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.

Modern residential metal roofing has come a long way from the corrugated "tin shed" appearance once associated with metal roofs in both appearance and functionality. They now have a much more esthetically pleasing appearance and all the advantages of their high tech construction. Pluses include exceptional durability, fire resistance, good performance in high wind conditions, heat reflection, low weight, and relative ease in installation. Drawbacks are mainly cost, low insulation factor, noise during rain or hail, and the potential for both denting and chipping.

Metal also has a very high tolerance to heat and won't burn except at extreme temperatures. So metal roofing is awarded the highest fire retardant rating, which keeps your family safer, increases the resale value of a home, and decreases the rates of your insurance. Metal is also resistant to wind, so if you live in a windy locale prone to hurricanes this type of roofing has an additional attractive feature just for you.

Since metal roofs reflect the heat of the sun, they will reduce the energy required to cool your house during the summer. They have little inherent insulation, but by inserting open space between the metal and the underlying roof, you can get the same effect as you would by adding insulation. Weather-related noise can be reduced by added sound deadening insulating material. Be aware that heat can cause metal to expand and connectors to become loose.

The lightness of metal roofs can reduce construction costs decreasing the amount of support members needed for them. Low weight can also mean that metal roofing can be installed over an existing roof in need of replacement without having to tear it off, saving time and money. Since metal types often come in sheets covering a fairly larger area, installation takes less time. However, large sections may be harder to replace if that becomes necessary and may be hard to match if an addition is built.

The greatest barrier to the use of metal roofs is the expense, since the cost definitely falls into the premium price range. 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. For metal, a lifespan of 20 to 50 years is the normal expectation. Metal may well outlive the rest of the house.