Metal Roofing: Pros and Cons

What are the advantages and drawbacks of steel and other metal roof materials? This impartial, skilled post offers you the advantages and disadvantages of metal roofings.

If you are considering purchasing metal roofing for your home, it is necessary to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of metal versus other more common roof materials, such as asphalt, wood, and tile. Here is a close take a look at some of the benefits and downsides of steel, aluminum, and other metal roof.

Metal Roofing Benefits

Metal vanquishes conventional roofing materials on a variety of various counts:

Expected life. Properly installed, a metal roof ought to last as long as your home, sealing out water, enduring high winds, and easily shedding snow. Metal is resistant to fire, mildew, insects, and rot. Warranties vary widely, but many companies back their products for 20 to 50 years. Paint surfaces usually have a 30-year restricted service warranty.

Weight. Compared to tile at 750 pounds per square (an area equivalent to 100 square feet) or concrete tile at 900 pounds per square, metal roof is lightweight. The majority of varieties range from 50 to 150 pounds per square.

Some types of metal roofing products may be used over an existing roof without the need for tear-off or additional structural assistance. In truth, if you’re constructing a house or an addition, you can often downsize or reduce the number of roof support members.

Speed & ease of roofing setup. A lot of metal roof products can be found in multiple-shingle areas or in 12- to 36-inch-wide panels. An accomplished professional can install these rapidly. If your roof is stripped off and a storm is on the method, shortening the procedure by a day or 2 might prove to be an important advantage. Since of the product’s lightweight, you can minimize engineering and developing the supporting structure.

Fire resistance. Due to the fact that metal roofings are noncombustible, they’re offered a Class A fire rating (the most resistant). Part of a roof’s category depends on materials beneath the surface area that could spark in extreme heat. A lot of metal roofing systems used over a flammable material such as wood shingles have a lower, Class C ranking.

Heat conduction. Metal shows radiant heat from the sun, reducing midday heat gain. This implies you conserve energy required for air conditioning during the day. Though the material itself is low in insulation R-value, numerous systems make use of a dead-air area between the metal and roof deck to increase energy efficiency.

Very little roof pitch. Most metal roof products can be installed on gently pitched roofs without presenting a leaking potential. Minimum roof pitch is 3-in-12 (the roof rises 3 inches for each horizontal foot).

Maximum shedding of rain and snow. Metal roofing is almost invulnerable to rain and snow since of the method it is created to interlock and since the surfaces are hard and slippery.

Metal Roofing Pros and Cons

Metal Roofing Drawbacks

Though metal roofing uses numerous pluses, there are a few drawbacks worthy of reference.
For the a lot of part, metal roof producers have actually improved their products to resolve or resolve many of these concerns:

Cost. The greatest drawback is initial cost. Metal roof is equivalent in cost to other exceptional materials– from about $150 to $600 per square (100 square feet). Due to the fact that of the product’s long-term toughness, the technique is that you eventually conserve the distinction (and more) if you remain in the house for a long period of time and, of course, you save money on seasonal upkeep. Naturally, if you prepare to move in a number of years, you probably won’t get the return on your financial investment.

Noise. For some, the sound of rain tapping on the roof is romantic and homey; for others, it resembles living inside a drum. In a rainstorm or hailstorm, living underneath thin sheets of metal is bound to be noisier than living underneath thick slate or tile. Sound can be managed both using products that have structural barriers to minimize the drumming impact and by applying them over sound-deadening insulation and solid plywood sheathing.

Denting. Just as your car will dent if a golf ball strikes it, a metal roof can dent if large hailstones fall on it. Aluminum and copper, much softer than steel, are more susceptible to denting. Some types are ensured not to dent, nevertheless.

Though you shouldn’t need to walk on a roof that doesn’t leak, there might be events when a plumbing technician has to snake out a vent pipeline or a chimney sweeper needs access to the flue. You can walk on some metal roofings but not all; it depends on how the product is made and the type of building supporting it. As you may envision, metal can be extremely slippery when wet.

Marring & care. Some painted metal roof finishes can peel, chip, fade, scratch, or chalk, although almost all are ensured for Thirty Years. Walking on some types, especially those with a granulated-stone surface area, might cause wear. Installers need to be careful not to scratch or dent the roof during setup, and panels should be treated with care. Unlike standard roofing, some metal shingle systems are installed from the top down, getting rid of the need to walk on them. Once set up, it might be needed to tube off roof from time to time to keep it looking excellent.

Expansion & contraction. Since metal expands and agreements as it warms and cools, a lot of brand-new items have fastening systems that accommodate motion; otherwise, fasteners that protect the roofing have the tendency to come loose. Expansion and contraction on hot days can cause a wavy affect.

Adjustments. Metal roof products set up in large panels are more difficult to replace if damaged than individual shingles. Likewise, if you renovate or add on to your home 10 or Twenty Years from now, it may be hard to match the product.

Lightning. Many people assume that due to the fact that metal conducts electricity it also attracts it. This actually isn’t really the case, and there are many documented circumstances of lightning striking trees or other high objects located near metal roofing systems rather than the roofings themselves. Just the very same, if preferred, metal roofing systems can be easily grounded by a lightning defense company.