Compare These Top Vendors for Metal Roofing Materials

Installing commercial metal roofing is an investment in the future. Most metal roofing lasts about 50 years, and some can give you 100 years of solid use. Compare this to the average of 30 years for asphalt shingles, and an even shorter life for wooden roofing. That long life comes with a catch, however, sheet metal roofing, even corrugated metal roofing, is more expensive, sometimes a lot more expensive, than asphalt shingles or wood.

The pricing and costs of metal roofing materials vary according to which metal roofing system you choose. In addition to the cost of the materials themselves -- corrugated, standing seam, steel shingle, or copper -- you'll need to budget for ripping out your old roof and installing the new one. Here we'll focus on three expenses:

1. Know the different price ranges for different metal roofing materials.

2. Budget for the many steps of metal roofing installation.

3. Calculate the extra costs -- and benefits -- of copper metal roofs.

Find the right metal roof material for your budget

The first thing to keep in mind when pricing roofing is that costs are not always measured in the usual square feet but in "roofing square," which is equal to 100 square feet of roofing materials. For most commercial metal roof materials, you can expect to pay about $1000-$1500 per roofing square of material. This does not include installation, or the breathable underlayment most metal roofing systems require.

Add up the base installation costs for commercial metal roofing

Many factors can go into the base installation price of a commercial metal roof, including a breathable underlayment (about $150 per 10 square roll), roof vents, trim, flashing, and tear-off (removing your previous roof, if necessary). Make sure that your estimate includes all the procedures that are going to be done during your installation.

Count the cost as well as the benefits of copper metal roofing

Copper is the most popular custom metal roofing: it is beautiful to look at, environmentally sound, and very long-lasting -- from 75 to 100 years. But, it is also pricey. A standing seam copper roof on a standard 14 pitch roof is likely to run you about $20,000-$30,000 for materials. The average price per roofing square for 12-ounce copper shingles is $1,000-$1,200, and $1,300-$1,500 for 16-ounce copper.

• The pitch of your roof is very important; it influences what type of commercial or residential metal roofing you can install, and how much it will cost. Be sure to find out your pitch and discuss it with your contractor.