Metal roofing has a long history dating back to Jerusalem in 970 BC The Old Testament states that King Solomon's temple had copper cladding on parts of the cedar roof. Hundreds of years later metal roofing arrived in the Virgin Islands. Metal roofing offered the benefits of resistance to the strong winds created by tropical hurricanes. Metal roofing also offered fire resistance and the ability to withstand earthquakes. It wasn't until 1892, when the Robert L. Merwin Company opened on St. Croix, that metal roofing became more widely available in the form of corrugated panels. The company was able to produce the panels more efficiently and economically, thus making metal roofing an attractive and popular choice. In the twentieth century, steel, advances in automation, and improved manufacturing techniques increased sales of foldable metal roofing. Metal roofs have found their way into commercial structures, agricultural buildings, and shacks in the South. However, metal roofing had its drawbacks. Metal roofing required constant maintenance to address leaks due to the expansion and contraction of the metal, as well as the application of coatings to reduce corrosion and rust. Another serious disadvantage was that metal roofing could be very noisy during rain and hail storms. Fast forward to the late 20th and 21st centuries, new metal roofing systems offer incredible advances in manufacturing, coating processes and economic feasibility. Metal roofing systems offer a wide variety of styles and colors, and improved manufacturing techniques to virtually eliminate the drawbacks of older metal roofing systems. Metal roofing systems are gaining popularity in the residential market in every region of the United States. One of the...... half of the sheet......00. Factoring in the 20% cost savings of the metal roofing system, your bill will reduce by $11,760. Saving over $11,000 will offset any cost difference in your new metal roofing system. Just to give you a basic price comparison, I will be using a mid-pitched gable dormer style roof, with a dimension of 24'x36' with no tear off included. This is an extremely simple pricing structure between systems. Contact your local dealer for an accurate quote for your area. Asphalt Roofing $7,300 Metal Shingles $14,600 Standing Seam $16,300 Tile (Spanish) $17,800 If you just look at the initial sticker price, metal roofing is much more expensive than asphalt shingles, but if you look at the overall scenario, including potential tax deductions, double the longevity of asphalt, energy savings, metal roofing systems become quite affordable.