Standing seam metal roof cost per square foot installed

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Is it time for a new roof? Did you decide you want something different than the commonly seen asphalt roof? If so, you’re probably considering a beautiful standing seam metal roof. 

But are you stressed about how much you’ll have to pay for it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners like you in the Nashville area understand their roof investment since 1990. One of the biggest concerns our customers have is how much their new metal roof will cost.

While the rest of roofing industry doesn't like to talk about this, we never shy away from answering tough questions. That’s why we’re going to break down the cost of your metal roof, what impacts the cost, and more.

And at the end of this article, we're going to give you a great tool to help you find a great roofing contractor in your area. 

How much does a new standing seam metal roof cost?

No two roofs are going to be the same price. So, the price for your standing seam metal roof isn't going to be the same as your neighbors. 

With that in mind, it’s impossible to give you an exact price without getting on your roof. However, the numbers below can give you an idea of how much you’ll have to budget.

Disclaimer: These numbers aren’t perfect. The actual price you’ll pay depends on multiple cost factors that are based on your roof and the contractor you hire. 

For a one-story house with a basic up and over roof with no penetrations and no valleys, you can expect a 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof to cost around $12.00 per square foot. 

Standing seam metal roof cost per square foot installed

For a one-story house with a mildly complex roof, you can expect to pay around $15.00 per square foot for a 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof. 

Standing seam metal roof cost per square foot installed

Remember, these numbers aren’t perfect and it’s impossible to give you an exact price until you have a professional roofing company come out to inspect your roof. However, you can use the cost numbers above and multiply them by the square footage of your roof to get an idea of how much you’ll have to budget for your roof replacement.

Be aware, the square footage of your roof is not the same as the square footage of your home. To learn how to get a rough measurement of your roof, read this article on how to measure the square footage of your roof.  

What impacts the cost of your standing seam metal roof?

Remember, no two roofs are going to be the same. The price for a standing seam metal replacement will depend on many factors that vary from roof to roof. 

To better help you understand where your investment goes when making this purchase, I’ve comprised a list of the factors that directly affect the price of your new standing seam metal roof. 

  • The type of roof you choose (standing seam) 
  • The rest of the roof system’s materials
  • Labor and time
  • Your roof’s accessibility
  • The number of penetrations your roof has
  • Your roof’s size and the complexity of it
  • The amount of decking that may need to be replaced
  • Dump fees
  • Operating costs

This is just a quick rundown of what impacts the cost of your new roof. For a deeper breakdown of these cost factors and what they mean to your roof investment, read this article on the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof

3 things you need to know about getting a standing seam metal roof

Now have an idea of how much you’ll have to budget for your new standing seam metal roof. But there’s still more to know about getting one than just how much it’ll cost. 

1. The process to replace your roof 

The day your standing seam metal roof is installed is the most important day in the life of your roof. It must be installed using correct metal roofing techniques to truly give you peace of mind. But what does the standing seam metal roof replacement process look like?

The first step to your metal roof replacement is getting all the metal roofing materials delivered to your home. Then your local roofing contractor arrives on the day of your replacement and makes sure all the vehicles are moved out of your driveway or garage.

After making sure everything is clear for them to start, they’ll start setting up protection for your property and begin the tear-off process. After your old roof is torn off to a clean decking, they’ll begin installing all of your new roofing materials and your standing seam metal panels. 

Once your new roof is properly installed, your contractor will clean up your property and inspect your new metal roof to ensure the workmanship reaches the high standards you expect. 

This is a quick breakdown of what you can expect on the day of your standing seam metal roof replacement. To gain a better understanding of how your new metal roof will be installed, read this article on the 6-step process to install your standing seam metal roof

2. The warranties you’ll have on your new standing seam metal roof 

A warranty is in place to protect your roof investment. There are two types of warranties you get on a new roof, the roofing materials and your contractor’s workmanship. 

The workmanship warranty you get from a contractor covers the installation of your standing seam metal roof. How many years a roofing contractor stands behind their workmanship varies from contractor to contractor. 

On the other hand, the material warranty on your standing seam metal roof covers the Kynar 500 painted finish on your metal panels. This painted finish protects your metal panels from the elements and keeps the color you choose from fading. 

Your new standing seam metal roof will come with a 30-year paint warranty on the Kynar 500 painted finish. Be aware, scratching or damaging the finish on the panels will expose the fresh steel to dew or moisture in the air, causing them to rust. 

This makes it crucial that your local roofing contractor takes all the proper precautions to protect the finish during installation. For example, every evening after finishing for the day, the roof has to be cleaned off. They can't leave cuts, little triangles, or any type of shavings on the roof because the steel will rust overnight. 

To get the most out of your standing seam metal roof investment, you have to hire a great roofing contractor. To help you find one that does things the right way, read this article on the top 8 questions to ask a roofing contractor.

3. How long your new standing seam metal roof will last

The lifespan of a roof is how many years you get out of it. But how many years will you actually get out of a standing seam metal roof?

As long as it’s properly installed and your attic is adequately ventilated, there’s no reason you shouldn’t get at least 30 years out of your new standing seam metal roof. Under the ideal conditions, your new standing seam metal roof could live for 50 years.

Remember, your new standing seam roof comes with a 30-year paint warranty on your metal panels to protect your roof investment. Even though the paint has a 30-year warranty, it doesn’t mean it’s going to disappear after 30 years. 

This makes a standing seam metal roof one of the most durable roof types on the market. To learn what affects the lifespan of your new metal roof, read this article on how long a standing seam metal roof will last

How to hire a great roofing contractor for your metal roof

Now you have an idea of how much you’ll have to budget for your new standing seam metal roof. Remember, you won’t get an exact price until you have a professional roofing company come out to give you a quote.

Now that you know all this information, what do you do next? The next step is to find a great roofing contractor to give you an estimate for your new standing seam metal roof. 

But how do spot a great one from all the options in your area? That comes down to asking the right questions and getting the right answers back. 

To help you even further, we developed a checklist of 16 questions every homeowner should ask when meeting with potential roofing contractors. This checklist gives you the power to spot a great roofing company all on your own. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided beautiful standing seam metal roof replacements to the residents of Nashville since 1990. We provide you an experience rare in the roofing industry with high-quality workmanship, honesty, and a non-pressure sales process.

If you’re local to Nashville, don’t hesitate to contact us to start the journey of getting the beautiful roof you deserve. 

Whether you're local to Nashville or not, you need this checklist of Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor so you're fully prepared when meeting with roofers in your area.

Standing seam metal roof cost per square foot installed

How much does it cost to install a standing seam metal roof per square foot?

The average cost to install a standing seam metal roof is anywhere between $24,000 to $42,000 depending on the slope, pitch, and size of your roof. You can expect to pay $8 to $14 per square foot, or $800 to $1,400 per square, installed on a standard sized single story home.

Why is standing seam more expensive?

Installation Differences Consequently, standing seam panels install more slowly than exposed fastener panels, and additional contractor labor is also a factor in their higher cost.

What is the cheapest standing seam metal roof?

How much does a standing seam metal roof cost?.
National average cost: $29,000..
Typical price range: $18,000 – $41,000..
Extreme low end: $8,500..
Extreme high end: $100,000..

How much more does a standing seam roof cost?

The average installed cost of an exposed fastener panel is $7.00 to $12.00 per square foot versus $10.00 to $16.00 per square foot for standing seam. Standing seam will cost you somewhere between 50% more and up to 2.5 times what a corrugated metal roofing will cost.