that remain exposed when the roof is installed. Gaskets or washers between the screw head and the panel are designed to keep water out. These “through-fastened” roofing panels go up quickly, particularly on a simple gable roof.

Standing-seam (or concealed fastener) roofing consists of a number of individual panels whose seams are joined either with an interlocking snap-lock profile or mechanically with a special crimping tool that installers take with them onto the roof. A crimped-seam roof is watertight on roofs with slopes as low as 1-in-12, but when the roof pitch increases to 3-in-12 or more, the snap-lock panels will keep water out about as well, Bus says. Wind resistance is another consideration.

Standing-seam panels are a step up in performance from through-fastened roofs, and also a step up in cost. Bus estimates that these concealed-­fastener roofs typically cost between $8 and $9 per sq. ft. installed (remember that roof geometry, local labor rates, roofing profiles, and metal and finish choices all affect the price). Concealed-fastener roofing panels come in a wide range of profiles and colors. 

Finally, there are metal roofing shingles (also called “modular panels”), a diverse category that includes products manufactured to look like clay roofing tiles, wooden shakes, slate, and even asphalt. “Asphalt?” you might ask. This design is for homeowners who may not be able to get the OK from a homeowners’ association for a metal roof, or those who don’t want to rock the boat in a neighborhood full of asphalt roofs. Like other forms of metal roofing, shingles have a very long service life, and high hail and fire ratings. 

3 Ways to skin a roof Metal roofing comes in a wide range of colors, textures, and profiles. There are three basic panel types: standing seam (concealed fastener), through-fastened (exposed fastener), and modular (shingle-style). Metals other than aluminum and steel are chiefly available as standing-seam and modular roofs. Type of metal, the profile, local labor rates, and roof complexity all affect cost.   Through-fastened Through-fastened panels are the least expensive metal roofing option and they install quickly, especially on simple roof designs. Follow manufacturer instructions on screw placement (it varies) to ensure warranty coverage. Panels attach to roof deck or purlins with screws along edges and field of panels Fastener heads seal with a gasket but remain visible after installation is complete Pros Wide sheets speed installation and lower labor costs Cons Some panels are very thin; potential for leaks around fasteners Cost Starting at about $5 per sq. ft. installed Modular Shingle panels are installed over solid sheathing or wood battens. Installation instructions are product-specific, and must be followed carefully to ensure long-term durability and weathertightness. Shingles install separately, much like an asphalt shingle or wood shake Fasteners fully concealed when installation is complete Can be made to mimic many roofing materials, including tile and asphalt Pros Wide range of colors and textures; asphalt lookalikes may be enough to win over homeowners’ associations and neighbors Cons Higher labor costs than standing-seam or exposed-fastener panels Cost $9 to $20 per sq. ft. installed Standing seam Standing-seam panels can be installed over solid or skip sheathing (skip sheathing requires a thicker panel). Installation is often faster than modular panels, but slower than through-fastened panels, because standing-seam panels are generally narrower.  Vertical panels attach to roof deck or purlins with screws through clips or prepunched holes along panel edges Fasteners fully concealed after installation is complete Seams join with a snap-lock profile or with a portable seaming tool Pros Abundant choices for type of metal, panel profile, and finish Cons More expensive than through-fastened panels. Cost $8 to $9 per sq. ft. installed (depending on metal, roof profile, and local labor rates), but may be $20 per sq. ft. for copper and even more for zinc

What do designers prefer?

A metal roof is more expensive than asphalt, but the architects and designers I contacted prefer metal over asphalt and other roofing options. They cite a number of reasons: high recycled content, durability, and compatibility with rooftop solar panels. Typical of the responses was this from Ann Edminster, a California-based architect and green building consultant. “It’s extremely durable and of course usually has recycled content, and it’s infinitely recyclable,” she said. “The finishes on metal tend to be pretty benign and long lasting. It’s inherently reflective; metal just comes that way. The water coming off of it is clean because it’s not laden with volatile hydrocarbons and things like that.

“It’s really high in embodied carbon,” she adds, “but so is all roofing. And so it’s basically a contest between other attributes and metal. Metal stacks up better across all of those attributes.”

One final note from Miller: Don’t minimize the role of the installer. With skilled labor increasingly difficult to find, it’s more important than ever to find an installer who knows what he’s doing. Miller suggests contacting the manufacturer of the roofing you’ve selected and asking for the names of experienced installers in your area. “Proper installation is more important than product,” he says.

More about metal roofing:

Snap-Lock Standing-Seam Metal Roof Installation – Factory-made panels and flashing go together without specialty tools or subcontractors.

Is through-fastened metal roofing a good idea?

A Home Completely Wrapped in Metal Roofing and Siding – Bridger Steel’s standing seam metal roofing and siding creates clean lines for a modern exterior

From FineHomebuilding #289

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