If you’re in the market for a new roof and are considering metal roofing for your roofing material, then we’re sure one of your biggest concerns is how much a metal roof will cost. That answer was easier to answer prior to 2021.
Metal roofing cost historically had been pretty stable until the COVID-19 pandemic caused supply issues that started in 2020 and continued throughout 2021. The price of steel skyrocketed as a result, causing the price of metal panels to be higher than they have been in many years. While the pricing of metal roofing material has become more stable, there’s no indication that the prices will go down anytime soon.
In order to help you determine if a metal roof is a fit for you financially, Western States Metal Roofing has compiled all the information for determining the cost of a metal roof that reflects the current market conditions, including the steel shortage and labor shortage, which is hard to find anywhere else.
The price ranges we provide below are just estimates and a quote should be requested for a specific price for your project. Also, while a copper roof or aluminum roof are also types of metal roofing, we are specifically discussing the cost of a steel roof in this article.
The cost of metal roofing panels depends on the profile and fastening system you choose. The metal roof type you choose will have one of two types of fastening systems: exposed fastener, such as ⅞” Corrugated or R-Panel, and concealed fastener (also known as standing seam).
We break down metal roof price per square foot by the type of panel: corrugated or standing seam.
Below are the two most common specifications (gauge and paint finish) for corrugated metal in an exposed fastener panel:
|
26 Gauge SMP Paint Finish |
$1.75 to $2.50 per sq. ft. |
|
24 Gauge PVDF Paint Finish |
$2.50 to $3.50 per sq. ft. |
If you choose these panels in specialty paint prints, the price will be increased by $1.00 to $1.25 to sq. ft.
|
24 Gauge - PVDF In Standard Colors |
$3.00 to $4.00 per sq. ft. |
|
24 Gauge Specialty Paint Prints |
$4.00 to $4.75 per sq. ft. |
Standing seam panel costs also vary based on the width of the panel. The most cost effective width is an 18” wide panel. For every 2” narrower that the panels gets, the cost increases by 15%. Therefore, a 14” wide panel is 30% more than a 18” panel.
If you decide to use a specialty paint print that’s designed to look like rusted steel or copper it will increase the price by $1.00 to $1.25/Sq. Ft.
The standing seam metal roofing pricing is based on a snap lock and clip fastened panel. Nail strip panels will cost a little less and mechanically seamed panels will cost a little more.
A roof cannot be installed without the right trim/flashing and accessories. However, the amount of required trim and accessories will vary from one roof to the next. We will give some general guidance on what you can expect.
Any roof that’s installed over a wood roof deck will need roofing underlayment. We recommend using a high quality synthetic underlayment such as Sharkskin Ultra or Ultra SA.
Here is a general price guide for Sharkskin roof underlayment:
In order to estimate your flashings/ fastener cost, we suggest taking the price of your metal roofing panels and adding an additional 35% for a standing seam roof and an additional 25% for an exposed fastener panel.
For example, if you have $10,000 of standing seam panels, guesstimate an additional $3,500 in trim and accessories.
Though Western States Metal Roofing does not do any roof repair or installations, we have to mention installation when discussing metal roof cost as labor costs are generally about 60% to 70% of the overall cost of the roof.
The cost of a metal roofing installation will vary from one project to the next as some installations are more difficult than others. A complex roof that consists of irregular shapes or changes in elevation will have a more costly installation compared to a simple roof with just eaves, gables, and a ridge.
You also have to factor in the differences in labor charges. The cost of professional roofing services will vary depending on region and each roofing contractor’s level of experience.
If you are doing a roof replacement from a shingle roof, you have to consider whether you are removing your existing roof prior to the installation, there will be an extra expense to remove the old roof.
Due to the fluctuations in installation cost, we suggest that you get more than one bid to compare.
The total installed price of a metal roof depends on the panel profile, difficulty of the roof installation, and the location of the job.
As an example, if you have a 2,500 sq. ft. roof, and it costs $12/Sq. Ft., the ballpark total price would be $30,000 for a standing seam roof and $22,500 for a corrugated/ exposed fastener roof at $9 per square foot.
Though metal is more expensive than an asphalt shingle roof, it will last longer and provide more long term value.
Once you have determined that a new metal roof is right for you, we recommend that you get a materials price from a metal roofing supplier and/or a total price including installation from a roofing contractor.
While we have given you price range estimates for a roofing system in this article, the only way to know exactly how much your metal roof costs will be is to get a quote for your project. If you have a materials list and know what your project requires, then request a free quote today!