Depending on your location, freight costs and the cost of labor in your area, the cost of installing a metal roof could vary greatly. The top brands in this particular product category, such as Met Tile, Gerard, Decrabond and Prestige issue the best warranties, so they're probably the product you'll want to go for, and they're also the manufacturers most likely to have bases in or near you area. As most contractors tack their own commission onto the wholesale metal roof material prices that they pay, the best thing to do is to buy as much as your roofer's estimates suggest you'll need from the manufacturer along with another homeowner looking to install the same type of paneling or shingles. This will assist you in getting wholesale prices on your metal roof materials without the help (and fees) of the contractor.

After your purchase ask the manufacturer who in your area is qualified to install that roof, and you'll be well on your way to a low-cost, high-quality installation. Never, ever go with a roofer who hasn't worked with the material before. The long term cost of having to re-do the job will easily outweigh any cash you might save by choosing less skilled labor, in addition to which the cost of installing a metal roof is generally low, as the shingles are so lightweight, and are often sold in pre-assembled sheets.

The cost of installing a metal roof will be significantly less the more regular the roof of your home is. Roofs with irregular features like strange angles, skylights, dormers, sidewalls and chimneys will probably require custom, on-site cutting of panels, making them seriously prohibitive for any kind of home DIY-installation effort. Cutting by hand takes far too long for any but the most zen-like roofer to retain his sanity. Instead an expensive, portable machine called a brake is required, as is a professional trained in its operation.

The fact is that, in the longer term, a metal roof price that seems high when compared to those of asphalt and fiberglass roofing solutions will be justified by consistent savings. First off, metal roofing can't burn, and as a result of the protection it offers against fire, you'll find that your insurance company is likely to offer you a policy on your home at a substantially reduced cost - something in the realm of 25%.

What's more, metal roofing can be a boon when summer hits. Metals' naturally reflective qualities mean that sunlight bounces off them instead of being absorbed, so you won't have to use your air conditioning system as much - which translates into lower electricity bills and less of an impact on the environment. If you purchase shingles with a coating of Kynar (a kind of plastic composite), you'll increase this reflective effect.

Alternatively, a Zinc-Aluminum coating (of the kind sported by galvalume shingles) will not only have this effect, but also make your roof far less likely to corrode - the only thing you'll need to do for up-keep is hose it down occasionally. With this treatment, there's nothing you can build your roof out of that will match copper, stainless steel or aluminum for its durability - indeed, educated estimates suggest that these roofs may last up to seventy years without needing to be re-shingled. With that kind of a timeline, the cost of installing a metal roof seems less like a burden, and more like a valuable investment.