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Materials

Four metals. No hype.

Every roofing metal is a good answer to some brief and a poor answer to another. Compare them on what matters to you, then read the trade-offs we would tell you across the table.

Comparison table

Showing 4 of 4 materials, sorted by material name.

Steel, aluminium, zinc and copper compared on lifespan expectation, weight, cost tier, coastal suitability and noise. Tiers are relative, not prices.
MaterialLifespan expectationWeightCost tierCoastal suitabilityNoise under rain
AluminiumLight, corrosion-resistant, a natural choice near the coast.Many decades; excellent resistance to corrosionLightestModerate tierExcellent: does not rust, handles salt air wellSlightly livelier in heavy rain; detailing matters more
Coated steelThe workhorse: strong, broad colour choice, sensible cost.Many decades with a quality coating; the coating sets the clockLight to mediumLower tierFair: premium coating needed, cut edges need careQuiet over a solid deck and underlayment
CopperThe classic: warm at first, green over time, or kept brown.Among the longest-lived metals on roofsMediumHighest tierGood: patinates well in marine airQuiet; mass and softness help
ZincA living finish that darkens and self-heals as it weathers.Often cited among the longest-lived roofing metalsMediumHigh tierGood: performs well, but ask about the specific exposureQuiet; mass and softness help

Fuller bars mean a higher tier on that row: longer expectation, heavier, costlier, better near the coast, quieter. Tiers are relative Illustrative and describe typical products, not guarantees. Individual products, coatings and installations vary.

Trade-offs

What each metal gives and asks.

Coated steel

The workhorse: strong, broad colour choice, sensible cost.

In its favour

  • Widest range of finishes and profiles
  • Strong and dent-resistant for its cost
  • Most accessible entry point to a premium roof

Worth knowing

  • Scratches that expose bare steel need prompt touch-up
  • Weakest option within sight of salt water
  • Coating warranties are specific to the product and conditions

Aluminium

Light, corrosion-resistant, a natural choice near the coast.

In its favour

  • Does not rust, so suited to marine exposure
  • Lightest option, helpful on older structures
  • Takes a wide range of factory finishes

Worth knowing

  • Softer than steel and can dent more easily
  • Expands more with temperature, so clip design matters
  • Costs more than steel; price moves with the metal market

Zinc

A living finish that darkens and self-heals as it weathers.

In its favour

  • Develops a protective patina that can mask small scratches
  • Beautiful with batten and standing seam detailing
  • Lower embodied-maintenance story over a long life

Worth knowing

  • Needs skilled fabricators and traditional detailing
  • Appearance changes over the first years
  • Should not drain across unprotected copper or lead

Copper

The classic: warm at first, green over time, or kept brown.

In its favour

  • Proven long service record on historic and modern buildings
  • Weathering is part of the design; it is repairable by soldering
  • Recyclable at end of life

Worth knowing

  • Highest material cost and price volatility
  • Runoff can stain adjacent materials while the patina forms
  • Must be isolated from dissimilar metals such as aluminium

Discuss your roof

Not sure which fits? That is a normal place to start.

Choose Not sure yet in the estimator and see how the range spreads across all four.

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