Which metal is best for a roof?
There is no best metal, only the right metal for a particular roof. This is a decision aid – from the cheapest solution to the longest service life.
- Sheet
- Best metal for a roof
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- 13 items
- Type
- advice article
Decision table
| If what matters most to you is… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| low cost | pre-painted galvanised steel | the cheapest coloured material, warranties of around 30 years |
| the longest possible life | titanium-zinc or copper | VMZINC 100 years (roofs), Aurubis more than 100 years |
| the traditional look of a historic house | copper, titanium-zinc | often required by the monuments board too |
| low weight | aluminium | light, does not rust |
| a more corrosive environment | aluminium, titanium-zinc, stainless steel | galvanised steel is used up faster in industrial areas |
| matching what is there | the same metal as the existing flashings | galvanic compatibility |
Things to think about
Other metals on the house. If there is copper on the roof, there must be no zinc, galvanised steel or aluminium below it. Pairs compared: material comparison.
Roof pitch. Metal roofing has a minimum pitch set by the manufacturer. At low pitches, standing seam roofing is used, if necessary with sealed seams.
Noise. Metal is noisier in rain than tiles. Continuous boarding and the roof build-up help.
Altitude. Ruukki halves its warranty periods for installations more than 900 m above sea level.
Prices for comparison
For one component (gutter, girth 333, KJG 8/2026, excl. VAT): galvanised steel €4.20, pre-painted €7.93, aluminium €8.70, stainless steel €12.02, titanium-zinc €13.49, copper €45.59 per metre. In detail: Materials.
Technical sources
The sources this sheet draws on. We checked prices and values from standards on the date shown; for prices, whatever the source currently states always applies. Sources marked “in Slovak” or “in Czech” are only available in that language.
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