We’ve previously explored the best type of metal roof coatings for the Albertan Climate, but like many other clients, you might want to know what might affect the cost of such an installation.
Factors That Affect the Price of Coating a Metal Roof
Feb 16, 2026
By
Jamie Unruh
What Goes Up (in Size), Must Come Down (in Price)?
One of the first and maybe most obvious factors is the square footage of the roof. The bigger the area, the higher the cost, right? Wrong.
Surprisingly, the square foot cost of coating a metal roof is higher on a smaller roofs because of the set up and mobilization costs. On larger roofs those costs come down as the workers find their groove and find ways to become more efficient.
For example, if a crew is set up to do a 2,000 sq. ft. roof in one day. It’s possible to do 5,000 sq. ft. in the same amount of time, so it's going to cost the same in labour as that 2,000 sq. ft. roof. Once you factor in getting all the equipment to the site, getting it all out of the site, it's going to be about the same amount of labour for a smaller job.
In essence, the scope of work itself doesn't change, but the cost will change, and the cost per square foot goes down the bigger the area is.
Breaking down the actual cost, and again, depending on the job size, to install a silicone coating on a metal roof will be between $3 and $6per square foot.
Smaller jobs will be close to $6 per sq. ft., and for giant industrial warehouses and the like, the cost will be around $3 per sq. ft.
Pricing is dependent on current material costs.
Dollar signs in the details
The style of roof is another factor that affects the price of coating as the profile, or shape of the metal panel will determine the amount of material needed to complete the job.
While similarly shaped, the corrugated, standing seam or butler style roofs will have different requirements for the prep work needed before installing the coating.
Depending on how dirty the roof is to start will determine how much time it will take to clean it up and dry it off so the adhesion of the reinforcement layer will stick properly.
The amount of detail work needed to seal the seams, overlaps, screws, vents, drains, curbs, skylights or anything else penetrating out of the roof will also affect the price.
Seasonal Considerations
Some coatings, when exposed to UV light, can break down over time. We've found that silicone coatings are best for our Albertan climate, and luckily silicone is not affected by UV light.
However, the presence or lack of sunlight can be a factor when it comes to moisture later in the year. Dew and frost can really delay a job installation simply because the roof must be dry for the adhesion of the silicone to stick properly.
Occasionally when Beyond Group crews get to a jobsite, they can spend hours drying the roof before getting to work on the sealing the gaps. This inevitably cause the cost to increase.
Coatings on coatings
A silicone coated roof can last 10 to 15 years, sometimes as longas 20 to 25 if the product is applied thicker, but that will come down to the manufacturer’s minimum requirements and their warranty.
The amount of time it takes to install is not a big factor as mentioned before. Once set up and prep work is complete, a crew can install up to 10,000 square feet of silicone coating on a roof in one day.
However, if a client wants more than one coat of silicone installed, a second pass will take more labour to install. Typically, one layer is a heavier coat whereas two layers will be lighter, but each project is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Manufacturers will offer warranties based on a minimal thickness which will determine the warranty term. Basically, the longer the warranty term, the thicker the silicone membrane is going to be, and that can drive up the cost of the project.
At Beyond, we have access to many different manufacturers and multiple different warranty programs. In addition, we also offer our own in-house warranty of up to 10 years (depending on the condition of the roof).
Certain warranties will also determine the brand of silicone required, which is another factor affecting cost especially if the material is being shipped from afar.
Toot! Toot!
Taking a moment to toot our own horn, we’re good at what we do, and it shows because many of our jobs are outside of Calgary. We recently completed a job in Vancouver and have quoted jobs as far away as Toronto.
There are not too many other companies in Alberta or even across Canada that install metal roof coatings. We are proud to have such a good reputation, however, the further away the job site is from home, the more the job will cost. From travel expenses for our crews and hauling materials and equipment to hotel fees, the price of installing the coating will rise.
Interested in learning more? Contact our roofing experts by email at info@beyondroofing.ca or call us at 403-730-8080
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