Corrugated Metal Roofing Pricing

Professionally installed corrugated metal roofing in Nassau County typically runs $7.50 to $12.50 per square foot, depending on panel gauge, coatings, roof complexity, and whether you’re tearing off old shingles. A straightforward 1,500-square-foot ranch might land around $11,000 to $14,500 all-in, while a steeper colonial with dormers and valleys can push $15,000 to $18,500 for the same footprint. The real story lives in the line items-material costs are surprisingly consistent, but labor, tear-off, and site access are where quotes swing.

I’m Kelly Romano, and I’ve priced corrugated systems for fourteen years across Nassau, from simple garage caps in Massapequa to full coastal re-roofs near Jones Beach. My job is breaking that per-square-foot number into buckets you actually control: panel specs, underlayment, flashing, and the hidden stuff like dump fees and permit pulls. Let’s walk through exactly where your money goes.

What You’re Buying: Material vs. Labor Breakdown

Most homeowners assume corrugated metal is all about the panels. It isn’t. Materials make up 40 to 50 percent of your quote; the rest is labor, disposal, and the details that keep water out for thirty years instead of three. Here’s a typical installed cost split for a mid-range corrugated roof in Nassau County:

Notice how labor and tear-off together can match or exceed material costs. That’s why “cheap online panel prices” never tell the full story.

Five Factors That Move Your Corrugated Metal Roof Quote

1. Roof Size and Complexity

Square footage drives total cost, but shape drives per-square-foot pricing. A simple two-slope gable on a detached garage might install for $7.50/sq.ft. because the crew can run 16-foot panels straight up with minimal cutting. Compare that to a hip roof with four dormers, two chimneys, and a skylight-same square footage might hit $11/sq.ft. because every panel needs custom fitting, valleys need careful flashing, and trim work triples.

I quoted two 1,800-square-foot roofs in Wantagh last spring: the ranch came in at $13,800; the colonial next door with six roof planes and a turret ran $18,200. Same panels, same crew. Complexity costs.

2. Existing Roof Condition and Tear-Off

If you’re replacing worn-out shingles, budget $1.00 to $1.80 per square foot for tear-off and disposal. Nassau County dump fees are higher than inland NY, and if you’ve got two or three shingle layers (common on older homes), that number climbs. Rotten plywood or sheathing? Add another $2 to $4 per sheet to replace damaged sections.

Some contractors pitch “install over existing shingles” to save money. It’s legal on single-layer roofs if the deck is solid, but you’re adding weight and trapping moisture. On coastal properties near Freeport or Long Beach, I always recommend full tear-off-salt air and trapped condensation under metal will rot out sheathing faster than you’d guess.

3. Metal Type, Gauge, and Coating

Standard corrugated panels come in 26-gauge or 29-gauge galvanized steel. Thicker 26-gauge runs about 15 to 20 percent more but resists denting and oil-canning better-worth it on visible roofs or areas with heavy tree cover. Upgrade to Kynar 500 or similar high-performance paint finishes, and you’ll add $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot, but the color lasts twenty-five years instead of fading in twelve.

Aluminum corrugated panels cost 30 to 40 percent more than galvanized steel but won’t rust in salt environments. I spec aluminum for any home within two miles of the South Shore; the upfront premium disappears when you don’t need to replace rusted fasteners and panels at year fifteen.

4. Pitch, Height, and Access

Steep roofs (8:12 pitch or greater) slow crews down and require extra safety rigging, which adds $0.50 to $1.00 per square foot in labor. Multi-story homes need scaffolding or roof jacks; tight Nassau lots with no driveway staging mean hand-carrying panels around the house instead of crane-lifting bundles to the ridge.

A two-story colonial in Garden City with mature landscaping and a shared driveway? That’s easily 20 percent more labor than a ranch on a corner lot in Levittown with direct backyard access.

5. Underlayment, Flashing, and Storm Details

Cheap quotes skimp here. Quality corrugated installs use synthetic underlayment across the entire deck, plus ice-and-water shield at eaves, valleys, and around chimneys. Flashing gets custom-bent from the same gauge metal as your panels, not vinyl or thin aluminum that cracks in five winters.

I add an extra $0.40 to $0.70 per square foot for upgraded underlayments and proper metal flashing on Nassau County jobs because wind-driven rain off the Atlantic will find every shortcut. Homeowners who paid bottom-dollar three years ago are the ones calling for leak repairs now.

Real Project Scenarios: What Corrugated Metal Actually Costs Here

Scenario A: Detached Garage or Shed (500 Sq.Ft.)

Simple gable, low pitch, easy access. 26-gauge galvanized panels, basic trim, synthetic underlayment, full tear-off of old shingles. Total: $4,200 to $5,200 ($8.40 to $10.40/sq.ft.). Lower per-square-foot cost because there’s almost no waste, minimal flashing, and the crew knocks it out in a day.

Scenario B: Single-Family Ranch (1,500 Sq.Ft.)

Standard ranch with a front-to-back gable, one chimney, modest eave overhangs. 26-gauge painted panels, ice-and-water shield at eaves and chimney, tear-off of one shingle layer, minor deck repairs. Total: $11,500 to $14,000 ($7.70 to $9.30/sq.ft.). This is the sweet spot where corrugated competes head-to-head with architectural shingles on installed cost.

Scenario C: Two-Story Colonial with Dormers (2,200 Sq.Ft.)

Hip roof, three dormers, two chimneys, 9:12 pitch, tight side-yard access. 26-gauge Kynar-coated panels, aluminum flashing, upgraded underlayment, scaffolding, two-layer shingle tear-off. Total: $22,000 to $27,500 ($10 to $12.50/sq.ft.). Higher per-square-foot price reflects complexity, safety setup, and premium materials for long-term performance near the coast.

Where Corrugated Sits Among Your Roofing Options

Corrugated metal usually costs 10 to 25 percent more installed than basic architectural shingles but 20 to 35 percent less than standing seam metal. On a 1,500-square-foot roof, that’s the difference between $9,000 for mid-grade shingles, $12,500 for corrugated, and $16,500 for standing seam.

The trade-off: corrugated has exposed fasteners that need checking every few years, and the wavy profile looks more industrial than standing seam’s clean lines. But you get metal’s fire resistance, wind performance, and forty-plus-year lifespan without paying standing seam’s premium. For ranch homes, garages, and budget-conscious coastal properties, corrugated often hits the best value-per-dollar mark.

How to Avoid “Too Good to Be True” Quotes

When a corrugated quote comes in 30 percent below everyone else, here’s what’s usually missing:

• No tear-off included – they’re pricing an overlay without checking if your deck can handle it or code allows it.
• Thin 29-gauge panels with basic enamel – will dent, fade, and rust faster in Nassau’s climate.
• Minimal or no underlayment – just tar paper or skip it entirely, leaving you vulnerable to leaks at the first screw back-out.
• Cheap fasteners without proper gaskets – they’ll leak within two years and stain your panels.
• No permits or insurance – you’re on the hook if someone gets hurt or the town red-tags the job.

Ask every bidder to itemize materials by brand and spec, spell out what tear-off and underlayment are included, and confirm they’re pulling permits. A $9/sq.ft. quote with details beats a $7/sq.ft. quote that’s mostly labor and mystery panels.

Getting Your Actual Number

Online ranges help you budget, but your final corrugated metal roof cost needs an on-site visit. I measure total square footage, count roof planes and penetrations, check deck condition from the attic, note pitch and access, and photograph problem areas. Then we talk about panel options-gauge, finish, color-and I explain where spending an extra $800 on underlayment saves $3,000 in leak repairs five years out.

Bring any questions about how corrugated stacks up against shingles or standing seam for your specific home. My goal is giving you a clear, line-item quote and enough context to decide if corrugated makes sense for your budget and how long you plan to stay. No pressure, no upsells-just honest numbers and the logic behind them.

Common Cost Questions

Is corrugated metal always cheaper than standing seam?
Usually, yes-by 20 to 35 percent on most residential projects. But on very small or very simple roofs, the gap narrows because setup and material waste stay similar. For a 600-square-foot shed, corrugated might be $5,200 and standing seam $6,400; on a 2,500-square-foot house, corrugated could be $18,000 versus standing seam at $27,000.

Can I install corrugated over my existing shingles to save money?
Sometimes. If you have a single shingle layer, solid deck, and your town allows it, you can save that $1.00 to $1.80/sq.ft. tear-off cost. But you’re adding 2 to 3 pounds per square foot, trapping any moisture already in the deck, and giving up the chance to inspect and repair sheathing. I recommend it only on dry-climate outbuildings or when budget is absolutely locked-never on coastal Nassau homes.

Will corrugated metal lower my energy bills?
Reflective finishes and proper attic ventilation help, especially in summer, but the savings are modest-maybe $100 to $200 a year on a typical Nassau home. Don’t choose corrugated just for energy payback; choose it for durability, wind resistance, and lifespan, and treat any energy benefit as a bonus.

Do homes near the water pay more for corrugated roofing?
Often, yes. Within two miles of the South Shore, I spec aluminum panels or heavy Kynar coatings and stainless fasteners to resist salt corrosion, adding $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot. But you’ll recoup that by not replacing rusted panels and screws every decade. Coastal properties also see more wind-driven rain, so I upgrade underlayment and flashing-small upfront cost for major long-term protection.

Do you offer financing for corrugated metal roofing projects?
Many Nassau contractors work with financing partners offering 12- to 60-month plans, some with deferred interest. Ask about options when you get your quote; spreading a $14,000 corrugated roof over 24 months at low interest can make the upgrade from shingles much more manageable without draining savings.

Next Step: Get Your Real Price

You know the ballparks now-$7.50 to $12.50 per square foot installed, driven by roof size, complexity, materials, and Nassau County’s coastal conditions. To turn that range into a firm number, we need thirty minutes on-site to measure, inspect, and understand what you actually want from your new roof.

Call TWI Roofing or request a visit. We’ll walk your roof, show you panel samples, explain the line-item breakdown, and give you a written quote that covers materials, labor, tear-off, underlayment, flashing, permits-everything. Bring your questions about corrugated versus shingles or standing seam, about financing, about how long the roof will last in your neighborhood. We’ll answer them straight, because an informed homeowner makes better decisions and ends up happier five, ten, and thirty years down the road.