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How Long Does A Metal Roof Last

How Long Do Metal Roofs Last

Metal roofing is the ideal choice if you want a long-lasting, sturdy roofing system that will genuinely safeguard your property.

Steel roofs have risen in popularity over the last few decades as a result of their ever-increasing durability and aesthetic appeal. Metal roofing is gradually shedding its image as a dismal gray tin cover for your roof. 

Today, there is an incredible range of rich designer designs, colors, and finishes available, allowing homeowners to select the steel roof that best complements their home’s distinct external appearance.

Aside from its appealing visual appeal, metal roofs outperform other traditional roofing materials in terms of life expectancy. While conventional roofing materials generally require replacement every 10 to 20 years, properly constructed steel roofs should last as long as the life of your home. 

Learn more about how long does a metal roof last, the advantages and disadvantages of metal roofs, what affects their lifespan, and how much it would cost.

Advantages Of Metal Roofs

Metal roofs have several advantages, including:

  • Longevity. Metal roofs can last anywhere from 40 to 70 years, depending on the material. 
  • Durability. Some metal roofs, when properly constructed, can withstand wind gusts of up to 140 miles per hour, will not corrode or break, and maybe impact-resistant (depending on which product you choose). Furthermore, unlike other roofing materials, metal roofs do not have the costly upkeep than other roofing materials frequently necessitate. They should, however, be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that no repairs are necessary.
  • Safety. During a wildfire or lightning strike, metal roofs will not spark and flare into flames.
  • Energy conservation. Metal roofs reflect the sun’s UV and infrared light rays, which contribute to radiant heat on the roof surface, resulting in a 10-25 percent decrease in cooling expenses.
  • Friendly to the environment. Metal roofs not only contain a recycled content of 25-95 percent, depending on the material chosen, but they are also 100 percent recyclable at the end of their life as a roof. In contrast, the majority of shingle tear-off debris — up to 20 billion pounds per year — winds up in the building-related waste stream.
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Disadvantages Of Metal Roofs

Despite their numerous benefits, metal roofs may have some disadvantages.

  • Affordability. Metal roofs are more costly than other types of roofing. While a metal roof has a considerably longer lifespan, investing in one makes sense only if you intend to stay in your house long enough to reap the financial benefits.
  • Noisiness. Depending on the type of decking used during installation, metal roofs may be noisier than other materials during a strong rain or hailstorm (spaced or solid). Increasing attic insulation can sometimes address this problem, but it may raise expenditures.
  • Expansion, contraction, and fastening are all examples of these concepts. Metal roofing material assemblies connected in big panels are intended to expand and contract as they warm and cool. However, the lifespans of visible and concealed fasteners differ. The neoprene washers and screws used during installation may deteriorate and get dislodged over time, depending on the environment.
  • Color matching inconsistency. It may be difficult to obtain a perfect match to the existing metal if a repair is necessary or a house expansion is built years later.
  • Performance. Water can cause significant harm if it gathers anywhere on the roof as a result of improper installation or repair. Low-quality metals may also have a narrower gauge and be less durable. Some metals corrode more readily in particular regions or dent more easily during hailstorms or installation than others.

3 Things That Can Affect How Long Does A Metal Roof Last (Metal Roof’s Lifespan)

There are quite a few factors that can affect the lifespan of your metal roof. The weather in your region, as well as maintaining the finish on the metal panels, have an influence on the longevity of your metal roof. Continue reading to discover more about the three major elements that influence the longevity of your metal roof.

Related: Black Metal Roof: Pros and Cons

Has The Paint On Your Metal Roof Panels Been Protected During Installation?

Always keep in mind that the painted finish on the panels of your metal roof system protects the metal. Standing seam metal panels are coated with Kynar 500, whereas screw-down panels are coated with whatever painted finish the manufacturer chooses.

Related: How to Paint a Metal Roof

Scratching or breaking the panels’ coating exposes the new steel to dew or moisture in the air, causing it to rust. As a result, it is critical that your local roofing contractor takes all necessary steps to safeguard the finish throughout the installation.

For example, every evening when the day’s work is over, the roof must be cleaned. They can’t leave any cuts, little triangles, or shavings on the roof since the steel would corrode overnight.

Whatever metal roof system you have, it is critical that it is treated with care throughout the installation. As a result, selecting a competent local roofing contractor is critical to the success of your metal roof investment.

Metal Roofs and Weather Conditions

Throughout its life, every roof experiences weather-related wear and tear. The amount of harsh weather in your area impacts how quickly your metal roof wears out.

Related: Are Metal Roofs Noisy When It Rains?

If you reside in an area that gets a lot of snow and hail, the integrity and finish on your metal roof panels will deteriorate faster. If you have a screw-down panel metal roof and reside in a region with consistently high temperatures, the inability to expand and contract will decrease its lifespan.

While you have no control over the weather, keeping in mind that the weather in your area will affect the longevity of your metal roof is essential.

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Maintenance For Your Metal Roof

Even if your roof was correctly installed, you would still need to have an annual maintenance check regardless of the type of roof you have.

Except for the penetrations such as vent pipes, gas pipes, and so on, a standing seam roof requires almost little maintenance once built. Even if it doesn’t require much care, you should get it examined once a year to safeguard your investment.

Because the fasteners on a screw-down panel are exposed, they require more care than a standing seam. The screws will wallow out the holes in the washers as time passes because of the pressure generated by a lack of expansion and contraction of the metal.

Without maintenance, this causes leaks and reduces the lifespan of the screw-down metal roof.

Metal Roof Costs

Metal roofing has a lot to offer homeowners and property owners – it may be both functional and visually beautiful, and it is likely to survive weather concerns such as snow, ice, rain, and roof hail damage better than many other forms of roofing.

Of course, this is all dependent on your environment, and you should always consult with your roofing contractor.

Metal roofs are also very resistant to fires and smoke damage, making them a good long-term alternative, even if they are more expensive and may require specialist installation personnel.

The cost of a metal roof usually pays for itself in the long run.

Furthermore, there is a range of alternatives at various pricing points. Although metal roof prices may appear to be excessively costly when compared to more typical wood or asphalt shingle alternatives, if you are concerned about the cost of installing a metal roof, chances are there is a kind of metal roof or metal roofing material that fits within your budget.

You should expect to pay between $8.50 and $16.00 per square foot of metal roofing, including installation, or $850 and $1,600 per square — in roofing jargon, a “square” or sheet refers to 100 square feet of roof or a roll meant to cover 100 square feet of roof.

A screw-down metal roof, on the other hand, may last up to 30 years with proper care. So, based on the size of your roof and the price per square or metal roofing price per sheet, you may determine the cost of your possible new metal roof per square foot.

Of course, this sizing is approximate, so you may need to give or take a bit depending on your property and any architectural details like skylights or unique spots that you need to account for – so always check with your roofing contractor to ensure that the specific type of roofing they are working with is ideal from their perspective and if there may be any additional costs.

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Key Takeaways

If you’re thinking of upgrading your roof or building a new home, you’ve probably thought about the many alternatives available to you and we share a lot of the helpful information here on Roof Calc.com.

The cost of a new metal roof – or any other form of roofing – will vary depending on a number of factors that we will discuss in this article, including the design of your home, your location, and your chosen aesthetic.

It is important to consider the longevity of the two metal roof systems. However, one of the most crucial aspects of obtaining a new metal roof is knowing how much it will cost.

Furthermore, when the whole life cycle of a metal roof is considered, it tends to have the lowest costs since, once installed, it requires less care and fewer repairs than other roofing alternatives such as cedar shakes or shingles or asphalt shingles.

Metal roofing has a Class A fire rating and isn’t as big of a fire threat as other forms of roofing, so this may be a significant consideration, especially if you live in an area prone to wildfires or other natural disasters.