By The Roofing Brief Team | Last reviewed: October 2026
Red metal roofing is sold under at least 18 red-family color names across eight makers’ charts and listings, and the numbers behind those names spread wider than the swatches suggest. Initial solar reflectance runs from 0.24 (Drexel Metals Burgundy) to 0.49 (Metl-Span Brite Red), and the fade warranty on a red roof runs from 10 years (Drexel Cardinal Red) to 35 years (Metal Sales PVDF). This page compiles the makers’ own color charts and warranty forms, dated 2020 to 2026, so you can choose a red by its numbers.
Red metal roofing: key numbers at a glance
A standard red costs the same per foot as other standard painted colors at most panel dealers (.87 per linear foot for 29 ga Union MasterRib at PBS Direct on October 19, 2026), but its fade warranty and its heat numbers change with the exact color code and paint system. The seven figures below are the ones buyers ask about first; each is sourced to a maker document, a code table or a dated retail listing, and each is broken down in the sections that follow.
| Question | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Solar reflectance of current maker reds | 0.24 (Drexel Burgundy) to 0.49 (Metl-Span Brite Red) | Drexel chart Rev 08-25; Metl-Span Cool Roof Data v4.4 |
| Longest roof fade warranty on a red | 35 years, max 5 Hunter units | Metal Sales PVDF System Warranty, Sept 2026 |
| Shortest fade warranty found on a red | 10 years (Cardinal Red, an “Exotic”) | Drexel Metals color chart Rev 08-25 |
| Fade allowed on roofs vs walls, SMP | 6 to 7 units on roofs vs 5 on walls | Metal Sales MS Colorfast45; Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL |
| Red 29 ga ribbed panel vs bare Galvalume | $3.87 vs $3.06 per linear foot | PBS Direct, Union MasterRib, Oct 19, 2026 |
| Installed cost, exposed fastener vs standing seam | $6 to $10 vs $10 to $18 per sq ft | 2026 Roofing Cost Report |
| California steep-slope reroof minimum (zones 4, 8 to 15) | Aged SR 0.20 and emittance 0.75, or SRI 16 | 2022 Title 24 Part 6, sec. 150.2(b)1Ii (CRRC summary) |
Which red metal roof colors do the makers sell?
Eight panel and coil makers chart or list at least 18 red-family colors, split between bright reds (Brite Red, Scarlet Red, Patriot Red, Cardinal Red, Regal Red, Deep Red) and darker barn and brick reds (Colonial Red, Rustic Red, Red, Burgundy, Wine Red, Brandywine, Crimson Red). The table gives each maker’s published initial solar reflectance (SR), thermal emittance and solar reflectance index (SRI), with the paint system and document date.
| Maker and document | Color (code) | Paint system | Initial SR | Emittance | SRI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sales, 26 and 29 ga Eastern color guides (Sept 2026) | Red (24) | MS Colorfast45 SMP | 0.37 | 0.86 | 39 |
| Metal Sales, 26 and 29 ga Eastern (Sept 2026) | Patriot Red (73), upcharge | MS Colorfast45 SMP | 0.32 | 0.86 | 33 |
| Metal Sales, 26 and 29 ga Eastern (Sept 2026) | Burgundy (15) | MS Colorfast45 SMP | 0.25 | 0.86 | 24 |
| Metal Sales, 24 ga color guide (Sept 2026) | Patriot Red (73) | PVDF | 0.46 | 0.86 | 52 |
| Metal Sales, 24 ga color guide (Sept 2026) | Colonial Red (W75) | PVDF | 0.35 | 0.86 | 37 |
| McElroy Metal, cool metal roofing page (checked Oct 2026) | Brite Red | Kynar 500 PVDF | 0.42 | 0.84 | 45 |
| McElroy Metal | Colonial Red | Kynar 500 PVDF | 0.33 | 0.85 | 34 |
| McElroy Metal | Autumn Red | Kynar 500 PVDF / SMP | 0.31 / 0.35 | 0.85 / 0.86 | 35 / 37 |
| McElroy Metal | Brandywine | Kynar 500 PVDF / SMP | 0.26 / 0.33 | 0.85 / 0.87 | 24 / 35 |
| McElroy Metal | Terra Cotta | Kynar 500 PVDF | 0.35 | 0.85 | 36 |
| Met-Tile colors on McElroy’s page | Bravo Red / Spanish Tile Red / Morocco Red | Not stated | 0.46 / 0.35 / 0.27 | 0.86 | 52 / 37 / 26 |
| Drexel Metals color chart Rev 08-25 (values from Sherwin-Williams) | Cardinal Red (Exotic) | Not stated on chart | 0.44 | Not listed | 49 |
| Drexel Metals Rev 08-25 | Colonial Red / Terra Cotta / Burgundy | Not stated on chart | 0.34 / 0.35 / 0.24 | Not listed | 36 / 37 / 22 |
| Englert, PPG Energy Star listing (undated) | Deep Red (BN4R126B) | PPG coil coating | 0.413 | 0.86 | 45 |
| Englert, PPG listing | Colonial Red (870R4) / Burgundy (870R5) | PPG coil coating | 0.368 / 0.293 | 0.87 / 0.86 | 27 printed / 29 |
| Sheffield Metals, 24 ga card (June 2020) | Regal Red / Colonial Red / Burgundy | PVDF | 0.42 / 0.30 / 0.25 | 0.83 / 0.85 / 0.85 | 45 / 30 / 23 |
| Metl-Span (Nucor), Cool Roof Data v4.4 (Nov 2022) | Brite Red / Colonial Red | Premium I PVDF | 0.49 / 0.34 | 0.84 / 0.86 | 55 / 35 |
| Metl-Span, Cool Roof Data v4.4 | Rustic Red / Crimson Red | Premium SMP | 0.37 / 0.32 | 0.86 / 0.87 | 39 / 33 |
| ABC (American Building Components) color chart (Sept 2024) | Scarlet Red, Rustic Red, Wine Red | Signature 200 SMP | Not printed; ABC states all Signature colors are CRRC-1 compliant | ||
| ABC color chart (Sept 2024) | Brite Red, Colonial Red | Signature 300 PVDF, low gloss | Not printed; CRRC-1 compliant per ABC | ||
| Union Corrugating MasterRib, 29 ga (PBS Direct listing, Oct 2026) | Scarlet Red, Wine Red, Rustic Red | 45-year SMP finish warranty | Not printed on the listing | ||
Sheffield’s 24 gauge web card posted in January 2025 prints Colonial Red at 0.25 initial SR and SRI 22, the identical values it prints for 16 colors including Matte Black and Dark Bronze, so the 2020 figures above are used as the color-specific measurement. For the same comparison across every color family, see our metal roof colors guide.
What color is barn red on a metal roof?
Barn red is a sales nickname, not a maker color code. The top Google result for “red metal roofing” on October 19, 2026 was a Southeastern Building Products listing titled Barn Red that sells a 29 gauge Rustic Red panel, and the closest charted matches are Rustic Red (ABC, Union MasterRib, Metl-Span at SR 0.37), Metal Sales Red (24) at SR 0.37, and Colonial Red, which all seven makers with published charts sell.
Colonial Red is the one red you can source from every one of those makers, which matters when a barn roof and a house roof on the same farm come from different suppliers. Sheffield Metals describes its Colonial Red as a medium-dark red between its brighter Regal Red and its darker Burgundy. For barn reds on exposed-fastener panels specifically, our corrugated metal roof colors page covers profile and gauge availability.
Same color name, different numbers
A color name does not carry its numbers from one maker to the next, or even from one paint system to the next. Metal Sales sells Patriot Red under the same code (73) in two systems: 0.32 SR on 26 and 29 gauge MS Colorfast45 SMP and 0.46 on 24 gauge PVDF, so the SMP version absorbs 68 percent of incoming sunlight and the PVDF version 54 percent.
| Color name | Lowest published SR | Highest published SR | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Red | 0.30 (Sheffield, 2020) | 0.368 (Englert, PPG listing) | 0.068 |
| Brite Red | 0.42 (McElroy, PVDF) | 0.49 (Metl-Span, PVDF) | 0.07 |
| Burgundy | 0.24 (Drexel) | 0.293 (Englert) | 0.053 |
| Patriot Red (Metal Sales 73) | 0.32 (SMP) | 0.46 (PVDF) | 0.14 |
| Brandywine (McElroy) | 0.26 (PVDF) | 0.33 (SMP) | 0.07 |
One printed value does not reconcile. Englert’s PPG listing gives Colonial Red (870R4) a solar reflectance of 0.368 and emittance of 0.87 but an SRI of 27; by the ASTM E1980 medium-wind method those two inputs work out to an SRI of about 40 (Roofing Brief calculation, the same method that reproduces Metal Sales’ printed SRI of 39 for Red (24) at 0.37 and 0.86). If SRI matters for a permit or a LEED submittal, ask Englert which figure is current.
Does red metal roofing fade?
Red metal roofing fades, and the paint warranty is where each maker states how much fade it allows on a roof. Metal Sales warrants its PVDF reds to 5 Hunter units over 35 years; its MS Colorfast45 SMP allows 6 units on roofs over 30 years; Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL SMP allows 7 units on roofs over 30 years; and Drexel Metals limits Cardinal Red to a 10-year color fade warranty.
| Paint system (document) | Film integrity | Chalk limit, roof / wall | Fade limit, roof / wall | Salt water distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sales PVDF, 70% Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000 | 45 years | 8 rating for 35 years (no split) | 5 Hunter units for 35 years (no split) | Beyond 1,500 ft | PVDF System Warranty 260601, Sept 2026 |
| Metal Sales MS Colorfast45 SMP (26 and 29 ga) | 45 years | 7 / 8 rating for 30 years | 6 / 5 NBS units for 30 years | Beyond 1,100 yards | MS Colorfast45 Warranty 260601, Sept 2026 |
| Metal Sales ColorFit40 SMP (29 ga) | 40 years, 100% to year 30, 50% at year 31, 5% at year 40 | 6 / 8 rating for 20 years | 7 / 5 NBS units for 20 years | Beyond 1,100 yards | ColorFit40 Warranty 20260601 |
| Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL SMP | 40 years | 6 / 8 rating for 30 years | 7 / 5 Hunter units for 30 years | See form exclusions | 40-year WeatherXL warranty form (copy dated Apr 2023) |
| Drexel Metals standard colors | 35-year paint warranty on Galvalume and aluminum | Exotics, including Cardinal Red: 10-year color fade warranty | Not stated on chart | Drexel color chart Rev 08-25 | |
McElroy Metal’s warranty guide gives the red-specific warning in plain terms: a bright red roof could chalk or fade to a muted pink or white while the film stays intact, so a claim made under film-integrity coverage would be denied. That is why the chalk and fade lines, not the 40 or 45 year headline, decide how long a red roof is covered for color.
Sheffield Metals’ June 2020 card said coating warranty “varies for Regal Red”; its January 2025 card drops Regal Red from that list and names only Moonstone, Matte Black, Copper, Champagne, Silver and Pre-Weathered Galvalume. Sheffield’s red metal roofing article (March 2023) states that all of its reds now carry the same chalk and fade coverage as most stocked colors.
How a fade claim is measured
Fade is measured with ASTM D2244 color-difference readings on a test area washed with 28/24 mesh cheesecloth, distilled water and mild detergent, then compared against the original or an unexposed painted surface (Metal Sales warranty test procedure; Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL form). Chalk is rated on ASTM D4214 Method A, where 10 means no chalk, so a roof limit of 6 allows more chalk than a wall limit of 8.
Two exclusions matter on farm buildings. Metal Sales’ Colorfast45, ColorFit40 and PVDF warranties and the Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL form all exclude panels stored or installed so they contact animals or animal waste, and the Metal Sales forms exclude atmospheres contaminated with chemical fumes or salt spray. Metal Sales’ warranties are also nonassignable, so coverage does not pass to the next owner of the building.
How hot does a red metal roof get?
A red metal roof absorbs 51 to 76 percent of incoming sunlight, depending on the color code: Metl-Span Brite Red reflects 0.49 and Drexel Burgundy 0.24. Under the ASTM E1980 reference conditions (1,000 W per square meter of sun, 98°F air, medium wind), that spread is worth about 19°F of surface temperature between Metal Sales Burgundy (15) and Metal Sales Patriot Red (73) in PVDF.
| Metal Sales color (system) | Initial SR | Emittance | Printed SRI | Modeled surface temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgundy (15), SMP | 0.25 | 0.86 | 24 | 164°F |
| Patriot Red (73), SMP | 0.32 | 0.86 | 33 | 158°F |
| Black (06), SMP, for comparison | 0.33 | 0.85 | 34 | 157°F |
| Red (24), SMP | 0.37 | 0.86 | 39 | 154°F |
| Patriot Red (73), PVDF | 0.46 | 0.86 | 52 | 145°F |
| Bright White (39), SMP, for comparison | 0.64 | 0.85 | 76 | 128°F |
The temperatures are a Roofing Brief calculation: a steady-state energy balance using the ASTM E1980 reference sun, 98°F air, 80°F sky and a convection coefficient of 12 W per square meter per kelvin, with SR and emittance from Metal Sales’ September 2026 guides. Real roofs run cooler at night and in wind and hotter on still afternoons; the ranking between colors is the useful part. On Metal Sales’ chart, Patriot Red in SMP runs within 1°F of the maker’s Black (06).
Color as the eye sees it and solar reflectance are different measurements. Metl-Span lists Brite Red at a light reflectance value (LRV) of 7.01, darker to the eye than its Rustic Red at 9.13, yet Brite Red’s solar reflectance is 0.49 against Rustic Red’s 0.37, because SR covers the near-infrared part of sunlight that the eye does not see. For more measured values by roof type, see our roofing solar reflectance and SRI reference.
Does a red metal roof meet cool-roof rules?
Most published reds clear California’s steep-slope reroof minimum, but only with a Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) listing. Under 2022 Title 24 Part 6, sec. 150.2(b)1Ii, a single-family steep-slope reroof in climate zones 4 and 8 to 15 needs an aged SR of at least 0.20 and emittance of 0.75, or an SRI of 16 (CRRC summary, December 2022). Metl-Span’s aged values for Colonial Red (0.33) and Crimson Red (0.32) clear that bar.
The catch is certification. Section 110.8(i)1, Exception 1, assigns an uncertified non-asphalt roofing product a default aged SR of 0.10 and emittance of 0.75, so an unlisted red panel fails the 0.20 test on paper even if it reflects 0.37. Ask for the CRRC product ID; Metl-Span prints them on its data sheet (Brite Red 0786-0013, Colonial Red 0786-0014). California’s 2025 energy code took effect January 1, 2026, so confirm the current section number with your building department, or check our cool roof mandates by city report.
For LEED v4.1, Sheffield’s 2025 card summarizes the steep-slope test as an initial SRI of at least 39 or a 3-year SRI of at least 32. Reds that clear the initial-SRI path on their makers’ charts: Metl-Span Brite Red (55), Metal Sales Patriot Red PVDF (52), Drexel Cardinal Red (49), McElroy Brite Red (45), Englert Deep Red (45) and Metal Sales Red (24) at exactly 39. No federal credit applies to a 2026 metal roof: the 25C credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (Public Law 119-21, sec. 70505).
How much does red metal roofing cost?
Red metal roofing usually costs the same as any other standard painted color. On October 19, 2026, PBS Direct priced Union Corrugating MasterRib 29 gauge panels in Scarlet Red, Wine Red and Rustic Red at $3.87 per linear foot, the same as Charcoal Grey and Bright White, against $3.06 for bare Galvalume. Installed, exposed-fastener metal runs $6 to $10 per square foot and standing seam $10 to $18.
| Panel (PBS Direct, Oct 19, 2026) | Listed price | Per linear ft | 20 ft sheet (calc) | Per sq ft of 36 in coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MasterRib 29 ga, red, 45-year finish, 16 ft fixed length | $61.92 | $3.87 | $77.40 | $1.29 |
| MasterRib 26 ga, Rustic Red, 45-year finish, 16 ft fixed length | $76.32 | $4.77 | $95.40 | $1.59 |
| MasterRib 26 ga, cut-to-length listing | $6.57 per ft | $6.57 | $131.40 | $2.19 |
| MasterRib 29 ga, bare Galvalume, 25-year, 16 ft fixed length | $48.96 | $3.06 | $61.20 | $1.02 |
Fixed lengths at PBS Direct stop at 16 ft, so a 20 ft sheet is a cut-to-length order; the 29 gauge cut-to-length listing shows $3.87 per foot, matching the fixed-length rate. Per square foot of coverage is the per-foot price divided by 3 ft of panel width. Prices exclude ridge cap, trim, closures, screws, freight and tax.
Worked example: red panels for a 60 ft barn roof
A gable barn roof 60 ft long with 16 ft panels on each slope takes 40 MasterRib panels (60 ft divided by 3 ft coverage is 20 per slope) and covers 1,920 sq ft. At PBS Direct’s October 19, 2026 prices, red 29 gauge panels cost $518.40 more than bare Galvalume, a 26.5 percent premium for the paint and its 45-year finish warranty.
| Line | Red, 29 ga | Rustic Red, 26 ga | Bare Galvalume, 29 ga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels x price (16 ft) | 40 x $61.92 | 40 x $76.32 | 40 x $48.96 |
| Panel cost | $2,476.80 | $3,052.80 | $1,958.40 |
| Per sq ft of roof (1,920 sq ft) | $1.29 | $1.59 | $1.02 |
| Difference vs Galvalume | +$518.40 | +$1,094.40 | Baseline |
Upcharge colors are the exception to same-price reds. Metal Sales’ September 2026 26 and 29 gauge guides flag Patriot Red (73) and Native Copper (190) with an upcharge, while Red (24) and Burgundy (15) are standard. ABC’s 2024 chart applies an upcharge to metallic colors such as Copper Metallic, not to its reds.
Installed cost for a red metal roof
Installed price follows the panel system, not the red. Using the 2026 Roofing Cost Report rates of $6 to $10 per square foot for exposed-fastener metal and $10 to $18 for standing seam, the table converts common roof sizes; a 2,000 sq ft house often has more roof surface than floor area once pitch and overhangs are counted.
| Roof surface | Exposed fastener ($6 to $10) | Standing seam ($10 to $18) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft (15 squares) | $9,000 to $15,000 | $15,000 to $27,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft (20 squares) | $12,000 to $20,000 | $20,000 to $36,000 |
| 2,200 sq ft (22 squares) | $13,200 to $22,000 | $22,000 to $39,600 |
| 3,000 sq ft (30 squares) | $18,000 to $30,000 | $30,000 to $54,000 |
For regional pricing and the cost of tear-off, underlayment and trim, see our metal roof cost guide. On Metal Sales’ September 2026 guides, the PVDF reds (Colonial Red W75 and Patriot Red 73) sit on the 24 gauge PVDF guide, while the 26 and 29 gauge guides list MS Colorfast45 SMP, so a PVDF red from Metal Sales usually means a 24 gauge panel.
Which red should you pick for a barn or a house?
Pick the paint system first and the shade second. For a roof you expect to keep 30 years or more, a PVDF red on 24 gauge (Metal Sales Colonial Red W75 or Patriot Red 73, McElroy Brite Red) gives the longest fade coverage; for a 29 gauge barn, an SMP red such as Metal Sales Red (24) or MasterRib Rustic Red keeps cost at $3.87 per foot.
| If your project is | Choose | Why (source) |
|---|---|---|
| A house roof kept 30+ years | PVDF red: Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75) or Patriot Red (73), McElroy Brite Red | 5 Hunter units over 35 years, roof and wall alike (Metal Sales PVDF warranty) |
| A 29 ga barn or shed roof on a budget | SMP red: Metal Sales Red (24), MasterRib Rustic Red or Scarlet Red | $3.87 per ft; 30-year fade at 6 units on roofs (MS Colorfast45) |
| A livestock barn | Any red, but read the animal-contact exclusion | Metal Sales and WeatherXL forms exclude panels in contact with animals or animal waste |
| A storefront in a bright brand red | Drexel Cardinal Red (SRI 49) or another bright red | 10-year fade warranty; Sheffield notes many retail brands refresh stores within 20 years |
| A California reroof in climate zones 4, 8 to 15 | A CRRC-listed red with aged SR of at least 0.20 | Title 24 Part 6, sec. 150.2(b)1Ii; unlisted products default to 0.10 |
| A LEED project | A red with initial SRI of 39 or more: Metl-Span Brite Red 55, Metal Sales Patriot Red PVDF 52 | LEED v4.1 steep-slope threshold as summarized by Sheffield (2025) |
| A site within 1,100 yards of salt water | PVDF, if the site is beyond 1,500 ft, or a coastal aluminum product | Metal Sales SMP coverage void within 1,100 yards; Union offers a 30-year aluminum coastal warranty |
| A Spanish or Mission style house | Terra Cotta (Drexel SR 0.35, McElroy SR 0.35) or a tile-profile red such as Spanish Tile Red | Sheffield lists Spanish style as a fit for darker reds |
If you want the clay look itself, our guide to red roof tile compares clay, concrete and stone-coated steel. If an HOA or a historic district commission reviews roof color, submit the maker’s chip with its color code, such as Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75), since approval of “red” does not fix which of the 18 reds is installed.
Siding and trim pairings for a red metal roof
Pairings below are editorial suggestions built from colors on the same maker’s chart, so roof, walls and trim can be ordered under one set of codes, such as Metal Sales Red (24) with Bright White (39) trim. Sheffield Metals names two standard agricultural schemes: a red roof over white, gray or beige siding, or red walls under a gray, black or brown roof.
| Roof | Walls | Trim | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sales Red (24) | Bright White (39) | Bright White (39) | Classic white-sided barn |
| Metal Sales Burgundy (15) | Light Stone (63) | Brown (12) | Muted farmstead |
| Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75), PVDF | Snowdrift White (W81) or Sandstone (W51) | Dark Bronze (50) | Farmhouse or Colonial house |
| Metal Sales Charcoal (17) | Red (24) | Bright White (39) | Reversed barn scheme, red on walls |
| ABC Rustic Red (Signature 200) | Polar White | Burnished Slate | Post-frame shop or barn |
Red on walls carries a tighter fade limit than red on the roof under the SMP forms: 5 units on vertical panels against 6 (MS Colorfast45) or 7 (WeatherXL) on roofs. For red asphalt instead of metal on the house itself, see our red shingles page.
How to order a red metal roof so the color matches
Most red-roof disappointments trace to an order that named a color but not the code, paint system or warranty form, and on Metal Sales’ own forms the roof fade term runs 20 years under ColorFit40 against 35 years under PVDF. These seven steps use the makers’ own documents to lock down the red you were shown, from the quote through the warranty file.
- Write the full color spec on the quote. Name the maker, color, code, paint system and gauge, for example “Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75), PVDF, 24 ga”. Patriot Red (73) reflects 0.32 in SMP and 0.46 in PVDF, so the code alone is not enough.
- Get the warranty form for that paint system and read the roof lines. Compare non-vertical chalk and fade limits: 5 units for 35 years (Metal Sales PVDF), 6 units for 30 years (MS Colorfast45), 7 units for 20 years (ColorFit40).
- Ask for the CRRC product ID if you build in California climate zones 4 and 8 to 15. An unlisted product defaults to an aged SR of 0.10 under sec. 110.8(i)1.
- Approve from a metal chip, not a screen. ABC states that final color selection should be made from metal color chips, and Metal Sales says swatches are limited by printing and viewing conditions, with actual samples available by request.
- Order panels, trim, ridge cap and painted screws together. Metal Sales’ September 2026 26 and 29 gauge color guides note that not all colors are stocked at all branches and that custom colors carry additional lead time, so an add-on order months later may be filled from a different branch or run.
- Touch up only with the maker’s matched paint. Sheffield specifies its color-matched PVDF air-dry paint pen for touch-up on its panels.
- File the paperwork and an offcut. Keep the invoice, the warranty form and an unexposed scrap, because fade is judged against the original or unexposed surface, and Metal Sales’ forms do not transfer to a later owner.
Frequently asked questions
Is a red metal roof a good idea?
It can be, if you buy the red by its paint system rather than its name. A PVDF red such as Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75) carries a 35-year, 5 Hunter unit fade warranty, while Drexel Metals Cardinal Red is an Exotic with a 10-year fade warranty. Heat is mid-range: current maker reds reflect 0.24 to 0.49 of sunlight, against 0.64 for Metal Sales Bright White (39).
What is the least expensive metal roof color?
Unpainted Galvalume is the cheapest finish. PBS Direct listed 29 gauge Union MasterRib in bare Galvalume at $3.06 per linear foot on October 19, 2026, against $3.87 for every standard painted color, reds included. Among painted colors, standard reds cost the same as grays and whites, while premium codes such as Metal Sales Patriot Red (73) on 26 and 29 gauge carry an upcharge.
How much is a 20 ft sheet of metal roofing?
A 20 ft, 36 inch coverage sheet of 29 gauge painted ribbed steel comes to about $77 at PBS Direct’s October 19, 2026 cut-to-length rate of $3.87 per foot for Union MasterRib, which includes Scarlet Red, Wine Red and Rustic Red. Bare Galvalume at $3.06 per foot is about $61, and 26 gauge red runs about $95 to $131 depending on fixed or custom length pricing.
Does red metal roofing fade?
Yes. Every paint system fades, and the warranty states how much is allowed. Metal Sales PVDF allows 5 Hunter units over 35 years; its MS Colorfast45 SMP allows 6 units on roofs over 30 years; Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL SMP allows 7 units on roofs over 30 years. Drexel Metals limits Cardinal Red, which it classes as an Exotic, to a 10-year color fade warranty.
What color metal roof fades the least?
Judge fade by warranty terms, not by color name. Metal Sales’ September 2026 PVDF warranty gives every color on its standard PVDF guide, including Colonial Red (W75) and Patriot Red (73), the same 35-year, 5 Hunter unit fade limit. Colors with shortened or separate coverage, such as Drexel’s Exotics or Sheffield’s Matte Black and metallic finishes, are where the extra fade risk sits.
What roof color goes on a red barn?
Sheffield Metals describes two standard agricultural schemes: a red roof over white, gray or beige siding, or red walls under a gray, black or brown roof. In Metal Sales codes that means Red (24) panels over Bright White (39) walls, or Red (24) walls under Charcoal (17). Red walls get the tighter vertical fade limit on MS Colorfast45: 5 units instead of 6.
What color house goes best with a red metal roof?
White, cream, gray and tan siding let a red roof lead. Within one maker’s chart, Metal Sales Colonial Red (W75) pairs with Snowdrift White (W81) or Sandstone (W51), and Burgundy (15) with Light Stone (63). Sheffield Metals lists Craftsman, Colonial, Cape Cod, Bungalow, Victorian and Spanish styles as fits for red, and modern, contemporary and Tudor as styles that usually do not use red.
How much should a 2,000 sq ft metal roof cost?
At the 2026 Roofing Cost Report rates, 2,000 sq ft of roof surface costs about $12,000 to $20,000 in exposed-fastener metal ($6 to $10 per sq ft) and $20,000 to $36,000 in standing seam ($10 to $18). A 2,000 sq ft house often has more roof than floor area; at 2,200 sq ft of roof the ranges become $13,200 to $22,000 and $22,000 to $39,600.
Sources and method
The Roofing Brief did not test panels. Every value above is as printed in the documents below, checked October 19, 2026; calculations are labeled. Values change between chart editions, so confirm against the current chart before ordering.
- Metal Sales Manufacturing: 24 ga, 26 ga Eastern and 29 ga Eastern color guides (Sept 2026); PVDF, MS Colorfast45 and ColorFit40 system warranties (forms dated June 2026, posted Sept 2026); MS Colorfast45 and ColorFit40 paint specifications.
- McElroy Metal: Cool Metal Roofing color values; residential warranties page.
- Drexel Metals: Metal Roofing and Perimeter Edge Finishes color chart, Rev 08-25 (SR and SRI from Sherwin-Williams).
- Englert Inc.: Energy Star listings of paint colors (PPG Industries).
- Sheffield Metals: 24 ga color cards (June 2020 and January 2025); Red Metal Roofing and Walls (March 2023).
- Metl-Span: Cool Roof Data v4.4 (Nov 2022), with CRRC product IDs.
- American Building Components: Signature 200 and 300 color chart (Sept 2024).
- Sherwin-Williams: WeatherXL 40-year limited warranty form (copy dated Apr 2023).
- Union Corrugating: warranties sheet; MasterRib prices from PBS Direct product listings, Oct 19, 2026.
- Cool Roof Rating Council: CA 2022 Title 24 Part 6 cool roof requirements summary (Dec 28, 2022).
- ASTM E1980 (SRI), ASTM D2244 (color difference), ASTM D4214 (chalk), as cited in the maker documents.