The most basic choice when comparing metal roof options for your home is what metal to use. Each has pros and cons, as well as cost and value differences.
The vast majority of metal roofs on the market are steel roofs. The base steel is usually coated with other alloys resulting in galvanized or galvalume steel. Steel roofs offer good strength but do have the weakness of rust. A steel roof can begin to rust right away if handled, cut, or installed improperly. If everything is done right it may not rust for several years. Steel roofing is at the low end of metal roof prices but still more expensive than asphalt shingle roofing.
Aluminum roofs offer two key advantages over steel: they cannot rust, and are more energy efficient. Aluminum tends to reflect radiant heat instead of absorbing it or passing it through. Aluminum is softer than steel, but textured panels with wood graining or other embossing will usually offset this by stiffening the panel. The formability of aluminum also results in more deeply-textured stamped panels that are more natural-looking than steel panels. Aluminum is more costly than steel but may be the best overall value in terms of return on investment.
Copper roofing is for many the top-of-the-line in metal roofing. Natural copper is typically used without a finish, and over time the copper will form the familiar green patina that epitomizes aged copper. The formation of the green patina may take a decade or more depending on the local environment. At first it will just turn dark brown. The formation of the patina acts like a protective shell and copper does not rust or deteriorate beneath it. Properly installed, a copper roof can last virtually forever. However it is at the very high end of the price range and therefore is not often used for entire roofs but more often for small accent areas such as over a bay window.
Beyond these there are other exotic metals sometimes used in roofing, such as zinc, lead-coated copper, terne and stainless steel. All of these are very rare in today's market and most are priced at or beyond the cost of copper. These exotic metals tend to get used for an extreme architectural theme such as on a commercial building and are rarely used residentially.
The vast majority of metal roofs on the market are steel roofs. The base steel is usually coated with other alloys resulting in galvanized or galvalume steel. Steel roofs offer good strength but do have the weakness of rust. A steel roof can begin to rust right away if handled, cut, or installed improperly. If everything is done right it may not rust for several years. Steel roofing is at the low end of metal roof prices but still more expensive than asphalt shingle roofing.
Aluminum roofs offer two key advantages over steel: they cannot rust, and are more energy efficient. Aluminum tends to reflect radiant heat instead of absorbing it or passing it through. Aluminum is softer than steel, but textured panels with wood graining or other embossing will usually offset this by stiffening the panel. The formability of aluminum also results in more deeply-textured stamped panels that are more natural-looking than steel panels. Aluminum is more costly than steel but may be the best overall value in terms of return on investment.
Copper roofing is for many the top-of-the-line in metal roofing. Natural copper is typically used without a finish, and over time the copper will form the familiar green patina that epitomizes aged copper. The formation of the green patina may take a decade or more depending on the local environment. At first it will just turn dark brown. The formation of the patina acts like a protective shell and copper does not rust or deteriorate beneath it. Properly installed, a copper roof can last virtually forever. However it is at the very high end of the price range and therefore is not often used for entire roofs but more often for small accent areas such as over a bay window.
Beyond these there are other exotic metals sometimes used in roofing, such as zinc, lead-coated copper, terne and stainless steel. All of these are very rare in today's market and most are priced at or beyond the cost of copper. These exotic metals tend to get used for an extreme architectural theme such as on a commercial building and are rarely used residentially.
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