Metal is not the most affordable material in the roofing industry.
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However, that doesn't mean you can't find metal roofing sheets for as cheap as $2.11 per square foot – and that's including pro installation.
That's just as affordable, if not cheaper than some kinds of asphalt shingles – famously the least expensive sloped roofing option.
By sticking to certain features, following best buying practices, and hiring the right contractor, you can minimize metal roofing costs.
Read on as we dive into the six factors you should prioritize to keep metal roofing costs down.
Corrugated steel and aluminum roofing typically cost the least out of all metal roofing options. You can slash roofing costs further by shopping for thinner, unfinished metal sheets.
Beyond the physical characteristics, buying in the off-season and hiring the right contractor can also reduce metal roof pricing.
1. Pick the right materials
Metal roofing substrate
Typical cost per sq.ft. installed
Aluminum
$6.50 - $21
Galvalume
$4 - $9
Zinc
$14.50 - $21
Galvanized steel
$4.50 - $17
Copper
$20 - $40
Stick to galvanized steel or galvalume if you need metal roofing sheets that are as cheap as possible.
When shopping for these substrates, keep an eye on their coating weights.
Galvanized and galvalume steel roof panels resist corrosion thanks to their protective zinc and aluminum-zinc alloy coatings.
To indicate the coating thickness, manufacturers use a number preceded by the letter "G". The larger the number, the heavier the coating.
Although thinner coatings do not ward off rust as long as their thicker counterparts, they do cost less.
G60 galvanized steel, for instance, costs less than thicker-coated G90 steel, with all other qualities of the two sheets being equal.
Stay away from pure zinc and copper sheets – notoriously more expensive metal roofing materials.
2. Choose sheets with exposed fasteners
By "exposed fasteners", we mean you can see the screws that bond the metal roofing panels together from the outside.
Sheets with exposed fasteners are substantially easier to manufacture and install than hidden-fastener alternatives like standing seam metal roofing.
Considering these benefits, you will end up paying less between materials and installation costs compared to hidden-fastener alternatives.
Unfortunately, you face a greater risk of encountering leaks with exposed-fastener metal roofing. In turn, these roofs require more care than low-maintenance standing seam materials because their unprotected screws directly face the elements.
As long as you ensure proper installation and routine roof maintenance, this shouldn't be an issue.
Exposed fastener metal roofs also look less sleek than standing seam metal roofs.
While this arguably detracts from aesthetics, we'll go out on a limb and assume that's the least of your worries if you're shopping for inexpensive types of metal roofing.
At least you have multiple styles to choose from. Popular metal sheet styles with exposed fasteners include R-panels, crimped, and corrugated metal roofing.
If these options don't satisfy you, you may want to check out some metal shingle brands. They're typically less expensive than standing seam while offering more traditional roofing shingle styles.
A thinner sheet costs less because it requires fewer raw materials to manufacture.
Of course, they won't weather hail or wind storms as well as thicker sheets. That shouldn't spur much concern if you live in a mild climate.
When comparing metal sheet breadth, pay attention to gauge – a thickness measurement.
Perhaps counterintuitively, a higher gauge number means a decrease in thickness.
A 29 gauge sheet, for instance, will measure thinner and cost less than a 22 gauge sheet of the same metal, all else being equal.
The “finish” refers to the final metal coating added to provide protection and color.
In most instances, the cheapest finish means no finish at all.
Bare metals often prove the most cost-effective because they skip the additional coating process during production.
What they provide in savings, they lack in custom color opportunities and resistance to scratches and corrosion.
We, therefore, advocate using a finished metal in most applications.
If you go the recommended route, most companies will offer a choice between SMP and PVDF coating formulations.
SMP is the cheaper option of the two. With SMP coatings, you will get more neutral, lighter colors to hide potential paint chalking and fade down the years. PVDF offers neutrals as well as more vibrant, premium colors.
On top of the finish type, you should also keep the color tone in mind.
Energy-efficient, lighter colors reflect solar rays better than darker colors. With less of the sun’s energy penetrating through your roof, the interior stays cooler.
A more temperate building puts less demand on air conditioning, which helps reduce energy bills.
5. Buy during the winter
Image source: Metal Construction News
If you can afford to wait, buy your metal roofing sheets during the winter as both manufacturers and installers see less business during the cold season.
Reduced demand on inventory and labor typically pressures vendors and contractors to reduce prices.
You don't even need to install during the winter. Just placing an order during the off-season for a project several months in advance can net you more favorable pricing than buying during the high-demand summer months.
Of course, installing yourself will save you the costs of hiring a professional roofing contractor.
It's not as DIY-friendly of a home improvement project as it might seem, however.
Installing a metal roofing system correctly requires more technical expertise, safety equipment, and time investment than a typical do-it-yourself project.
In most cases, the best installer rarely means the cheapest one.
That’s why we emphasize the importance of hiring a qualified installer.
When shopping for metal roofing sheets, zero in on the following to minimize costs:
Materials
Aluminum or galvalume
Style
Corrugated, crimped, or R-Panels
Gauge
Thinner
Paint
None or SMP-finish
Time of year
Winter
Installer
Good reputation, warranties, insured
Bear in mind that few, if any, manufacturers provide enough customization where you can check off all of the boxes for your individual roofing project.
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However, you can keep your costs down by striving for these features in your next metal roof.
You can find local metal roofing installers near-instantly with the help of Google.
For each company, check out their customer reviews to appraise their reputation.
Put together a shortlist of candidates that meet your expectations. Then, you should ask them these questions to verify their credentials, warranty coverage, and precisely what their services entail.
You’re ready to remodel or build your dream house and you have decided on a corrugated metal roof. One of the first questions potential customers want to know when they call our company is, “How much does corrugated metal roofing cost?” This question has become more difficult to answer recently as the steel industry is currently going through a shortage that has resulted in multiple price changes.
In general, there are a lot of factors that determine the cost of metal roofing. We will discuss these in detail so you will be able to make the correct choice for your situation. Purchasing a corrugated metal roof is like the purchasing of a vehicle or even a home. There are many options available and price ranges can vary drastically. Our goal in this article is to explain all of the options so that you purchase what you want the first time so as to not have any regrets down the road
You're going to see your corrugated metal roof every day for as long as you live in your home. Picking the right metal roofing panel and color the first time is critical to ensure maximum enjoyment with minimum maintenance. Because of this, most shoppers elect to get the metal roof that will make them happiest in the long-run.
Unfortunately, some customers only focus on the initial price of the corrugated metal roofing with the goal of finding the cheapest option. This may lead to sacrificing quality, warranty, and aesthetics, which inevitably leads to regret.
How Much Does Corrugated Metal Roofing Cost?
Depending on which type of metal panel you choose, the price for corrugated metal roofing can vary.
- $2.00 up to $5.00 per square foot for the corrugated metal panels.
- Installation cost for corrugated metal roofing normally will range from $5.00 to $8.00 per square foot.
- Your total price including the corrugated roofing and the installation is $7.00 up to $13.00 per square foot.
What Are The Factors That Affect The Cost Of A Corrugated Metal Roof?
- Thickness or gauge of the steel
- Finish
- Are you purchasing from a distributor or manufacturer?
- Size of The Job
- Fluctuations in The Steel Market
As you can see, there are many factors that will affect the cost. When someone receives a quote from our company, we thoroughly examine each option as to educate the homeowner on the option's benefits. We want to identify its overall importance to the success of the project.
Are There Different Types Of Metal Roofs? How Much Do They Cost?
Corrugated metal roofing is not the only type of metal roof you have to choose from. If you have a larger budget then standing seam metal roofing would be a great option. It will cost about double the price of a corrugated roof, but will provide excellent value. We made a short video that discusses the price of this popular residential metal roofing panel.
How Does The Gauge Of The Steel Affect The Corrugated Roofing Cost?
There are lots of options when you are choosing the gauge or thickness of corrugated metal roofing. The gauge of the steel can be a bit confusing as a lower gauge is actually heavier steel. For example, 24 gauge is heavier than 26 gauge steel.
The vast majority of corrugated roofing is either 24 gauge or 26 gauge. Either gauge is appropriate for a corrugated roof. However, if you want a PVDF paint system then you must purchase a 24 gauge. If you would like a 26 gauge roof then it would only be available in a SMP paint finish. Corrugated roofing in a 24 gauge vs 26 gauge will add 25% to 35% to the price.
The lightest gauge that you can purchase is a 29 gauge corrugated roof. It is our opinion that 29 gauge is a bad investment. The 10% material savings vs the overall installed price of the roof just does not justify the lighter gauge.
If you have further interest in this subject we suggest that you read: What Gauge Metal Roofing Should I Use For My Corrugated Roof?
Paint Systems, Colors, And Finishes Of Corrugated Metal Roofing
⅞” Corrugated in Ash Gray
Choosing the correct paint system, color, or finish is the most important part of the project. If you have a roof that is on a commercial building or will not be seen, an inexpensive galvalume finish may be the most appropriate. On the other hand if you are building your dream house a painted product will look much nicer.
Learning about the two main paint finishes is a critical part of your research.
If you’d like to learn more about how SMP and PVDF compare to each other we wrote this article: Best Paint System For My Metal Roof Panels: SMP v. PVDF
How Much Does Galvalume Or Galvanized Corrugated Roofing Cost?
These are the cheapest corrugated roofing panels. The bright and shiny finish normally is appropriate for a commercial roof, but it looks horrible on a residential roof.
- 26 gauge corrugated pricing EXCLUDING installation: $ 1.50 - $ 2.00 Per Square Foot
- 24 gauge corrugated pricing EXCLUDING installation: $ 2.00 - $ 2.50 Per Square Foot
How Much Does Painted Corrugated Metal Roofing Cost?
The cost of corrugated metal roofing will vary dependent upon the thickness of the steel and the paint system.
How Much Do SMP Painted Metal Roofing Panels Cost?
These are the cheapest painted corrugated roofing panels. I would consider these to be the best value. The paint finish is not as good as PVDF, but it is still a quality product.
How Much Does PVDF Metal Roofing Cost?
These are the most common painted corrugated roofing panels. PVDF panels have the best warranty and they will have better chalk and fade when compared to SMP. This type of metal roofing is rarely available in a light gauge steel.
Corrugated Metal Roofing Cost In Specialty Paint Finishes
⅞” Corrugated in Streaked Rust®
A paint print will try to replicate a naturally occurring patina. It is a painted panel that looks old and weathered. Specialty paint prints normally consist of painted panels that try and replicate the following appearances: orange/brown rust, weathered gray, patina’d copper, blackened steel.
- 24 gauge corrugated with a specialty paint EXCLUDING installation: $3.50-$4.50 Per Sq Ft
Where Can I Buy Corrugated Metal Roofing?
Where you purchase your metal roofing from is the single greatest way to save a substantial amount of money. In this section we will discuss the most common purchasing channels
- Metal Roofing Manufacturers That Sell Direct To Public
- Distributors
- Roofing Contractor
Most metal roofing manufacturers will not sell directly to homeowners and in some cases even metal roofing contractors. If you can find a metal roofing manufacturer that deals directly with the public it will be your greatest opportunity to save money on your metal roof. Buying directly from the manufacturer will save you 15% to 50%.
When you purchase directly from the manufacturer you will need to know what you need. The manufacturer will NOT create your materials list. You will need to know how many panels at what length plus all of the trim.
Western States Metal Roofing is a metal roofing manufacturer that sells direct to homeowners, roofing contractors, and general contractors.
It is common to purchase material through roofing supply companies or other distributors. They will put a mark up on the panels that is normally in the range of 15% to 50% depending upon the size of the job.
If you already know what you need, this might not be the best option for you. However, if you need guidance through the process of figuring out your materials list and the appropriate trims then this is money well spent.
When you get a bid for a metal roof the contractor will normally give you a price on materials plus labor. However, the contractor typically will put a mark up on the panels that is normally in the range of 10% to 20%.
If your contractor was getting a good price to start with, then a 20% mark up would be reasonable. This covers the time to create a materials list and liability if something goes wrong. When sourcing material from roofing contractors, there are two things to consider:
- Limited selection of colors and finishes
- Did they get the best price prior to marking it up?
If you find your own source to purchase the metal roofing, you’ll have more flexibility. You can now choose from a much larger selection of colors and finishes. In addition, the process of comparing bids is easier because it’s universal. Everyone is supplying the same thing in the bid: labor only. It is an apples to apples comparison.
If you decide to do this there a couple of important things to keep in mind
- Verify that the roofing contractor will supply a materials list to the metal roofing manufacturer.
- Find out whether underlayment is included within the bid. This is a major part of the bid and it is important that you choose the right underlayment. Underlayment can be purchased from either the supplier or contractor. In either instance we suggest that you specify the type of underlayment that you would like installed on your roof.
Size Of The Metal Roofing Job
Smaller jobs will always cost more money than larger projects. In most instances the cost difference is relatively minor. However, if you have a really small or really large project you will see significant price differences. We’ve broken this into three groups and will give you some guidance on each.
- Really small job under 1,000 square feet
- Typical job 1,001 to 5,000 square feet
- Larger than 5,000 square feet
A job of this size will normally cost 20% to 100% more than a larger project of greater than one thousand square feet and less than five thousand square feet.
If the job is closer to one thousand square feet the difference is minimal. If the job is under 500 square feet it would not be uncommon for the price to be twice as expensive.
There will be a range depending on the size of the job, but it is minimal. Typically the jobs that are closer to five thousand square feet are 10% to 15% less than the smaller ones.
There will be a small cost savings of maybe 5% when the job gets closer to ten thousand square feet. If the project is even larger, there is an opportunity for more savings.
Price Fluctuations In The Steel Market
The price of steel is never the same. When we purchase steel, the cost is always different. Normally the difference is minimal. There are circumstances, such as the current steel shortage, that can greatly increase the pricing. If your project is a long way out then the price that you were quoted may not be the price that you get when you are ready to purchase.
Other Considerations
It can be surprising to realize that there are a wide variety of products that fall under the category of corrugated metal roofing. This is why the pricing for corrugated sheet metal is not “one size fits all”. Before moving forward with receiving a quote, make sure you have an idea of which product you are looking for.
To help narrow down the choices, consider the following questions:
- What is the best color for my metal roof or wall?
- What paint finish will I use on my roof or wall?
- What gauge steel will I use on my roof or wall?
Save Money On Your Corrugated Metal Roofing. Buy Directly From The Manufacturer
There are many factors that we have discussed that go into the cost of corrugated metal roofing. The numbers in this article should provide you with an estimate for the price of your new roof or wall. You’ll find that you cannot get an exact price as each job is different.
The only way to know exactly what your project will cost is to speak with metal roofing manufacturers and contractors and get a quote. If you don’t need guidance selecting the right materials for your roof, buying directly from manufacturers is the most affordable route. We’d love to speak with you and provide you with a free quote.
At Western States Metal Roofing, we have route trucks that service the entire USA, Canada, and Mexico. Our freight department is dedicated to sending your order on the fastest and least expensive route possible.
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