In a recent comparison of metal roof systems verses built-up roof systems, metal earned excellent marks!
A general contractor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, commented in a newsletter about tremendous savings with metal roofs.
The contractor's company is a major developer of leased light industrial and warehouse structures from 6,000 to 150,000 sq. ft. buildings. Since the early 70's, they have constructed 589,000 sq. ft. of buildings (61% with metal roof systems), and 372,000 sq. ft. (39% with built -up roofs). Over a 16 year period, their total mantenance cost for metal roof systems was $4,000 or $250 for each year. Of the $4,000 cost, $2,000 was spent for a one time roof panel replacement caused by condensation from roof mounted air-conditioning units (a problem which has since been eliminated). On the buildings with the built-up roofs, over a 16 year period, the maintenance cost was $600,000 or $37,000 per year. This translates into a sq. ft. cost for metal roof system's maintenance at 4 thousanths of a cent per sq. ft., and the built-up roof systems at 10 cents per sq. ft. The developer expects to replace all the built up roofs within the next 5 years with metal roofing.
