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Roofing is a critically important consideration for any new home, and a significant replacement expense for existing homes. When selecting a roof, take into consideration initial cost, lifetime cost, durability, life span of the roof, appearance, and the length of time you intend to live in the home. When all factors are considered, metal roofs are an attractive choice for many homeowners.

In both appearance and functionality, modern residential metal roofing has improved greatly from the days of their corrugated, "tin shed" appearance. Metal roofs now are more aesthetically pleasing, while retaining all the advantages of the material. Metal roofs are extremely durable, fire resistant, light weight, wind resistant, reflect heat well, and are easier to install. Drawbacks include initial cost, louder noise from rain or hail, poor insulation ability, and easier chipping and denting.

Metal roofs are very resistant to wind damage, such as from hurricanes, and so are an appealing option in areas vulnerable to wind damage. Metal types of roofing also receive the highest fire retardant rating. As such, homes with metal roofs may have a higher asset value, and enjoy lower insurance rates.

Because they are reflective of the sun's radiation, they keep your house cool in the summer and reduce utility costs of air conditioning. Metal has virtually no inherent insulation to keep in heat, but if you add insulation materials or construct your roof so that there is a "dead space" between the metal and the underlying components, this is not a significant problem at all. If you're concerned about noise from your metal roof during rain or hail, consider using sound deadening insulations. Note that heat can make metal contract and expand, so connectors may loosen over time.

When attempting to reduce construction costs, one option is metal roofing. This is due to the lightness, which decreases the amount of support members that are necessary. The low weight of the metal roofs also allows for them to be installed over an existing roof, erasing the need to remove the old one and saving both time and money. Metal roofing often comes in large sheets, and installation takes less time as a result. This can be a problem, however, if large sections need to be replaced, and it can be hard to match when building an addition.

The single reason that people decide against metal roofs is the cost. These types of roofs can be very expensive, but finding discount metal roofing is possible. Whether discounted or not, metal roofs are always an excellent value because of their long life. You can reasonably expect to get 20 to 50 years out of a metal roof. In fact, it is likely to last longer than the house it's on! If you plan to stay in your home for a long time, metal can be a great bargain for you.

Roofing is a critically important consideration for any new home, and a significant replacement expense for existing homes. When all factors are considered, metal roofs are an attractive choice for many homeowners. However, modern residential metal roofing is much more aesthetically attractive and functional, with all of the advantages that current technology can provide. If you're concerned about noise from your metal roof during rain or hail, consider using sound deadening insulations. However, discount metal roofing is available, and in any case the very long lifespan may make metal effective cheaper than roofs that seem to be a bargain.