Congratulations! You've decided on a metal roof to either go overtop or replace your current roof. Perhaps you live in a state where there are tax cuts for large home repairs like a new roof. Perhaps you have a great credit rating and are sure to get a homeowner's loan from your bank. But before you can approach a bank for a loan, you need an estimate. A competent roofer will give you an estimate, but you can determine the cost of metal roofing yourself.
The Roof Calculator
Many roofing businesses have websites that include roofing calculators. You feed them the data they ask for and they automatically figure out an estimate for you as to what the cost of metal roofing for you will be. But determining what you need to tell them takes a little work.
First, what kind of metal roofing material are you looking at? Aluminum and tin cost far less than copper or even corrugated iron, for instance. All of the materials have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on the area you live and how steep your roof is.
Then, you need to determine your roof's rise and run. If you have a flat roof, you don't have to worry about this, but if your roof is at any kind of angle, then you need to get a ladder, a marker, a three foot level, measuring tape and your brain.
About a foot up your roof's lowest edge, stick one little side of the level onto your roof's side so that your leveling tool is the same angle as the ground. Get your measuring tape and figure out how long it is from your level's middle to the roof. Divide it by three if you're using a three foot level or two if you're using a two foot level. Write this down. You have now figured out your roof's rise.
Now get off the ladder and go up to the attic with the level and the measuring tape. Place the little edge of the level against an angled beam or gable. Your level should be sticking at an angle to the floor. Measure the distance from the middle of your level to the roof. Divide by two or three, depending on how long your level is. Write this down. You have the roof's run.
Rise and run help you figure out your slope. So you'll get answers like a pitch of 4 inches in a flat 12 inches, or 4 in 12. This is vital information to determine the cost of metal roofing. The website should tell what formula they use to determine your slope and thus how many square feet of roofing you need. This will give you a good idea of the cost of metal roofing.
