Key numbers
According to Remodeling's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a metal roof replacement in the Mountain region cost $46,579 and recouped 54.3% at resale (Remodeling / JLC (Zonda), 2025).
| 7,500 | In Colorado State University burn tests at 7,500 feet, plywood charring under Class A asphalt shingles was about three times the area under metal roofing, and about twice under synthetic shake. Source: Colorado State University / EPiC Series in Built Environment, 2021 |
|---|---|
| 9.69 million | Metal was the main roofing material on 9.69 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
Yes, a metal roof is one of the more eco-friendly choices for a Colorado Springs home. It lasts long enough to replace fewer roofs over the life of the house, steel and aluminum are recyclable when it finally comes off, a reflective finish keeps summer heat off the attic, and it is noncombustible in a city that requires Class A roofs. It is not a perfect answer: metal costs more up front, hail can dent it, and much of its benefit depends on the attic under it. Here is how the environmental case holds up in this climate.
The green case, point by point
| Benefit | How it works | How strong it is in Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer replacements | A long-life roof means fewer tear-offs going to the landfill | Strong; see our metal roof lifespan guide |
| Recyclable at the end | Steel and aluminum panels can be recycled as scrap | Strong |
| Reflects summer sun | Light and cool-pigment finishes reflect more sunlight; DOE lists cool metal products for steep and low slopes | Moderate; summers are milder than in hot climates |
| Wildfire | Metal is noncombustible; Class A assemblies are common | Strong near the foothills and in Black Forest |
| Rainwater | Smooth panels shed clean water to gutters and barrels | Useful within Colorado’s 110-gallon limit |
| Low upkeep | No coatings or treatments on most finishes | Moderate |
Fire: a local reason, not just a green one
PPRBD requires one- and two-family homes in the City of Colorado Springs to have at least a Class A roof covering, and Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code adds Class A requirements in mapped wildland-urban interface areas. A metal roof meets that easily. Our cedar shake fire hazard guide explains both rules.
Rainwater: what Colorado allows
Colorado’s rain barrel law, HB16-1005, lets a single-family home or a multi-family home with four or fewer units collect rain from the rooftop in up to two barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons. The water must be used outdoors, such as for lawns and gardens, on the property where it is collected. Metal roofs and seamless gutters make that easy; see how to choose a gutter system for a Colorado Springs home and gutter guards to keep needles out of the barrel.
Setting up rain barrels within the law
- Confirm the home qualifies: single-family, or multi-family with four or fewer units.
- Use no more than two barrels with a combined 110 gallons, with sealable lids.
- Collect only from the rooftop of the residence.
- Use the water outdoors on the same property, for lawns and gardens, not for drinking or indoor use.
The honest trade-offs
- Up-front cost. Metal usually costs more than asphalt. Our metal roof cost guide for Colorado Springs explains the drivers. Financing is available.
- Hail. Hail can dent metal without making it leak, and some policies exclude cosmetic damage. Read will insurance pay for a hail-dented metal roof before you decide.
- Asphalt is not a dead end. Owens Corning reports diverting 40 million pounds of used shingles into pavement since 2020 and aims to recycle two million tons of shingles a year in the U.S. by 2030. If asphalt fits your budget, the Class 4 shingle option is worth comparing.
- The attic still matters. A reflective roof over a poorly vented attic underperforms. See why attic ventilation matters.
For broader 2020s design and material shifts on Colorado Springs roofs, see which roofing trends have lasted.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800, book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection, or see metal roofing in Colorado Springs and standing seam metal roofs.
Sources: Colorado General Assembly, HB16-1005 Residential Precipitation Collection; U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Guide to Cool Roofs; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); Owens Corning newsroom, shingle recycling (Nov. 2, 2022); Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
Photos From Our Projects
