Some homeowners tend to favor metal roofing for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons being that metal holds up better than many other types of roofing available, resisting weather damage, cracking and normal erosion over time. It also has a reputation for being an eco-friendly choice.

Metal roofs are known to save homeowners money by resisting air flow better than other roofing materials, which can help conserve the amount of energy used for climate control in the home, though the initial cost of a metal roof installation tends to be the highest of available materials.

Price isn’t the only disadvantage, however. Mitch Hale, owner of Mitch Hale’s Statewide Roofing in Thousand Oaks, Calif., doesn’t believe it’s the best option for Los Angeles residents. “I absolutely do not recommend it,” he says.

Hale’s reasoning – fireproofing. Los Angeles, as well as the rest of Southern California, is easily prone to wildfires due to the hot, dry climate. “Southern California requires that it be Class A fire resistant,” he says. As it turns out, metal roofing does not meet that regulation on its own.

That’s not to say that Southern Californians can’t use metal roofing at all just because of its lack of fire resistance. Hale says the additional work metal roofing requires to bring it up to code is a project in itself – one that can cause the time and money spent on the installation of metal roofing to skyrocket.

For these reasons, Hale doesn’t install metal roofing for his clients at all. “Lots of other guys do it because there’s a lot of money to be found in metal roofing, but I just don’t think it’s worth it for my clients,” he says.

Metal is already one of the more expensive roofing materials available. Homeowners in Los Angeles must decide for themselves what type of roofing material best fits their needs. Angie’s List has listings for more than 2,400 Los Angeles roofing contractors that can help you find the right roof for your home and budget.