Our New Metal Roof

Here are before and after pics of our new metal roof, along with pros and cons of metal vs. shingles and some common myths about metal.

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Our renovation is far from over, but we have a brand new metal roof!!

We’ve been roofless for almost two months

For two months the house has been exposed to the elements as we have added dormers to the top floor and enclosed a roof deck. Luckily it did not rain very hard in March or April! We had 1-2 times when Thomas ran over to check on things, but he said it was unexpectedly dry.

Here’s what it looked like earlier in the reno:

Before:

Before the house was flipped (original roof)

Here it is right before we started our renovation:

The Shingles Before

I believe the shingles were added in 2014 when our house was flipped.

After the roof was installed (in progress!)

Our Metal Roof Materials

Installing The Metal Roof

First they built the roofline over the deck that was previously there:

Are you scared of heights!?

Siding was added and painted before the roof was installed:

Siding Material: Hardie Plank Lap Siding with a 6″ reveal. This material is made from fiber cement which is super durable, rot proof, and insect proof. It will be painted white!

The roof arrives to the yard

Installation begins!

First they covered the roof with some kind of waterproof barrier, then the shingles went on top, aligned vertically.

I love the way the panels change direction on the right side.

We contemplated doing a rubber roof on the flat tops of the dormers that you can’t see from the ground, but it ended up being the same cost with no benefit, so we continued the metal there too.

It is stunning in person and looks so great from the street!

We had worried that our house would have “too much roof” with the extension of the old deck, but the metal is so gorgeous that it is too much of a good thing!

Pros and Cons of a a Metal Roof

Pros:

They last a long time: Metal roofs are supposed to last 40-70 years, so while they might be more expensive up front, the cost evens out over time. In contrast, asphalt / shingle roofing typically lasts 12 to 20 years.
They are more sustainable: Their lifespan also makes them the more sustainable choice. Plus they are often partially made of recycled materials and can be recycled themselves.
They are super durable: Metal can withstand a variety of elements including gusts of wind up to 140 miles per hour. They also have rust-proof coatings, so cracking or corroding is not typical.
They can reduce energy costs: Really! Unlike heat-absorbing asphalt, metal reflects sunlight. (I am not sure if they type of metal roof we got fits this description or if it’s mostly for lighter metal shades.)
They look beautiful! Obviously this is a big pro : )
Learn more here from the Metal Roofing Alliance.

Cons:

They are more expensive: The quotes we got for shingles vs. metal were 2x as expensive for the metal, $10k vs $20k. We are renovating our house for us to live in for the long-term, so this seemed like a wise investment given the pros above. It’s 2x as expensive but lasts 2-3x as long, so it’s kind of a wash in that department.
They can be damaged: while it’s unlikely (see the next section below) the metal can get damaged. Our roofer said you can replace just one panel if damage does occur, so the entire roof does not need replacement. In metal’s defense, shingles can get damaged too.

Here is an article comparing shingles vs. metal roofs.

Gus is excited for the new roof on his porch!

Myths of Metal Roofs

Are metal roofs really loud in rain?

I grew up in an historic house with a metal roof and have fond memories of hearing the rain on top. Rain on a tin roof is even a white noise sound on some machines! That said, if you have the appropriate amount of insulation between the roof and top floor, it shouldn’t be very loud. Ask me again this fall, though ; )

Do metal roofs make a house hotter?

No, actually, they are about the same as shingles. I have heard that white roofs are now a thing on the rooftops of commercial buildings, but when comparing metal to dark shingles, they are about the same.

Do metal roofs affect Wi-Fi or cell signals?

They shouldn’t!

Will a metal roof get dented easily?

This was my number one concern when we started researching roofs. I asked our roofer this and he said not to worry about limbs or hail denting the metal, particularly on the sloped parts. He said a really bad hail storm could affect the flat part, but you can’t see that part unless you’re a drone or airplane, so it’s not a big concern. This is another “ask me in a year!” question 😉

What kind of gutters go best with a metal roof?

Our before house had white metal gutters and downspouts, but we are going to go with a dark bronze to match the new roof this time around! We held up the samples of the roof next to the samples of the gutter materials and the black made the roof color look blue. The gray was too light. So bronze it is.

Will you be getting solar panels?

Maybe! They were not in our budget at the moment, but they are something we would like to pursue in a few years. Luckily they are easy to install on metal and we have a south facing home.