Are metal roofs noisy? Do they attract lightning? Will one cook your house in the summer or send your energy bill through the roof? If you have wondered whether a metal roof is right for your home, you have probably heard all kinds of things. Some are true. Most are not. Excel Roofing has served over 55,000 customers across Colorado and Wyoming since our founder, J Bretz, started the company in 1993, and metal roofing questions come up in almost every conversation. Below we answer the ones we hear most, so you can decide with confidence.
No. This is the myth we hear most, and it is one of the easiest to put to rest. If you were standing right outside next to the roof during a storm, you would hear raindrops landing on it. But inside the home, with decking, underlayment, insulation, and your ceiling in between, the sound is undetectable. A properly installed metal roof is no louder inside than an asphalt shingle roof.
Yes, up front. But over the life of the roof, metal is usually the cheaper choice. A metal roof costs more than asphalt shingles at installation, but it also lasts far longer. A quality metal roof should last 50 to 60 years, while a typical asphalt shingle roof lasts about 15 years. That is roughly two to three times the lifespan.
Once you factor that in, the math changes. Over the decades you would own your home, an asphalt roof is likely to be replaced several times, while a single metal roof can cover that same span. Spread across its service life, metal often costs less, not more.
Cost is not only about the sticker price, either. Because metal is so much more durable than asphalt, it is far less likely to be damaged by hail, which brings us to the next question.
Here is how installed costs compare across common roofing options in 2026.
|
Roof type |
Installed cost per sq ft (2026) |
Average total (2,000 sq ft roof) |
|
Asphalt shingles |
$3 to $7 |
~$10,000 |
|
Exposed fastener panel (metal) |
$5 to $12 |
~$17,000 |
|
Stone coated steel (metal) |
$8 to $15 |
~$23,000 |
|
Standing seam (metal) |
$10 to $18 |
~$28,000 |
|
Synthetic slate or shake |
$12 to $20 |
~$32,000 |
Very well. Depending on the type of metal, it typically takes baseball size hail or larger to total a metal roof, compared to quarter size hail that can damage an asphalt shingle roof. In hail country like Colorado and Wyoming, that durability is one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose metal.
Some metal roofs are thicker and stronger, while others are thinner and more prone to denting. An exposed fastener panel roof, sometimes called an R panel, is made from thinner metal and is more likely to dent in a storm. Most of the time, those dents are cosmetic and do not cause any structural damage. Think of it like the hail dents on a car. Over the years we have seen plenty of dented metal roofs, but that is because we look at roofs for a living. Most homeowners never even notice the small to medium dents on their own roof.
No. Metal is not a magnet for lightning, and a metal roof does not make a strike any more likely. In fact, because metal is noncombustible, it is actually a safer roofing material than most if lightning ever does strike your home.
No, and the answer may surprise you. Metal naturally reflects solar radiation rather than absorbing it. Manufacturers can also add coatings, especially in lighter colors, that reflect even more of that heat away from your home.
One of the most popular residential metal options is stone coated steel, and it can be installed two different ways. The method makes a real difference in how your home handles heat.
Direct to deck. The metal is attached directly to the wood decking of the home. This is a good cost saving installation method, but it transfers a little more heat into the home.
Batten system. Two by two wood battens are laid horizontally on the roof, and the stone coated steel is attached to those battens. This creates a dead air space underneath that blocks heat transfer. It keeps the home cooler in the summer, and in the winter it acts as a barrier between the warm attic and the cold roof, which reduces ice dams. Ice dams are a persistent problem in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, so this matters here. The batten system is the better of the two.
No matter which roofing material you choose, attic ventilation and insulation are critical. Poor ventilation is the main reason heat gets trapped in the attic and radiates down into the home. Insulation is just as important. Having 20 inches or more of attic insulation is one of the best ways to cut heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer, and to keep your home comfortable year round.
That depends on your priorities. Here is how the three most common options compare.
Are metal roofs loud in the rain?
No. From inside the home the sound is undetectable.
More up front, but usually less over the life of the roof because metal lasts two to three times as long.
It usually takes baseball size or larger hail to total metal, versus quarter size to damage asphalt. Thinner panels can dent cosmetically without structural harm.
No, and metal is noncombustible, which makes it safer in a strike.
No. Metal reflects solar radiation, and light colored coatings reflect even more.
If you would like to learn more, visit the Learning Center on our website for more videos and articles on metal roofing, attic ventilation, and insulation. When you are ready, give us a call or use our online scheduler to pick a day and time for us to come take a look at your project.
We are on top of it, and you do not pay a cent until you are content.