Will Metal Roofing Replace Shingles?
Karis Roofing is a 90 year old roofing company located here in Philadelphia. It’s fair to say that they have seen a thing or two (cue Farmer’s jingle). Here is a message written by Guy Karis shared in his Trade News about the outlook of Metal Roofing.
The prediction that metal roofing will replace shingles may be bold, but it’s not without some data to back it up. Metal Roofing Magazine recently published in their October / November edition these facts:
Total market share of retrofit metal roofing gained another 3 points last year, moving from 11% in 2015, to 14% is 2016- Between 2015 and 2016, the total demand for metal roofing is estimated to have increased from 17.7 million squares to 19.4 million
- Metal roofing is 2nd only to asphalt shingle roofing in the remodeling market
- In 1998, the metal roofing market was just 3.7%
- The industry has seen increases in the following markets: New England (+3%), Mid Atlantic (+8%), East North Central (+4%), Pacific (+8%)
- Asphalt had a 64% market share in 2015, and is now just 59%
Final Thoughts
Metal roofs have many advantages that include being eco-friendly, energy efficient, longevity, and flat out being cool looking. Sitting in this seat, we hear from contractors every day who are looking to expand their knowledge and focus their business on getting more metal work. Will it replace the low cost alternative of asphalt shingles? Not entirely in the near term, but the trend is positive.
I’m very experienced with metal roofing and would like to eliminate asphalt shingles entirely from the industry. I’ve done several residential roofs on my own but mostly working for commercial contractors. I have a few ideas on how to make metal roofing more popular but not sure if demand will ever allow it.
The main reason asphalt shingles will lead metal roofs is cost. I live just north of Charleston SC. A premium shingle roof retails for about $30/sq while a standing seam all copper roof is about $2,700/sq. I am comparing premium to premium here so these numbers are top range numbers.
Sadly with the government and the Fed sucking up all our productivity and savings people who understand the compelling reasons for metal, and specifically copper simply cannot afford it.
Modern American houses are speed built and at the least cost possible. Consumer demand drives this. It’s part of the “throw away society” we currently live in.
In my opinion the primary way to sell metal roofs is educating the consumer. Product placement in entertainment media is powerful as well. For example every time there is a refrigerator in a movie it’s a Sub Zero. People pay over $10,000 per refrigerator because of it’s mystique. If copper roofs were made to me a “must have” status symbol the sales would follow.
best roof you can buy. A little research will prove that. Some copper roof are hundreds of years old. Just think a copper rapper roof that is starting to patina. Turn green is approx 20 yrs old And it has a lot of life left. Shingles 20years you are getting ready to tear off
I can vouch for metal roofs, having done lots of them in my area. They are expensive, no doubt, but the value they generate is unbeatable, better resistance to the elements of the nature, low maintenance and longer lifespan. As you correctly mentioned, people have a herd mentality, once people realize that using asphalt shingles is not actually mandatory and other better options could be used then this growth in metal roofing will be even more tremendous.
Metal roofing has its own benefits and shingles have their own. Metal are more long lasting as compared to shingles hence shingles make the house’s look more beautiful. It is up to your demand that whether you want to go with beauty or eternity.
Modern metal roofing is built to last for decades. Steel metal roofing has a metal coating protection layer made with zinc or aluminum, which is bonded to the steel and then painted with a high quality paint designed to withstand the toughest abuse from bad weather, and provide the desirable color and looks that homeowners want.
Durability is definitely something that makes us recommend metal roofing. They work in almost all climates and require less maintenance than so many other materials.