Owning a metal roof in Denver CO is quite an investment. For one, you'll be spending $14-$16 per square foot on the roofing material alone. Including labor, you're looking at a total cost of $21-$23 per square foot. Even if it does survive for long-term use and can withstand nearly-limitless hailstorm incidents, is a metal roof worth it?
As your professional and well-trained Denver CO metal roofing contractors, we believe it is truly worth it to own a metal roof for residential properties. Both corrugated and standing seam metal roofing have extensive lifespan. In addition, they're energy efficient too, which means they'll drive down your residential utility costs. Windows on Washington has a great description of these two benefits.
Is a Metal Roof Worth It for Denver CO Homes: Benefits and Advantages
Style and Appearance
When it comes to style and appearance, shingle roofs are more popular among homeowners. In fact, most homes across the United States have asphalt shingle roofs. Shingle roofing comes in a variety of colors, materials and styles, including: fiberglass (asphalt), tiles, wood and slate. However, the most popular style is asphalt shingles.
Metal roofs are not as common in suburban or urban areas, and are seen more often in rural settings. That is not to say that you cannot install metal roofing if you live in a suburban area, you most certainly can. Metal roofing comes in a variety of colors and styles, including: aluminum, steel, copper, zinc, stainless steel and titanium.
Energy Efficiency
Metal roofing is one of the most energy efficient roofing materials available, and can lower your air conditioning costs by as much as 40 per cent. It is also a highly effective insulator during winter.
Shingles, on the other hand, absorb the heat of the sun and transfer it through the roof and into your home, which in turn makes your cooling system work a lot harder. In winter, however, shingle roofs shine thanks to their heat-absorbing features. And, these days, many modern shingle roofs are actually designed as cool roofs and carry a high Energy Star rating for energy efficiency. (Continued)
However, if you've asked some metal roofing homeowners, they will definitely have told you about roof leak encounters. In fact, it's one of the primary issues you have as you ask is a metal roof worth it for your home this coming year.
In our experience, metal roofs never leak if it is installed properly and with the right screws in place. Screws and gaskets made of highly-durable and long-lasting rubber material allow your metal roof to freely expand and contract (a common cause of leaks and shortened material lifespan) and prevent leaks from entering the house. In Washington Post's article is one example of unique roof leak or vapor infiltrations you may encounter.
Metal Roof Leaks or Condensation?
You’re correct that condensation can be a huge problem with metal roofing. Over the years I’ve answered many inquiries from people who believe they have a roof leak, whereas the problem is condensation forming on the underside of their metal roof. This water eventually runs down the underside of the roof and finds its way inside the home. When you install a metal roof over a finished living space in just about any place other than the Atacama Desert (where it’s not rained for decades), water vapor can and will float up through the ceiling and find its way to the underside of the metal roof.
When the metal roof cools down at night and its temperature falls below the dew point of the air that’s contacting it, the water in the air turns to liquid. You see this happen on just about any warm day, or even inside your home in the winter, when you have a cold beverage glass or can sitting out. Within minutes, beads of water form on the cold vessel and begin to drip down to the table or countertop. (Continued)
If you've dealt with its leaking issue, you won't even need to ask "is a metal roof worth it?" when you make your decision and have enough savings. Metal roofs have long-term longevity that parallels superior roofing materials such as clay and slate tiles if a contractor installs them properly.
Additionally, you're helping the environment. Asphalt shingle roofs have partly petroleum-produced parts that make them less recyclable than full steel, tin, aluminum, or copper roofs. Architect Magazine has a great feature on metal roofing material's (and metal in general) durability and dependability.
Metal Roofs Can Last for Decades and Beyond
Long the material of choice for agricultural outbuildings and barns, metal roofing has become the darling of the architectural community. Architects who favor metal—such as Kaplan Thompson Architects in Portland, Maine, and Peter L. Pfeiffer, principal of Austin, Texas-based Barley & Pfeiffer Architects—like it because it is attractive, lightweight, fire resistant, and durable.
According to the Metal Roofing Alliance in Belfair, Wash., a metal roof will last two to three times longer than a traditional asphalt roof. Once apt to corrode, especially in seaside applications, metal roofs now come with specialized finishes and coatings to handle salt spray.
"Steel metal roofing has a 'metallic coating' made of either zinc or a combination of zinc and aluminum ... [which] prevents rust from forming and is bonded to the steel at the factory," the association writes on its Web site. "Paint is then applied over the metallic coating to provide the long-lasting color homeowners desire." (Continued)
If you have yet to find a reliable roofer in Denver CO, you can count on Roper Roofing to help you. We have decades of experience performing metal roofing installations, repairs, replacements, and maintenance. If you're curious about what we can do for your roofs, contact us today!
