When the quality of the finished project is so dependent on the quality of materials, as it is in metal roofing, you want to be certain that you’re choosing the right products at the right price. And while the exact range for metal coils and sheets will vary widely, there are a variety of factors that will dictate their cost.
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Sheffield Metals International (SMI) is a leading distributor of metal coils and sheets. Our main goal is to provide the industry with high-quality, reliable materials. Our relationships with contractors and their trust in our products allow them to focus on other aspects of the project, such as installation specifics and communication with the customer. Aside from supplying our customers with metal roofing products, we also create content in the form of articles, videos, and downloads.
In this article, we’ll look at the cost factors when it comes to buying metal coils and sheets, and which unique parts of your order — such as quantity, paint system, and custom colors, may impact the final price.
The most common metal roofing materials are Galvalume (bare and painted), aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and zinc.
Products that are more accessible and commonly used for metal roofs, such as galvalume and aluminum, tend to be cheaper, while specialty products, such as stainless steel, copper, and zinc, can be much more expensive.
Part of this is because many suppliers might not carry these types of products in the first place, making them more exclusive. Other materials, such as copper, are also rarer, which drives up the price due to scarcity.
Metal roofing suppliers tend to offer “standard” coil widths, though these may differ from supplier to supplier. If you need something cut to a custom dimension that does not fall within a standard width, it will likely cost more.
Thicker metals will cost more — 24-gauge metal, for instance, is more expensive than 26-gauge metal, but not by a huge margin. 24-gauge is the standard thickness used for standing seam metal roofs, as it offers more rigidity and strength than thinner metals, is less susceptible to oil canning, and is more likely to have available engineering and testing.
Although metal thickness will affect the cost of ordering coils and sheets, other considerations, such as the region you’re located in, can significantly impact the price.
Where you’re located and where you need your order delivered can play a large role in the final cost. If you’re located in an isolated region, freight may cost more since delivering your products requires more effort.
On the other hand, if your metal roofing supplier is local, you may be able to go to their location to get the products, which can eliminate the cost of freight entirely.
The markets in different regions will vary and often drive costs up or down. In areas where metal roofing is hot and many different suppliers are vying for market share, prices for materials might drop. More isolated regions, or areas where metal roofing isn’t as popular, could see fewer options and higher prices.
Keep in mind, however, that if product prices seem too good to be true, sometimes they might be, and you could be buying products that aren’t the quality you’re looking for. Be sure you’re doing your research and finding a reliable supplier with testimonials or references. When it comes to metal roofing, finding the right products is the key to ensuring you can offer customers what they want and are building projects that will last.
One of the more obvious factors regarding the final cost of ordering coils and sheets is the quantity you order. If you’re working on a commercial project, you’ll likely need a lot more materials than a residential job, so the cost will be higher. If you are ordering in bulk, however, you may be able to get discounts from your supplier. This will differ based on your unique supplier, and discounted bulk prices may not always be available.
The unique coating you choose for your metal, and the paint system, whether it’s polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or silicon modified polyester (SMP), will also affect the cost. PVDF is more expensive than SMP, as it’s a premium product with excellent color retention, chalking and fading resistance, better warranty coverage, and cool metal roofing properties.
Color choice may also play a role in the final cost, especially if it’s a custom color, as it will take time for the supplier to work with a paint company to match that color. Premium colors, metallics, and colors with a weathered finish also tend to have higher price points.
As with many raw materials, the price of coils and sheets will be based on the overall economy — supply chain issues, global events, and international conflicts. Some products are being shipped from around the world, so prices are very contingent on the whole system working in unity.
For instance, the metal roofing market recently experienced a shortage of PVDF in . PVDF is a metal roofing coating and is also used to make batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage solutions for renewable energy systems.
Recently, there was a renewed demand for PVDF, with major players entering the market. EV and battery manufacturers were willing to pay higher prices for PVDF, which meant that PVDF manufacturers were more motivated to sell to that industry.
Plus, China, historically one of the largest PVDF manufacturers, had limited the supply of PVDF they were exporting. This created a new challenge for the metal roofing industry and raised the cost of PVDF significantly.
While factors like this may not be in your control when ordering products, it’s something to keep in mind as you see prices shift.
Understanding the different pricing factors for metal coils and sheets can help you determine your budget and what to expect. Part of getting the right price, and the right products, comes down to finding a reliable, trusted metal roofing supplier.
Sheffield Metals has decades of experience in the industry and is dedicated to helping contractors meet their goals. Check out our additional content on ordering products from Sheffield Metals, or, if you’re ready, contact us today to place an order.
If you’re a contractor who installs standing seam metal roof and wall systems, you significantly rely on coil manufacturers and suppliers to provide high-quality material for your projects.
Whether you’re rollforming your own panels on-site or purchasing panels from a regional manufacturer, you might run into a supplier that is advertising a low price for what seems like a quality metal sheet and coil product.
However, these low-cost coil suppliers are often cutting corners, including lacking proper quality assurance procedures, supplying a lesser quality product, or offering little to no post-sales support, all of which can negatively affect you and your contracting business.
At Sheffield Metals, we don’t claim to be a low-cost coil supplier. We offer our metal products at a competitive price level, which allows us to:
In the article, we’re going to discuss the top six problems that your contracting business could encounter if you choose the low-cost metal coil supplier.
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The most apparent problem with buying from a low-cost coil supplier is that you run the risk of getting lower-quality metal to work with. This can cause issues in the long and short run, including premature failure, forming problems, little to no offered warranties, and more.
While this affects your customers directly, problems that stem from cheap, low-quality materials also reflect poorly on your business. It could stir up bad reviews, money and time lost in repairs, or worse.
Some common reasons that metal coil is offered at a lower price include:
Beyond problems with the metal substrate, a low-cost coil might also have a cheap or low-quality paint system coating the metal. The paint quality relies on the resin type, which affects the longevity of the color and overall system performance.
In the architectural standing seam metal roofing industry, most metal coils are expected to have a PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) resin coating system, commonly referred to as Kynar 500® or Hylar ®. PVDF resins are the best protective coatings available to stand up to extreme temperatures, sun exposure, oxygen, humidity, and even pollution particles in the atmosphere.
The minimum requirement for a PVDF paint system is 70% PVDF and 30% acrylic, but some suppliers sell products with less than 70% PVDF in the paint system. The lack of PVDF will cause the paint to fade faster and affect the overall color integrity, allowing a manufacturer to sell the metal at a low price.
SMP coatings are a step below PVDF in terms of quality. This resin consists of a combination mixture of polyester and silicone materials. SMPs are known to be a great option to defend against extreme weather conditions.
SMP is still a good paint system for many metal roofing applications, but in terms of warranties and longevity, PVDF is the clear winner. It’s critical to watch out for businesses that might be marketing or selling SMP coated coil as PVDF, which has happened with less credible suppliers.
All three of these resins, which you can read more in-depth about in this article, are available as coating options for metal sheet and coil. These products are all significantly cheaper than SMP and PVDF coated material because they don’t offer the same protection level.
Again, some suppliers may falsely advertise their coil as PVDF or SMP when it’s coated in a plastisol, polyester, or FEVE resin.
The good news is that there are some ways to tell if a paint system is trustworthy, including:
The third problem with cheap metal sheets and coils relates to engineering. Most reputable manufacturers test their metal coil and offer panel profile engineering, which means they adhere to many of the stringent testing standards and requirements used for residential and commercial projects.
Engineering requirements dictate the type of material used in testing. With lesser grade material that might have more inconsistencies due to a lack of quality control processes, it is hard to know if the material you are getting is what was actually tested, if there was any testing done at all.
Engineering is designed to not only keep your customer and their property safe, but it also keeps your contracting business safe. Having engineering can substantiate the performance of the roof you’re installing, so why wouldn’t you always want to use an engineered product?
For reference, make sure to ask if the supplier’s metal sheet or coil is usable for profiles that have passed and received the engineering reports for:
Another indicator of if a coil supplier is questionable or if their metal coil is subpar is whether they offer warranties, including paint/finish, substrate, and weathertight warranties.
It’s simple: Metal roofing should have a warranty of some kind. Metal is a high-quality product that comes at a higher price point than many other roof types, which is why reputable manufacturers will stand behind their products with warranties. Plus, not only should there be warranties offered, but the warranties should be straightforward as to what is and is not covered, and for how long.
As a contractor, warranties also set your business apart from your competitors, as warranties strengthen your credibility and trustworthiness to prospective customers.
While paint and substrate warranties are available with the metal sheet and coil upon purchase, the opportunity to offer a weathertight warranty for commercial roofing projects is a game-changer. It not only certifies that the products used on the roof are high-quality, but it verifies that your business correctly installs the high-performance roofing system. So, if a coil supplier can offer a weathertight warranty option, it’s more likely that they’re a credible business.
Additionally, all warranty documents should be easily accessible and/or available on a supplier’s website. If you’re unable to find this information or the supplier is vague about what they can offer, you should question their ability to provide quality products.
Some low-price coils and sheets are known to be incompatible with in-plant and portable rollforming machinery. Alternatively, if the cheaper coil will run through a rollforming machine, it might produce deformed or unusable panels.
Some examples of these occurrences include:
Finally, one of the most prevalent problems associated with buying low-cost metal is the lack of resources and assistance you can expect from the supplier. There is always a reason that the material is cheaper, and a lot of it relates to the support offered when you become a customer.
Some of the standard support issues we’ve come across with low-cost suppliers include:
Choosing the low-cost metal sheet and coil supplier could lead to more money lost in the long run. Plus, it’s typically not worth risking your reputation on choosing materials that are the lowest price.
So, if you’re in the market for buying metal sheet and coil products, the best thing to do is research and learn about the different manufacturers and options available to you. Then, use your best judgement to pick the supplier that suits you and your business.
To get you started, here are some questions you might consider asking:
Our main goal at Sheffield Metals is to help you grow your manufacturing or contracting business. We do this by providing you with the high-quality products you need to install and fabricate standing seam metal panel systems, as well as the engineering, support, and tools to help take your business to the next level.
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