Metal Slate Installation Costs - Roofing Talk

Germanyjon · 05-13-2009, 08:42 AM

I want to replace my roof (hail damage) with a metal-slate shingle such as seen at this web site:

http://edcoproducts.com/arrowline/arrowline-slate.php

So far, I've gotten estimates to install such shingles that are three times the cost of asphalt shingles.

Can someone please tell me why the cost is so much higher? And does someone know of an installer in my area, Huntsville AL, that can install for a reasonable cost?

Jon

Ed the Roofer · 05-13-2009, 11:44 AM

Less competition for installing that type of product and labor is extremely slow.

Rather than focus on price differences, focus on the quality of the contractors installation methods.

Ed

red_cedar · 05-14-2009, 09:11 PM

Answer to your question is somewhat dependant on the type asphalt shingle you are comparing price to.

Competition realy does not have much to do with the true cost of a metal roof installation. It more has to do with the material cost and time to correctly install the sytem as well as the needed prep work to get the roof to a point one could start the process.

Materials that were mentioned for metal have a very good chance of costing more then what it would cost for an entire 25-30 yr asphalt shingle roof tear off and install.

Installation takes more time. It is not a wam - bam method like asphalt shingles.

Grumpy · 05-15-2009, 08:08 AM

Product costs more, last time I priced decra metal shingles it was 7 times the cost of asphalt shingles. Installation is alot slower, about 3 times as much time required.

Compitition has a bearing on everything. I bet there is a wee bit more gross profit in the job for this type roof as compared to as ashlat shingle. In the asphalt shingle market it's so competitive that the going rate is based on cheating your taxes and insurance. That's how competitive it is.

Although I do agree the bulk of the difference in price is in the aforementioned labor and material differences.

red_cedar · 05-15-2009, 08:41 AM

We have been on the competive end of residential metal roofing for about 10 yrs.
What I mean by competitive is price projects against other speclized contractors.
I imagine there is more money in the commercial end of things.

Before the prices were low due to promotion, now the prices are low due to the nature of the work. Because it is more labor intensive, contractors go with lower labor costs, eastern Euopeons and those south of the US.
Lower labor cost equates to lower overall price.
Then there are the contractors that want to get some metal roofs under their belts. They are not doing them at the prices that one would need to make money on.
Then we have the vrtical seam roofing that contractors form their own material. Thus becomeing manufactures but with no certifications to the panels. They run the material much less costly almost giving it away therfore reducing the overall cost and therefore charging less
With manufactures, if a dealer ( buy direct ) of a particular material doesnt have the sales, then the manufacturer gets other dealers sometimes creating to many dealers where one feels forced to offer for less.
The way asphalt shingles are applied and the length of time the material lasts is where there is decent money.
Trouble is everyone is killing each other in all markets.

Different metal systems have different costs to them. Some go up faster then others, but all take longer then shingles.

I didnt mean to be contradictory but its not all as it seems.

Grumpy · 05-15-2009, 10:22 AM

No doubt there are low priced competitors in any specialized trade, including metal roofing. However the point I was trying to make that when comparing the shear volume of "contractors" who do asphalt shingles vs the sheer volume of contractors who do metal roofing, there are so so so many more people who think they are shingle roofers vs metal roofers.

I find the vast majority of metal roofers at least have a clue, even if they are under valuing their serivces. It's not like shingles where you can buy the materials at home depot and have installed a deck yesterday a roof today and have a bathroom on the schedule for tomorrow. Most, not all, metal roofers are at least roofers.

BTW the only metal roofs we've done are panelized. Either standing seam or flat locked soldered seam. 99% are copper, and all are custom field fabricated. or as you said we form our own material without manufacturer certification. With metal we really only do bays, bows, gazebos, porches, dormers, small jobs.

OUTLAW · 05-15-2009, 11:50 AM

My prices for metal roofs can be very high.

A metal roof with many details can be very time consuming.

Since my prices are based on manhours and not a % mark-up, this puts me out of the ballpark on alot of bids. Thats OK with me. Let some one else work for nothing.

red_cedar · 05-16-2009, 06:55 AM

The original post about being high and then the reply about its because of lack of compitition is what I tried to respond to, perhaps unsucesfully so.

3 times more then a 25 yr asphalt shingle is not high for the product there was an interest in, perhaps its a low price. There are other varibles to know then the price, to deterime if its high.

I suppose I should take this opportunity to say that we have been dealers for the last 8 yrs or so for the the metal roofing manufacturer Classic Metal Roofing Systems http://www.classicmetalroofingsystems.com as well as for www.kasselandirons.com
We will sell to contractors as well as home owners in Illinois and perhaps elsewhere and will provide a certain degree of installation support. We can provide the best price, delivered to your job location.
Or provide the material and labor for your project

Grumpy · 05-18-2009, 03:04 PM

red, fix the link for classicmetal.

I thought you were a contractor. I did not know you were a distributor.

red_cedar · 05-19-2009, 06:00 AM

Its fixed. Thanks.
We are contractors but also dealers / distributers for the stated manufacturer(s).
Quality manufacturer, with product and attitude for the customer.

05-13-2009, 08:42 AM	#1
Germanyjon Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1	Metal Slate Installation Costs I want to replace my roof (hail damage) with a metal-slate shingle such as seen at this web site: http://edcoproducts.com/arrowline/arrowline-slate.php So far, I've gotten estimates to install such shingles that are three times the cost of asphalt shingles. Can someone please tell me why the cost is so much higher? And does someone know of an installer in my area, Huntsville AL, that can install for a reasonable cost? Jon

05-13-2009, 11:44 AM	#2
Ed the Roofer Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 622	Less competition for installing that type of product and labor is extremely slow. Rather than focus on price differences, focus on the quality of the contractors installation methods. Ed __________________ Just Wait A Minute, I Will Be Right Back With A Link For That. http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

05-15-2009, 08:08 AM	#4
Grumpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 930	Product costs more, last time I priced decra metal shingles it was 7 times the cost of asphalt shingles. Installation is alot slower, about 3 times as much time required. Compitition has a bearing on everything. I bet there is a wee bit more gross profit in the job for this type roof as compared to as ashlat shingle. In the asphalt shingle market it's so competitive that the going rate is based on cheating your taxes and insurance. That's how competitive it is. Although I do agree the bulk of the difference in price is in the aforementioned labor and material differences. __________________ -Grumpy Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

05-15-2009, 10:22 AM	#6
Grumpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 930	No doubt there are low priced competitors in any specialized trade, including metal roofing. However the point I was trying to make that when comparing the shear volume of "contractors" who do asphalt shingles vs the sheer volume of contractors who do metal roofing, there are so so so many more people who think they are shingle roofers vs metal roofers. I find the vast majority of metal roofers at least have a clue, even if they are under valuing their serivces. It's not like shingles where you can buy the materials at home depot and have installed a deck yesterday a roof today and have a bathroom on the schedule for tomorrow. Most, not all, metal roofers are at least roofers. BTW the only metal roofs we've done are panelized. Either standing seam or flat locked soldered seam. 99% are copper, and all are custom field fabricated. or as you said we form our own material without manufacturer certification. With metal we really only do bays, bows, gazebos, porches, dormers, small jobs. __________________ -Grumpy Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

05-15-2009, 11:50 AM	#7
OUTLAW Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: VIRGINIA Posts: 168	My prices for metal roofs can be very high. A metal roof with many details can be very time consuming. Since my prices are based on manhours and not a % mark-up, this puts me out of the ballpark on alot of bids. Thats OK with me. Let some one else work for nothing. __________________ http://www.ClarkRoofingAndSiding.com

05-14-2009, 09:11 PM	#3
red_cedar Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 33	Answer to your question is somewhat dependant on the type asphalt shingle you are comparing price to. Competition realy does not have much to do with the true cost of a metal roof installation. It more has to do with the material cost and time to correctly install the sytem as well as the needed prep work to get the roof to a point one could start the process. Materials that were mentioned for metal have a very good chance of costing more then what it would cost for an entire 25-30 yr asphalt shingle roof tear off and install. Installation takes more time. It is not a wam - bam method like asphalt shingles.

05-15-2009, 08:41 AM	#5
red_cedar Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 33	We have been on the competive end of residential metal roofing for about 10 yrs. What I mean by competitive is price projects against other speclized contractors. I imagine there is more money in the commercial end of things. Before the prices were low due to promotion, now the prices are low due to the nature of the work. Because it is more labor intensive, contractors go with lower labor costs, eastern Euopeons and those south of the US. Lower labor cost equates to lower overall price. Then there are the contractors that want to get some metal roofs under their belts. They are not doing them at the prices that one would need to make money on. Then we have the vrtical seam roofing that contractors form their own material. Thus becomeing manufactures but with no certifications to the panels. They run the material much less costly almost giving it away therfore reducing the overall cost and therefore charging less With manufactures, if a dealer ( buy direct ) of a particular material doesnt have the sales, then the manufacturer gets other dealers sometimes creating to many dealers where one feels forced to offer for less. The way asphalt shingles are applied and the length of time the material lasts is where there is decent money. Trouble is everyone is killing each other in all markets. Different metal systems have different costs to them. Some go up faster then others, but all take longer then shingles. I didnt mean to be contradictory but its not all as it seems.

05-16-2009, 06:55 AM	#8
red_cedar Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 33	The original post about being high and then the reply about its because of lack of compitition is what I tried to respond to, perhaps unsucesfully so. 3 times more then a 25 yr asphalt shingle is not high for the product there was an interest in, perhaps its a low price. There are other varibles to know then the price, to deterime if its high. I suppose I should take this opportunity to say that we have been dealers for the last 8 yrs or so for the the metal roofing manufacturer Classic Metal Roofing Systems http://www.classicmetalroofingsystems.com as well as for www.kasselandirons.com We will sell to contractors as well as home owners in Illinois and perhaps elsewhere and will provide a certain degree of installation support. We can provide the best price, delivered to your job location. Or provide the material and labor for your project Last edited by red_cedar; 05-19-2009 at 05:54 AM.

05-18-2009, 03:04 PM	#9
Grumpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 930	red, fix the link for classicmetal. I thought you were a contractor. I did not know you were a distributor. __________________ -Grumpy Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

05-19-2009, 06:00 AM	#10
red_cedar Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 33	Its fixed. Thanks. We are contractors but also dealers / distributers for the stated manufacturer(s). Quality manufacturer, with product and attitude for the customer.

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