How Boston Residents Can Save Money With a Metal Roof

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Since its founding in 1630, a variety of structures have graced the streets of Boston. From the oldest homes currently surviving in the Beacon Hill area and the Paul Revere House to the most up-and-coming neighborhoods of the South End in the nineties, it is clear that Boston residents have always enjoyed unique architecture.

This trend continues today with countless Boston area homeowners making improvements to their homes, while many others build new homes in the latest neighborhoods. More homeowners than ever are choosing to install metal roofs and citing a number of reasons, including sleek aesthetics and a wide selection. One of the top reasons Boston homeowners choose metal, however, is to save money.

A Little Background

Though a metal roof can save you money, that’s not the only reason people prefer them to shingled roofs. And it’s not just for new homes; metal roofs are popular with homeowners performing restorations of older homes as well as with new builders. Thirty years ago, it is likely that someone hearing the term “metal roof” would have imagined a cold, industrial structure with a corrugated metal top. While it is true that metal roofs are still used for industrial purposes, more homeowners are choosing metal for residential projects as well for its durability, its aesthetic appeal, and its efficiency.

Of course, corrugated steel and galvanized tin roofs still exist and for years these were the number one choice for industrial, farm, and other outbuildings. However, the type of metal roofs available today far outstrip their predecessors in aesthetics, color and material selection, and durability. The days of heavy corrugated steel are long past.

Homeowners who prefer metal roofs have many different options. Today’s modern residential metal roofs can be installed to look like Spanish tile, wood-look shakes, and even dimensional shingles in addition to the more traditional standing seam roofs. When you consider the multiple types of finishes and colors available, nearly endless combinations of metal roof types exist. Truly, there is a metal roof for everyone.

How Can Metal Roofs Save You Money?

Despite the truly excellent selection of metal roofs that are available nowadays, undertaking a new roof installation is a significant endeavor. After all, it is your roof that protects your home, its occupants, and your possessions from the wrath of Mother Nature. Common sense dictates that any project that requires an investment should provide a return on that investment; a good roof should save you money over time by lasting at least as long as the average roof.

A quality metal roof can go above and beyond the average expectations in multiple ways, including the extent to which they can save you money. Consider these ways a metal roof can exceed the traditional expectations for roofs.

1. Lower Utility Bills

While many Energy Star rated “cool metal roofs” are treated with special granules to help keep radiant energy away from your home during warmer months, all metal roofs reflect a good deal of energy back towards the sun instead of absorbing it into your home. By contrast, asphalt roofs actually absorb a great deal of heat, causing your air conditioning unit to work harder to keep your home cool.

A quality metal roof helps your home retain comfortable, heated air in the winter, too. Most metal roofs are installed with a layer of air between the metal component and the roof decking and base layer to act as an additional method of insulation. This feature helps stop heat loss to the surrounding environment and actually loses less heat than traditional asphalt roofs during the coldest months. Overall, these features can save you hundreds of dollars if the roof you’re replacing is older, inefficient, or damaged.

2. Longevity of the Roof

Asphalt roofs last anywhere from 12 to 25 years, with most needing replacement at about 20 years of age. Wood shake roofs tend to last a bit longer, topping out at about 30 years. However, a quality metal roof lasts between 40 and 75 years, with most surpassing 50 years before replacement becomes necessary.

You may need to replace an asphalt shingled roof as many as two or three times before you need to address a metal roof at all. Though the initial cost may be a bit higher, the cost-saving benefits are clear – especially if you have to replace an asphalt shingled roof more than once. In addition, most manufacturers offer a 50-year, limited, transferable warranty, ensuring coverage of any issues that arise during your first 50 years of ownership.

3. Lower Insurance Premiums

All Boston homeowners must have a homeowner’s insurance policy. Though nobody enjoys doing the legwork that goes into making changes to their insurance policy, the addition of a metal roof can actually save you money on your monthly premiums.

For the insurance company to determine the risk your home poses to their bottom line, the adjuster must first take into account the age, condition, and safety of your home. No single item affects this determination as heavily as your roof. While installing a new roof automatically affects positive change on your premiums, metal roofing is durable, long-lasting and fireproof to boot. Some homeowners experience premium decreases of as much as $100.

4. Increased Home Equity

Similar to the way in which a new roof affects your insurance premiums, a new metal roof can also have a positive impact on your home’s equity as well. New roofs add value on their own and are one of the projects with the highest potential to recoup some of your investment, but a metal roof can add even more value than the average roof. Realtors estimate as much as 95% of the cost of a new metal roof for your Boston home could return to you in the form of equity.

Potential buyers love new roofs, and the additional appeal of a new metal roof is undeniable. Many buyers will jump at the opportunity to purchase a home with a roof that won’t need to be replaced for nearly half a century. When you add in the fact that many of today’s metal roofs come complete with a 50 year, transferable, limited manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll have buyers lining up to purchase your home.

Some of the most compelling reasons to replace your roof this season are the multiple cost saving measures a metal roof can offer you. Take advantage of the savings, both short- and long-term, and consider a metal roof for your new build or restoration project.