In the current housing market, shopping for your dream home can be exhausting. It’s difficult to find a pre-existing home that meets all your needs and wants within the defined budget. You may have to give up a few of your must-haves to find a home that works for you and your family.
That’s why some of today’s homeowners are taking matters into their own hands to have full control over the process. When you build a custom home, you get more say in how it’s constructed. You can specify what you want to ensure it’s up to your standards.
While choosing the right roofing material might not be the most exciting part of building a home, it has a large impact on your residence's aesthetics and value. This blog explores the topic in detail, covering:
- Trends in custom home building and what to expect in the coming year.
- How metal roofing enhances curb appeal and complements various architectural styles.
- Additional benefits of metal roofing every homeowner should know.
If you’re building a custom home — or considering it next year — this guide will help you choose the right roof for your needs.
Custom Home Trends in 2024 and 2025 Predictions
Custom home building rose by 6% in the second quarter of this year, indicating an upward trend after a two-year flat period. While interest in custom homes remained strong between 2022 and 2023, pandemic-related supply chain delays continued to cause setbacks.
Looking ahead to 2025, the outlook is promising. Improved construction supply inventories and the potential for stable or even lower mortgage rates—hovering below 7%—are paving the way for more custom home projects.
Today’s property owners are choosing to build custom homes for a variety of reasons, including:
- Integration of smart home technology
- Emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency
- Accessibility features for aging in place
- Customized storage solutions
- Flexibility for both family living and empty nesting
- Enhanced safety and security features
- Bonus spaces for entertainment, fitness, or hobbies
- Interest in ADUs (accessory dwelling units) and multigenerational living
- Specialized kitchens and bathrooms
- Seamless indoor-outdoor living designs
- Preference for high-quality, durable materials (cough cough metal roofing!)
- Resistance to severe weather conditions
- Opportunities for self-expression through unique details and finishes
For those prioritizing curb appeal and aesthetics, metal roofing stands out as a top choice. Its wide range of styles and colors allows for unique customization while offering durability, energy efficiency, and longevity. These benefits make it an increasingly popular alternative to traditional asphalt shingles, now holding nearly 20% of the roofing market share.
Metal Roofing Can Match Every Architectural Style
Although it may seem like a relatively minor detail, your roof matters. It’s the first line of defense against the elements, so you want to choose something that will stand the test of time without sacrificing strength or style. Let’s talk aesthetics first, and then we’ll address more practical concerns in the next section.
Stone-coated metal roofing like DECRA offers a wide range of textures and colors to complement every style of home, from contemporary to farmhouse. This is especially important if you’re building in a community where uniformity is carefully monitored or regulated.
For example, in California and Florida, the traditional clay tile roof is a common design element for Mission and Mediterranean-style homes. In the Northeast, rustic wood shakes are popular in Colonial-style homes, particularly in states like Massachusetts and New York.
Your roof should match the design of your home. Curb appeal is vital when building a custom home, and it’s even more important if you plan to sell in the future.
DECRA roofing comes in panels that replicate the look of shingles, shakes, and tiles, ensuring your roof blends seamlessly with your home’s architectural style and the homes around it.
With a variety of colors available, you can easily match your roof to any paint scheme, whether you prefer a simple two-tone look or a more intricate Victorian style with multiple shades. DECRA works with your vision.
Other Benefits of Metal Roofing
Roofing is about more than just aesthetics, though. If you’re looking for a roofing material that performs well in extreme weather, saves on energy costs, and requires minimal maintenance, stone-coated metal roofing should be at the top of your list. Here are seven key reasons why.
1. Long Lifespan
Metal roofing lasts about two to three times longer than traditional materials, like asphalt shingles, wooden shakes, or clay tiles. This means you don’t have to worry about replacing the roof of your custom home for many decades — perhaps ever, depending on your age. The long lifespan can also increase the value of your property, helping you build equity.
2. Impact Resistance
DECRA metal roofing has the highest rating for hail impact resistance, making it a great choice if you live in an area that sees a lot of hail. It’s warrantied against damage from hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, while other traditional roofing materials may crack, split, or chip in a hailstorm.
3. Wind Resistance
Many parts of the country, particularly the Southeast, have experienced high winds recently, with hurricane winds reaching up to 100 miles per hour as far inland as western North Carolina. DECRA roofing is warrantied for winds up to 120 miles per hour and approved for high-velocity hurricane zones due to its rigorous wind uplift testing. The roofing systems are tested to meet or exceed the wind resistance standards required by building codes, including the Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade County's regulations. DECRA uses high-tensile steel and robust fasteners to enhance the roof's resistance to wind forces, with lab tests conducted under UL 1897 and TAS 125 standards to ensure performance under severe conditions
4. Fire Resistance
Wildfires are a concern across the entire U.S. DECRA carries the highest fire resistance rating. That means extra protection for your property from fires originating outside the home.
5. Energy Efficiency
Metal roofing is known for its ability to maintain consistent temperature control in winter, helping to prevent ice dams. But it’s also ideal for energy efficiency in summer, reduce cooling costs by up to 25%. That’s huge, whether you live in the humid climate of Minneapolis or the dry heart of Arizona, this makes a significant difference.
6. Low Maintenance
You want to enjoy your new custom home, not spend your time maintaining it. With a metal roof, you won’t have to worry about issues like cracking, chipping, and cupping caused by the elements. This low-maintenance roofing solution saves you both time and money, letting you focus on enjoying your home instead.
7. Insurance Preferences
Insurance companies prefer properties with metal roofs because they’re at lower risk of filing a claim. You may be eligible for an insurance discount (check with your carrier), and you won’t likely get your coverage discontinued after a drone aerial inspection, a new trend in the insurance industry.
DECRA Metal Roofing Is a Great Choice for Your Custom Home
Still deciding on roofing for your custom home? DECRA makes it easy to visualize what a stone-coated roof would look like on your property.
You can request a sample to check it against your color palette or show it to your contractor. Alternatively, use our free visualization tool with a CAD or AI image to see how the roof will look on your home. This helps ensure your new metal roof complements your custom design and meets any requirements under HOA or community guidelines.
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in August, 2021 but has been updated with relevant information.
