Speaking of Roofs

-A metal roof can be damaged by hail, but it takes a lot. Metal roofs have the highest impact resistance rating of all roofing materials. Make sure to check the rating for your roof material, as some metals are stronger than others
-A metal roof is fire safe. Metal is non-combustible and roofing has the highest fire safe rating of all roofing materials
-A metal roof can rust, but most metal roofs come with a 50+ year guarantee that they will not. Look for Galvalume
-A metal roof can resist winds in excess of 120 mph
-Colored metal roofs may fade, but it is uncommon. Usually discolorations are due to dirt and debris. Use a garden hose with a sprayer to rinse the roof or wait for rain to wash it. After rinsing the roof will look like new again
-A metal roof reflects heat, keeping the house cooler in the hot months. In the colder months a metal roof keeps the home warmer by keeping in the heat below
-A metal roof is also resistant to insects, rotting, and mold that other roofing materials are damaged by
-Overall a metal roof is expected to last the lifetime of the house if quality material is used and it is installed correctly

*Whether buying colored sheets of tin or not, it is best to buy from a company that has been in business for several years and has a good reputation. I recommend MBCI. They have a location in San Antonio and Houston, but they ship everywhere.

Looks like you've already made your decision, and I wanted to say it's a good one! Just wanted to echo what a previous poster said. Metal roofs can get hail dents, just like a car, especially if you go with something like standing seam. My husband is a metal building contractor, and when we built our house, I really wanted standing seam, but we live in and area that get's lots of hail as well. The alternative we decided on was to use the same metal sheets that are used between the floors on skyscrapers. It's called concrete decking. It's practically indestructable! It's just a dull galvanized color, so we painted it with an apoxy paint that's supposed to last like 15 years. But if you don't care about the color, then you could get away with just sealing it so it doesn't rust. I'm telling you, the gauge on it is SO much thicker than the regular metal roofing sheets. What ever you decide, I hope you love it!

My husband is in the property damage appraisal business. Get the metal roof!

We have a neighbor that put of a green metal roof some years ago and it looks like new, we live outside of Boston and get lots of snow and freezing rain and hot sun. I think it certainly withstands ice dams a lot better than a traditional roof since the ice cannot penetrate the roof and get into your attic. I will be reading you responses with interest since we are almost ready for a new roof as well.

You have received a ton of good info, I can only add one thing. If at all possible, run all of your bath, kitchen, and laundry exhaust vents through the attic to join into one single exterior outlet that penetrates laterally to the outside through the wall below the edge of the roof. Each metal roof "penetration" for a roof mount exhaust vent is approx $250 extra labor added to the roof install, and each roof penetration is an opportunity for a leak to develop. Also, the finish on most metal roofing materials is not "paint" but is "powdercoat" which is a powdered color that is applied electrostatically and does not fade as a liquid application does and is much more durable.

If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association, check to see what the requirements are for a roof and what you are permitted to use. An unpainted roof or a metal roof might not meet their building standards.

We were told to stay away from the metal roof. The color does fade and they do get damaged. So when you need to replace a panel, unless you get it from the original manufacturer (they don't always stay in business after a few years) then the new panel won't match. I would have a hard time believing it would uphold to a lot of hail damage w/o some dings here & there.

I hope whatever you go with works out great for you!

Your insurance company will probably add a "cosmetic damage" clause to your policy. That means it will not replace a roof because it gets a little banged up, which would take some huge hail falling for quite a while. I've seen a green metal roof that peeled but it was put on probably 20 years ago. Hopefully they've improved the "painted" ones! I've seen a blue one and a red one that have been on at least 10 years and they both still look great!