One of the hardest moments of homeownership is the time when you need to put a new roof on your home. Roofing can an expensive home repair task to take on but there are more options out there now than your standard asphalt shingle roof. One of the roofing types gaining popularity is metal roofs. Metal roofs come with many pros and few cons. The biggest cons being that they cost more and they can be a tad noisier than your standard roof. But if you are willing to make the investment, metal roofs come with many benefits.

The biggest pro of a metal roof is that they last longer. In fact a metal roof is likely to last around fifty years. That is almost double the lifespan of your standard asphalt shingle roof. Asphalt shingles only really last around fifteen to twenty years. They deteriorate over time due to weather, wind, heat, insects and rodents. But a metal roof won't corrode, crack, or catch sparks and ignite from lighting strikes. 

Another big pro is that metal roofs don't require periodic maintenance like other roofing materials. Also metal roofs look all more attractive and add big stylish element to your home.

Metal roofs also are more energy efficient and better for the environment. The metal roof reflects solar radiant heat which makes your cooler costs around 30% lower. If you are planning to more toward solar energy, metal roofs are the ideal material to have under your solar panels. They are also more eco-friendly since metal roofs contain anywhere from 25%-95% of recycled materials and the roofs themselves are 100% recyclable. 

And the last big pro of a metal roof is that they are easy to install. Unlike shingles which need to be individually replaced, metal roofing comes in lightweight panels that can be cut to size. Also, metal roofs can be placed on top of current shingles to cut down on the labor cost of removing the old roofing.

Now with everything good there's always a little bad. The cons of a metal roof are a much smaller list though than its pros. Metal roofs can be a bit noisier than standard shingle roofs. But for extra costs materials can be installed that mitigate the drumming effect of weather and critters pitter pattering on the metal panels. Also another con is that metal roofs do costs more. Metal itself is a more expensive material than asphalt shingles so the roof will cost more than going the standard route. It can cost up to three times as much to instal a metal roof than a standard roof, but consider the lifespan is double for a metal roof in the long run the costs aren't that big of a con. Lastly the big con is that in areas of extreme weather, for example a place where heavy hail storms or violent weather occur, your metal roof could become dented. While the possibility of denting may occur it should be noted that this is merely a cosmetic issue and would not damage the functionality of your roof.

If you want to see a metal roof in person check out one of our latest listings. The home at 4026 Metairie Heights comes with a beautifully installed metal roof. So the new owners will get all the benefits of these stylish new roofs without the costs of adding it to their home!

(Images used in this article are from our listing at 4026 Metairie Heights)

*Information in this article is from Realtor.com