Residential metal roofing continues to gain market share in the United States and Canada in what could be described as a marathon versus a sprint. Every year, homeowners who value better protection for one of the largest investments they will ever make in their lives—their home—turn to the more protective and resilient benefits of metal roofs.
Based on data from two independent research sources—FMI and Freedonia—the share of residential metal roofing in the United States continues to gain ground.
While shipments dipped slightly in 2023 due to a slower housing market, the industry now captures roughly 18 percent of the total residential roofing market. The reroofing market is particularly strong for metal roofing, which could be due to the increasing frequency of weather-related disasters—creating a growing demand for more resilient, longer-lasting building materials.
There is also no denying its importance to the overall metal industry: The residential metal roofing market now represents 84 percent of the total amount of metal roof square footage sold in the United States.
Metal roofing clearly does not have a demand problem; it is an exceedingly popular choice. That will be true not only in 2025 but beyond. So, what are some key things holding the industry back from reaching even greater potential? Here are some probable speed bumps for residential metal roofing and what the Metal Roofing
Alliance (MRA) and others in the industry are doing to overcome them.
Changing consumer perceptions about prices
The old adage, “You get what you pay for,” is true in metal roofing. Designed to last up to three times as long as inferior, more disposable materials such as asphalt, metal roofing’s long-term value is obvious; however, so is its higher upfront cost. Because consumers do not always think long-term, the urge to save money now by
going with something cheaper is hard to resist for homeowners, especially those who are not planning to stay in their homes forever.
Fortunately, the industry has new tools to help make the case for why a quality metal roof is worth it, even for homeowners who are not swayed by its longer-lasting, more durable, and protective nature—a message
about metal that MRA and our members continue to promote.
Like an auto loan or any other financing option, attractive options are now more readily available to help homeowners spread out the cost of a new metal roof over time. For many, this helps put a better-quality
roof within reach.
Other industry forces are also at play to help make metal roofing a more attractive option these days. Homeowners everywhere, especially in severe weather regions, face a home insurance crisis. Costs
keep rising, and, in some cases and places, it is nearly impossible to get coverage at all.
As climate change worsens, so will the strain on home insurers to cover homeowners living in high-risk areas.
However, using more durable materials like metal can help. Many home insurance companies prefer quality metal roofs and offer discounts to homeowners who install them. Why? Because most quality metal roofing systems are more resilient against high winds, offer a Class A rating (the highest possible) for wildfire, and
provide a Class 4 rating for hail damage protection (according to the UL Standard 2218 classification system).
Especially in hurricane and hail regions, where flying debris and severe impacts cause millions of dollars in rooftop damage every year, states like Florida and Texas use ratings such as the UL Standard 2218 classification for rebate programs.
Metal proves multi-functional roofs are no myth
Residential roofs take up a considerable amount of square footage, and homeowners have traditionally seen them as serving just one purpose: shielding a home and its contents. Now, homeowners are starting to realize their roofs can serve many purposes, such as a platform to install a rooftop solar or rain collection system.
Metal just so happens to be the ideal material for all these reasons, and, of course, these advantages also help make the case for why metal roofing is a wise investment.
Because quality metal outlasts solar panels (making it less likely your roof will fail before your panels do) and readily available mounting systems make them a “snap” to install, metal roofing is simply the best option for these types of solar panel systems. For dry and arid regions that continue to battle annual drought and
water shortages, metal provides a safe and effective platform for rainwater collection systems. It can also make a big difference in residential water supplies.
The MRA’s mission is to educate and inform homeowners about the sustainability benefits and how, by choosing metal, their roof can work twice as hard for their home.
Design knows no limits
The good news is that for 2025 and beyond, more metal roofing style options are available, and there are enough choices to win over virtually any type of homeowner. Pre-formed panels that look like other roofing products are trending. Stamped, patterned, stone coated, alloy options, custom shapes—if homeowners can dream it, they can get it with metal. There is no other roofing material in the world that offers so much style flexibility or comes in as many finishes or colors. That means homeowners never have to choose between great style and long-lasting, peace of mind performance.
As we look ahead to 2025, there is no doubt that the residential metal roofing industry is on track to exceed expectations.
By helping more consumers understand today’s metal roofing benefits and the options available to them, that growth will accelerate not just in the coming years but well into the future.
Renee Ramey is the executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA).
