Looking for the right new roof for your home or commercial project? When you’re deciding on a roofing material, one of the big concerns is how long the roof will last.
At Western States Metal Roofing, one of the first questions we often get about metal roofing is about its lifespan. We know you have many choices when it comes to roofing materials. While metal roofing has many benefits, we believe one of the most valuable is how long a metal roof will last.
Standing Seam Roof in Charcoal Gray
What Is The Average Lifespan Of A Metal Roof?
A metal roof can easily last anywhere from 40-60+ years. In this article, we will be referring to a steel roof when we discuss metal roofs. Metal panels such as copper or zinc can last even longer, from 70- 100 years or even longer. However, copper roof and zinc are the most expensive types of roofing and are hard to find.
Metal roofs bring the most value for the money because they are more affordable and are still considered to be a “lifetime roof”.
What Makes Metal Roofing Last?
The durability of metal is what contributes to it being such a long lasting roofing material. It has resistance to elements that would cause major damage to weaker roofing materials such as shingles.
Metal has superior strength in the following areas:
- Class 4 impact resistance
- Wind uplift
- Class A fire rating
- Resistance to termites and pest
- Resistance to mold and mildew
- Corrosion resistance
What Are Some Factors That Can Affect A Metal Roof’s Longevity?
- Proper Installation
- Climate
- Maintenance
- Gauge
- Paint Finish
Proper Installation
Any type of roof that is installed incorrectly will have problems, and a metal roof installation is no exception. Even simple installation errors, such as over tightening fasteners or not using roofing underlayment when needed, can result in damage and a roof repair. A proper installation will help ensure a metal roof will last as long as possible.
Climate
Weather plays a factor in how long a metal roof will last. Choosing the right type of roof for your weather is very important as very harsh weather conditions like heavy snow and high winds can take a toll on any roof, not just metal. These areas require a roof that is equipped to handle the stress from the elements.
Choosing a metal panel that is right for the area you are in helps ensure that your metal roof will last.
- For roofs in areas with heavy snow, choose a thicker gauge metal and don’t use a really light gauge panel such as 29 gauge.
- For roofs in areas with mild weather conditions, you have more flexibility with the type of metal roof you choose.
- For roofs on or near the coast, choose a metal roofing material that is compatible with the salt air found in coastal areas. Otherwise, your roof will rust and fail prematurely.
Maintenance
Metal roofs only require minimal maintenance, but doing this maintenance is what helps a metal roof last. If there is a small problem beginning to form, a routine inspection can help you identify what’s going on prior to it becoming a bigger problem. Problems that go undetected can result in expensive repairs or even a roof replacement.
Gauge
Using the right metal gauge on a roof helps maintain longevity. Corrugated metal roofing is often used in 29, 26, and 24 gauge thicknesses and standing seam is normally a 24 gauge thickness. Thicker gauges are available and should be used if the roof will be exposed to extreme weather. We also never recommend using a 29 gauge panel as the cost savings are minimal versus the loss of durability and longevity.
The lower the gauge number, the thicker and more durable the metal. Thicker metal gives the roof more strength to handle snow load and more weight to resist wind uplift during a heavy storm.
Paint Finish
The paint finish for metal panels comes in either a PVDF or a SMP paint finish. PVDF is the superior finish of the two with greater chalk and fade resistance.
Having metal panels in a PVDF paint finish doesn’t necessarily make the metal roof last longer on a functional level, but it does prolong the aesthetic life of the roof. Fade and chalk resistance helps maintain the desired appearance of a metal roof especially when it comes to bright and vibrant colors that are prone to fading like red metal roofs or black metal roofs.
Whether you choose SMP or PVDF painted metal panels, both types come with a limited paint warranty that cover excessive or unusual fading, chalking and film adhesion.
How Long Does A Standing Seam Roof Last Compared To Corrugated?
While both standing seam and corrugated metal are types of metal roofs, they have two different types of fastening systems: corrugated has an exposed fastening system and standing seam metal roofing has a concealed fastening system.
Choosing the right kind of metal roofing panel for your roof pitch makes a huge difference in the roof’s performance. Standing seam roofs are more weathertight which makes them less prone to leaks. While this alone will not make them necessarily last longer, it is beneficial as a leak can lead to water damage that, if severe enough, can cause the roof to fail prematurely. This is why choosing the right panel for your roof pitch is so important.
An exposed fastening system should not be installed on a roof with a pitch that is less than 3:12. On the other hand, a concealed fastening system can be installed on a roof with a pitch or .5:12 or greater. This makes standing seam roofing a great choice on low sloped roofs.
How Long Does A Metal Roof Last Compared To Shingles?
Metal roofs last for 2-3 times as long as asphalt shingle roofs. An asphalt shingle roof will last an average of 10-20 years before needing to be replaced. While shingles are the more affordable roofing option, they bring less value than metal roofs in the long term when you factor in shingles’ shorter lifespan as they need to be replaced more often.
When comparing metal to shingles, metal roofs bring value in more ways besides lifespan including:
- A metal roof is more energy efficient than a shingle roof which helps decrease heating and cooling cost.
- Metal roofs cost less to insure than shingle roofs.
- Metal roofs require less maintenance than shingle roofs.
Choosing Metal For Your Roofing Material
It’s important to note that there are no guarantees with the lifespan of a metal roof. However, having the roof installed professionally along with performing regular inspections and choosing the right kind of metal for your roof gives you the greatest chance of having a beautiful metal roof for years to come.
Still deciding what type of metal panel or color to choose for your roof? Try out our free color visualizer so you can see how all of our colors will look on your new project.
