Metal roofing can be an excellent choice, particularly in comparison to less durable types of roofs such as asphalt. Asphalt roofs can become very unattractive as they age, and it is rare to find an asphalt roof of over ten or fifteen years of age that is not in dire need of replacement. Asphalt shingles commonly crack, curl up and loose granules. Pieces of the roof are chipped off, and entire shingles can sometimes fall. The roof becomes leaky and unattractive, but if it is replaced with a new covering of asphalt roofing, it is only going to require another replacement in ten to fifteen years.
Advantages
Metal is a far more durable option for roofing, and most people who install a metal roof on their home will never have to think about roofing again. A metal roof can withstand the elements for far longer than an asphalt roof. Sun or rain, snow or ice, a metal roof will remain attractive and weatherproof for a long time. It will also be unaffected by the growth of mildew, fungus and moss that can afflict roofs made of asphalt or cedar shingles and which may halve their lifetime. This makes metal roofing the perfect choice for areas that are particularly prone to such growths, such as wooded environments.
Another benefit of a metal roof is that it is fire resistant. This can be particularly important in areas that are prone to wildfires. Metal roofs can also be useful in locations that experience other types of extremes, such as hailstorms. A metal roof can withstand even the largest hailstones with minimal damage, and they are usually able to withstand winds of up to 110 miles per hour, which means that they exceed the requirements of the strictest building codes in the US, in the hurricane prone county of Miami Dade. Some metal roofs can cope with winds that are as fast as 130 miles per hour. In comparison, asphalt shingles can be damaged by winds of 70 miles per hour. Shingles can be damaged, or even blown off the roof, particularly if they have been poorly fitted. Metals roofs may come with a guarantee to withstand wind, hail and fire, and some home insurers will offer discounts of up to 35 percent to homeowners whose properties have metal roofs.
Sustainability of Metal
Metal is a sustainable and durable alternative to asphalt or cedar. Metal roofs can last at least three times as long as asphalt shingles, without requiring as much maintenance. At least 50 percent of the material that is used to create a metal roof is recycled, and some metal roofs are 100 percent recycled. This, together with the long lifetime of metal roofs, makes them an environmentally friendly option. They can even be recycled at the end of their life.
Metal roofs also offer another important advantage over other roofing materials. Metal roofs can stay cool, helping to regulate the temperature inside the building, which they are covering. Metal is reflective, so it reflects away a lot of the heat from the sun, keeping it away from the home. It can also absorb much of the heat it does not reflect. Metal has high thermal emissivity, which means that it readily absorbs and releases heat. They absorb the heat of the sun during the day, but they quickly release it during the night. Metal cools much faster than asphalt. In a hot environment, a metal roof can help to keep the house cool. It stores heat during the day without transferring it into the house and quickly releases it in night.
Good for all seasons
Metal roofs can help to keep your home cool during hot weather, but they can also provide important benefits in a cold environment. Ice dams are a significant problem for many homeowners in the United States and in Canada. An ice dam can create a leak in a roof, but it can do so surreptitiously, so that the homeowner is not aware of the problem for many months. Ice dams occur when there is a combination of insufficient insulation under the roof, in the attic space, and poor ventilation in the roof. The lack of adequate attic insulation means that hot air can rise up through the house, into the attic, where, due to the lack of ventilation, it will become trapped under the roof. This trapped heat gradually warms the roof deck and melts the snow that is lying on top of it. The resulting water begins to run downwards, refreezing along the cooler eaves, where the ice forms an ice dam. An ice dam is a wall of ice which builds up along the eaves of the house. As more snow is melted, it runs down towards the eaves and adds to the wall of ice. Once there is enough ice along the eaves, the water will begin to be trapped. It will be unable to run off the roof, and it will instead be pushed back under the roof shingles, where it may leak into the house. All of this can be avoided by installing a metal roof. Metal roofs can prevent snow and ice from accumulating, which means that ice dams are unable to form. A metal roof is the only way in which ice dams can effectively be prevented from forming, so they are ideal choice for cold climates.
Disadvantages
Despite all of their benefits, there is one important disadvantage to choosing a metal roof, and this is the cost. Many people are put off the idea of buying a metal roof because it will be more expensive than choosing cheaper options such as asphalt shingles. This makes sense, if you are buying a roof for a building in which you only have a short-term interest. If you will not be there to take on the cost of replacing the asphalt roof in ten or fifteen years, then asphalt will be the cheaper option. However, if you have along term interest in the property, then it is worth comparing the cost of a single metal roof to the combined cost of all the asphalt roof replacements you are likely to need during your residence in the property. Added to this, there will be the other benefits of having a metal roof, including its attractive appearance, its ability to keep your home cool in the summer and prevent problems with ice and snow in winter, the reduction on your home insurance premiums, and the peace of mind of knowing that your roof is durable and weatherproof. Metal may work out to be the most cost effective choice.
Dealing with higher initial Costs of Metal Roofing
If cost is a serious issue, for example because you are buying roofing for a business or an outbuilding of some kind, then it is worthwhile considering the cheaper corrugated steel roofing. Corrugated steel roofs are priced similarly to asphalt shingles, but they can be expected to last between two and three times as long. Corrugated steel will require some maintenance, every decade or so the fasteners will need to be tightened and the roof will need to be resealed. Corrugated steel roofs can offer excellent value for money and durability, and they can also be painted or coated in a wide range of different colors.
Residential Meta Roofs
Corrugated steel does not tend to be used when roofing residential buildings. The usual choice for houses is an architectural / residential standing seam metal roof, which is often made out of steel, although other metals such as aluminum, zinc, and copper can also be used. Another common, often less expensive, choice is a residential metal shingles roof, which is a fully interlocking and very versatile metal roofing system.
Commercial Metal Roofing
Commercial standing seam metal roofs also known as structural standing seam, are built from structural / rigid steel metal roofing panels that are installed over steel beams. The beams are usually set four feet apart from one another. Installing these can be easy, but only for well equipped professional metal roofing contractors. Although it does takes more time than laying and securing a corrugated steel roof because the metal is of a thicker gauge. The installation involves concealed fasteners. A standing seam metal roof, once fitted, requires no maintenance. Standing seam metal roofs are fairly expensive, however.
Many people consider standing seam roofs to be a very attractive option, and this is often an important factor in the choice of metal roofing for residential properties, although it is also used on industrial and office buildings. Standing seam roofs are very popular for homes, particularly in the northeastern states. They can also be integrated with thin film solar laminates for the generation of alternative energy.
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