Your roof is one of the most prominent features of your home, and its style, condition, and aesthetics can significantly influence both curb appeal and property value.
A new metal roof can have the same impact on your home’s value as major home improvements like a kitchen remodel or room addition. Whether you're looking to build equity, refinance your mortgage, or sell your home to attract buyers, a metal roof is a smart investment.
In this blog post, we explore the key benefits of metal roofing, including:
- Durability and Longevity: Metal roofing stands out as one of the most durable and long-lasting materials on the market today.
- Curb Appeal: With the strength to withstand the elements, modern metal roofing offers the design flexibility to elevate the look of any home.
- ROI: Not only does metal roofing increase your home’s value, but it also delivers immediate and long-term benefits that make it a worthwhile investment.
Let’s get into it.
The Durability and Longevity of Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is the second most popular roofing material on the market and homeowner demand is at an all-time high. In fact, metal roofing makes up about 18% of the residential roofing market. And it’s predicted to show a 19% growth increase over the next four years.
One key reason for the boom is that metal is one of the most durable roofing materials on the market. It lasts two to three times longer than traditional roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, wood shakes, and clay tiles.
What’s more, metal roofing is highly resistant to the elements, making it a reliable choice given the extreme weather events we’ve seen in recent years. From major hurricanes in the Southeast to tornadoes in the Northeast, hailstorms in the Plains, heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, and wildfires in the Southwest, severe weather is becoming more frequent and intense.
This protection offers homeowners peace of mind—and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by insurance companies. Metal roofing products like DECRA stone-coated metal roofing offer a range of impressive performance ratings, including:
- Impact Resistance: DECRA Metal Roofs carry the highest Class 4 impact rating for hail damage, with a warranty covering hailstones up to 2.5 inches in diameter.
- Wind Resistance: DECRA Metal Roofs are warrantied to withstand winds up to 120 miles per hour and have been rigorously tested and TAS-125 approved for high-velocity hurricane zones, including Miami-Dade County, Florida.
- Protection from Wind-Driven Rain: DECRA Metal Roofs have undergone rigorous testing to withstand wind-driven rain, meeting the TAS-100 wind-driven rain test, which is required for compliance with Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade County regulations.
- Fire Resistance: DECRA Metal Roofs carry the highest Class 4 rating for fire originating outside the property, safeguarding the structure beneath the roof.
For added assurance and value, DECRA offers a Lifetime Limited Warranty, one of the few warranties that can be transferred to new owners if the home is sold.
But not all metal roofing products are created equal, so it’s important to understand the different types to maximize your home’s curb appeal. Metal roofing comes in a variety of materials and styles, including:
- Aluminum roofing
- Standing seam roofing
- Corrugated roofing
- Copper roofing
- Stone-coated metal roofing
While most metal roofing products offer durability and longevity, some are better suited for residential properties than others.
For example, standing seam metal roofing is ideal for industrial buildings like factories, warehouses, or barns, but its industrial appearance may not provide the dimensionality, color, and texture most homeowners want. Additionally, some homeowners may need a specific look to align with HOA guidelines or neighborhood aesthetics.
Stone-coated metal roofing, like DECRA, offers the same industrial strength as standing seam products but adds design versatility that complements residential properties. DECRA, for example, comes in a variety of colors and profiles that replicate shingles, shakes, and tiles to complement virtually any architectural style.
The Curb Appeal of Stone-Coated Metal Roofing
Traditional roofing materials, such as clay tiles, are practically a required design element for Spanish and Mediterranean-themed homes. And while tile roofs are beautiful, they’re extremely fragile, heavy, and require ongoing maintenance.
Installing an industrial metal roofing product, though, such as the corrugated metal roofing used on your big box store or nearby warehouses, doesn’t quite work on a home with an elegant Mediterranean theme.
For homeowners who don’t want to sacrifice style or strength, stone-coated metal roofing is the ideal choice. You’ll see it everywhere, from beach houses and mountain retreats to new custom homes, churches, university buildings, and traditional Victorian museums.
Stone-coated metal roofing products begin as sheets of steel which are then shaped into panels that replicate the look of traditional roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, clay tiles and wood shakes. Stone granules are then added to the panels to provide a full range of styles, colors and textures to augment even the most challenging architectural themes for maximum curb appeal.
No matter whether you plan to stay in your home for decades or sell it soon, that beautiful curb appeal will be a lasting benefit.
>>>Related Resource: Check out our Roofing Gallery!
The ROI of a New Metal Roof
When it comes to ROI, the biggest selling point of metal roofs is their significantly longer lifespan. The longevity is complemented by additional benefits that contribute to the roof’s long-term value, including:
- Increased Home Value: A metal roof can boost your home’s value by up to 6%. Plus, homeowners can recoup 60-70% of the installation cost.
- Energy Savings: Metal roofs are known for their energy efficiency. A new metal roof can provide homeowners with energy savings as high as 25%. That's a major improvement over asphalt shingle roofs which continue to emit absorbed heat into the home long after the sun has set. For maximum energy efficiency, installing advanced underlayments under a new DECRA roof can increase thermal performance by up to 217% when compared to traditional asphalt shingles.
- Insurance Discounts: In many states, metal roofs can qualify for insurance discounts. Check with your carrier to see if you qualify. At a time when many insurance companies are reevaluating claims and cancelling policies due to old or aging roofs, investing in a metal roof is a smart way to protect your home.
Increase Home Value and Curb Appeal With DECRA Metal Roofing
DECRA Metal Roofing products have withstood the test of time and excelled through some of the harshest weather conditions around the world for over 60 years. If you’re looking for a roof that provides both strength and style, you’re looking for a DECRA roof.
Ready to see how good a DECRA roof looks on your home? You can see DECRA up close when you request a complimentary sample. For an even more comprehensive view, use our free visualization tool to see how a DECRA metal roof would look on your home.
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in December, 2021 but has been updated with relevant information.
