There are probably over 25 metal shingles on the market today ranging from $4 a square foot to $8. That’s just for the material. Keep in mind most square foot prices don’t include the trim. Add the trim and the cost per square foot can easily double. Add the labor and you start getting an accurate picture of the real cost.
In the Mid Atlantic area asphalt shingle Labor for an inexpensive 25-year shingle are in the $90 to $110 per square (100 square feet) for a low slope up and over gable roof with low difficulty. The roofing cost for the same roof using a metal shingle in Labor is $300 to $500. The reason has to do with how difficult the installation method for each particular manufacturer is. In some cases, a batten or counter batten system has to be built prior to the installation of the shingles. In almost all of these profiles, each shingle has to be fitted to the adjoining metal shingle with metal tabs and screws. We installed one “hidden fastener” type of very expensive metal shingle and we had to use an exposed fastener screw to hold down one side so it wouldn’t lift in a high wind. Once you add this high labor cost, with the added very expensive trim, you can easily be in the $1200 to $1500 a square price range.
Does this high price mean the metal shingles are more waterproof or windproof? They are usually more windproof because of the stiffness of the metal and the fact that they have a fastener on all four edges. On any slope greater than 5/12 they are usually more waterproof. The real issue is water tension. The “Gutter Helmet” style of gutter covers actually work on the basis of water tension. The water flows off of the roofing material onto the curved metal helmet (usually aluminum because it is lighter) and water tension allows the rainwater to follow the curve of the metal into the gutter. Debris, like leaves, twigs and pine needles, don’t create water tension so they tend to fall off of the curved helmet and don’t enter the gutter. Metal shingles work the same way so if the slope is not steep enough the water will actually follow the bottom lip of the shingle and in many cases, with the proper volume of rain, the water will actually make its way behind the shingle. We installed a very high dollar lifetime metal shingle on an approved 5/12 slope and after one year the entire plywood deck of that slope rotted out. We had to remove the shingle and the plywood and reinstall plywood as well as a standing seam metal roof. Every metal shingle we have studied has this issue, except one.
The 4Ever metal shingle has two advantages over any other metal shingle we have ever seen. The inventers have figured out how to control the water tension issue and how to bring down the difficulty of installation with the resulting reduction of labor costs. First, let’s discuss the water tension issue. Where two shingle edges adjoin is where the issue is. When rain curves around the shingle above this junction the water normally will go behind the low shingles. These guys have figured out a unique and creative way to stop this issue. Second, let’s discuss why not only the labor is less costly but also why the installation can keep pace with an asphalt shingle installation. The 4Ever metal shingle interlocks on all four sides. After the first shingle (which is 36” by 13”) is hooked in to the eave drip edge and nailed in place, the same as any asphalt shingle, the second 4Ever metal shingle is locked in to the eave drip edge and slid in to an interlocking fold. It is nailed in place. The row above this first row interlocks just below the nail strip making this a hidden faster roof with a wind rating of over 120 mph. The exposed surface of this shingle is 10” by 36” giving it twice the exposed surface of an asphalt shingle. The result is a faster installation with a truly interlocked metal shingle with no wind or water tension issues.
How, you might ask, did these guys figure this out? Simple, they field tested many prototypes for over 5 years and studied the issues with current metal shingles. Since they had a metal roofing company to install these prototypes and study the results they actually saw firsthand what their shingles were doing. On one water test they installed the shingle on a square platform that could be elevated or lowered. Instead of a solid plywood deck they installed a 1×4 where the nails strip was. This allowed the ability to watch under the shingles as water was sprayed on the shingles at different slopes and with different force. Once they were sure this prototype worked they selected the most experienced company in the nation, in this specialty, to start building the machine. Two years, and many changes later, the machine was finished.
This 4Ever metal shingle exceeded our expectations. Not only is it inexpensive and easy to install it is beautiful! This 4Ever metal shingle has a 40 year warranty on the paint alone and it is virtually maintenance free. It is safe to walk on and because it has a protective plastic that isn’t removed until the entire roof installation is finished there is no scratching or marring on the beautiful matte and Energy Star surface.
For information on this beautiful and affordable roof look us up at: AlphaRain.com
Written By: Brandy Dysart
Owner and Founder of Alpha Rain Metal Roofing