In our experience, most homeowners who want a metal roof are looking for a system that works for their home, fits their budget, and delivers the look they want without creating unnecessary maintenance concerns later.
However, there are several different metal roofing materials, panel types, and installation systems available, and the terminology can be confusing when you first start comparing them.
In this guide, we will look at the main types of metal roofing materials, common roofing systems and styles, what each one costs relative to the others, and the differences that can help you decide the best fit for your home.
Types of Metal Roofing Materials
Although steel is by far the most common choice for residential roofs, metal roofing can be made from several different materials.
The material affects the cost of the roof, how it handles moisture and corrosion, and the types of finishes and panel systems available.
Steel
Steel is the most common metal roofing material used on homes because it offers a good balance of strength, availability, and cost.
It can be used for standing seam roofs, exposed-fastener panels, corrugated roofing, and several other metal roofing styles.
Most residential steel roofing is protected with a metallic coating before the final paint or finish is applied.
You may see terms such as galvanized steel, which uses a zinc coating, and Galvalume steel, which uses an aluminum-zinc alloy to help protect the steel underneath from corrosion.
We recommend Galvalume for residential steel roofs in our area because it holds up considerably longer than plain galvanized steel under sustained moisture, particularly along cut edges and around penetrations.
Steel roofing also comes in different gauges. A lower gauge number means thicker steel, so a 24-gauge panel is thicker than a 26- or 29-gauge panel.
Most residential steel roofing is 26- or 24-gauge. The 29-gauge panels sold as agricultural panels are lighter and easier to handle, but they show more waviness, telegraph framing imperfections through the surface, and dent more easily. We do not put them on the main roof of a house.
Most residential steel panels carry either an SMP (silicone-modified polyester) paint finish or a PVDF finish, commonly sold under the Kynar 500 name. PVDF resists fading and chalking far better under strong summer sun, and we specify it on any roof the homeowner plans to keep for decades.
Installed steel roofing usually runs from roughly $4 to $18 per square foot, the widest price range of any metal, because the same steel can be sold as an inexpensive screw-down panel or a fully detailed standing seam system.
Aluminum
Aluminum does not rust in the same way steel can, which makes it especially useful in areas where the roof is exposed to salt air or other conditions that increase the risk of corrosion.
It is also lightweight and can be formed into standing seam panels, shingles, and other roofing profiles.
However, aluminum costs more than steel and is softer, so it can be more susceptible to denting from hail, falling branches, or foot traffic.
Installed aluminum roofing runs roughly $7 to $18 per square foot, depending on the panel system, and a comparable aluminum standing seam roof typically costs more than the same roof in steel.
For homes in the Upstate, steel is the more common choice, while aluminum makes more sense in applications where corrosion resistance is a bigger concern.
Copper
Copper is a premium roofing material that is often chosen as much for its appearance as for its durability. New copper has a bright metallic finish that gradually darkens and eventually develops the green or blue-green patina associated with older copper roofs.
Because of the cost, copper is often used on smaller sections of a home rather than the entire roof. You may see it on porches, bay windows, dormers, entry roofs, cupolas, or other architectural details.
A properly installed copper roof lasts 80 to 100 years or more and is often the last roof a building ever receives.
The material and the specialized installation put it at roughly $20 to $30 per square foot installed, several times the cost of a standard steel roof, so most homeowners limit it to accents.
Zinc
Zinc is another premium metal roofing material with a documented service life of 80 to 100 years. Like copper, its surface changes as it is exposed to the weather and develops a protective patina over time.
Zinc is more common on custom architectural projects and high-end buildings than on typical residential roofs. It is considerably more expensive than steel, at roughly $18 to $28 per square foot installed, and is not as widely available through residential roofing contractors.
For most homeowners comparing metal roofing for a house in Upstate South Carolina, steel is the most practical starting point, while aluminum, copper, and zinc tend to be are used when there is a specific reason to choose them.
Common Types and Styles of Metal Roofing
Once you have looked at the material itself, the next difference is the way the metal is formed and installed on the roof. The attachment method affects the price and the roof’s maintenance schedule over its life.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Standing seam is one of the most common metal roofing systems used on homes. The roof is made from long metal panels with raised seams running vertically from the eave toward the ridge.
The fasteners that secure the panels are concealed underneath the roofing system rather than driven through the exposed face of the metal.
This gives the roof a cleaner appearance and means there are no exposed screw washers across the main roof surface to monitor as they age.
Standing seam panels are also designed to accommodate some of the expansion and contraction that happens as metal heats up and cools down.
Depending on the system, the panels may use clips or other concealed attachment methods that allow the metal to move without putting as much stress on the fasteners.
Wide, flat standing seam panels can show a slight waviness called oil canning. It is cosmetic and does not affect performance. Striated or narrower panels reduce it, so ask about panel width before you order.
Standing seam roofing costs more than exposed-fastener metal roofing because the panels, flashing details, and installation are more involved.
Installed standing seam steel runs roughly $10 to $16 per square foot in most markets, which puts it at two to three times the cost of an exposed-fastener steel roof on the same house.
For homeowners who want a metal roof on the main part of the house and plan to keep it for many years, it is often one of the first systems we recommend looking at.
Exposed-Fastener Metal Roofing
Exposed-fastener roofing uses metal panels that are secured directly through the face of the panel with screws. Each screw typically has a washer that seals around the penetration.
These systems are less expensive to install than standing seam roofing and are commonly used on homes, garages, porches, barns, and other buildings.
Installed exposed-fastener steel runs roughly $4 to $8 per square foot, and it remains the most common metal roof on rural properties across Oconee, Pickens, and Anderson counties.
The fasteners remain exposed to the weather for the life of the roof. Over time, screws can loosen, and washers can deteriorate as the roof goes through repeated heating, cooling, and weather exposure.
A typical exposed-fastener roof has hundreds or thousands of these washers, and most need attention somewhere between 15 and 20 years in.
On wooded lots, pine needles and pollen collect in the panel ribs and around each fastener head, and that debris holds moisture against the washer long after the rest of the roof has dried.
That does not mean an exposed-fastener roof is a poor system, but it does mean the fasteners should be included in the roof’s long-term maintenance.
For homeowners trying to keep the initial cost of a metal roof lower, exposed-fastener panels can still be a practical option when the system is appropriate for the roof and installed correctly.
Corrugated Metal Roofing
Corrugated metal roofing has a repeating wavy profile that gives it a more traditional and utilitarian appearance than standing seam roofing. It has been used for decades on barns, sheds, agricultural buildings, porches, and some homes.
Most corrugated roofing systems use exposed fasteners, with screws installed through the face of the panels. Because of that, they have many of the same maintenance considerations as other exposed-fastener metal roofs, particularly around the screws and washers as the roof ages.
Corrugated panels cost less than standing seam systems, landing at the lower end of the exposed-fastener range, and can work well when the look fits the property.
Many corrugated panels sold for residential use are 29-gauge, and the thinner metal is one more reason they belong on outbuildings more often than on the main roof of a house.
On a home, however, the more pronounced profile can give the roof a very different appearance from the cleaner vertical lines of standing seam.
The word “corrugated” refers to the shape of the panel, not the fastening method. Not every exposed-fastener metal roof is corrugated, even though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Ribbed Metal Roofing Panels
Ribbed metal panels have raised ribs rather than the continuous wave pattern found on traditional corrugated roofing. These panels are commonly installed with exposed fasteners and come in several profiles.
You may see names such as Tuff Rib, R-panel, PBR panel, or 5V-crimp when comparing metal roofing products. The shape and spacing of the ribs vary between these systems, which changes the roof’s appearance and can also affect where the panel is typically used.
Tuff Rib and similar agricultural-style panels are common on garages, barns, workshops, and homes where homeowners want a more affordable metal roofing option. R-panel and PBR panels have deeper, more pronounced ribs and are often used on commercial or agricultural buildings, although they can also be used in some residential applications.
5V-crimp has a lower-profile pattern and has traditionally been used on homes, porches, and coastal or Southern-style properties. It is one of the most common metal profiles on older homes and porches across the rural Upstate, and the panel material alone runs a little over a dollar per square foot before underlayment, trim, and labor.
Like other exposed-fastener systems, the screws remain visible and should be checked as part of the roof’s maintenance over time.
Metal Shingles, Shakes, and Tiles
Metal can also be formed into shingles, shakes, and tiles designed to give the roof a more traditional appearance while still using metal as the roofing material.
Metal shingles are often made to resemble asphalt shingles or slate, while metal shakes can imitate the look of cedar. Metal tile systems are shaped to resemble clay or concrete tile and can give the roof a more distinctive profile without the weight of traditional tile roofing.
These systems usually use interlocking pieces or concealed fastening methods rather than the exposed screws found on many ribbed and corrugated panels. They can be a good option for homeowners who want the durability of metal but do not want the appearance of a standing seam or exposed-fastener panel roof.
Metal shingles, shakes, and tiles involve more individual pieces and more detailed installation, so they are more expensive than standard exposed-fastener panels and, depending on the product, price in the same range as standing seam or above it, roughly $10 to $18 per square foot installed.
Stone-Coated Steel Roofing
Stone-coated steel is a type of metal roofing made from steel panels or tiles covered with a layer of stone granules. The finished roof can resemble shingles, wood shakes, or traditional tile rather than the smooth painted surface most people associate with metal roofing.
The stone coating changes the roof’s appearance and texture, which can appeal to homeowners who want metal roofing without a visibly metallic finish.
Stone-coated steel is considered a more specialized roofing system and costs more than conventional steel panels, typically landing between exposed-fastener panels and standing seam at roughly $8 to $16 per square foot installed.
Its availability can also vary by contractor and manufacturer, so it is not as commonly installed as standing seam or exposed-fastener steel roofing.
Which Type of Metal Roof Is Best for Your Home?
The best metal roof for your home depends on the type of property, how long you expect to keep the roof, the look you want, and how much maintenance you are comfortable with over time.
For many homeowners, standing seam steel roofing is one of the strongest all-around options.
It gives the roof a clean appearance, keeps the fasteners concealed, and requires less attention around screws and washers as the roof ages. It does cost more upfront than most exposed-fastener systems, so it makes the most sense when you are looking at the roof as a long-term investment.
If keeping the initial cost lower is more important, exposed-fastener steel panels can be a practical option.
They are widely available, straightforward to install, and can still provide a durable metal roof when the system is appropriate for the home. The main consideration is that the exposed screws and washers should be checked over time and will eventually need attention.
Corrugated and ribbed panels are often a good fit for garages, workshops, porches, barns, and homes where the more pronounced panel profile works with the design of the property.
They are also commonly chosen when budget is a bigger consideration than having the cleaner appearance of standing seam.
If you want the roof to look closer to shingles, slate, cedar, or tile, metal shingles, shakes, and tile systems may be a better fit.
These systems can give you a more traditional roof profile, but the products and installation are usually more specialized and increase the overall cost.
For homes in our area, we also look closely at the roof slope, the number of valleys and transitions, surrounding trees, and how exposed the property is to wind and storms before recommending a particular metal roofing system.
A steep roof with few penetrations on an open lot can carry an exposed-fastener system for a long time. A low-slope roof with several valleys under a stand of pines is a different job, and the extra cost of standing seam usually pays for itself there.
Choosing the Right Metal Roof For Your Home
Metal roofing gives homeowners many options, but the right choice depends on both the material and the roofing system.
If you are considering a metal roof for your home in Seneca or elsewhere in the Upstate, SureFlow can help you compare the available options and determine which system makes the most sense for your roof, budget, and long-term plans.
We provide free estimates and include a photo report of the existing roof, and every metal roof we install carries our lifetime labor warranty.
Contact SureFlow Roofing today or call us at (864) 903-7873 to schedule an estimate for your metal roofing project.