Pros And Cons Of Metal Roofing
Whether you’re tired of paying for costly repairs on a traditional roof or want to try something more efficient and stylish, there are many good reasons to consider a metal roof for your home. Today’s metal roofs can be manufactured to look like nearly any traditional roofing material, and offer significant advantages over traditional roofing. However, there are some potential drawbacks to metal roofing, and it’s wise to consider both sides of the equation before embarking on a major home improvement project. So let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of installing metal roofing on your home.
Pro: Metal Roofs Are Built to Last
One of the biggest advantages of metal roofs is that they’re built to last, with durable materials and less potential for leaks than traditional roofs. While you may have to replace a traditional roof more than once over the lifespan of a home – and pay for repairs in between – the right metal roof can last for as long as you own your home. In addition to being sturdy, metal roofs are very efficient at whisking away the rain, ice, and snow that lead to leaks with traditional roofs.
Pro: Metal Roofing Is Environmentally Friendly
If you like your home improvement projects to have a limited impact on the environment, then metal roofing is more than worth a look. Asphalt shingles, the most common non-metal roofing material, are a petroleum product and need to be replaced relatively frequently compared to metal roofs. Your metal roof, on the other hand, won’t be heading to the landfill any time soon.
Con: Metal Roofs Are Costly to Install
When it comes to durability, look, efficiency, and environmental impact, it’s hard to argue with the advantages of metal roofing. However, those advantages come with a cost, and installing a metal roof can be considerably more expensive than a traditional roof, depending on the metal roofing that you choose.
Pro: Metal Roofs Are Energy-Efficient
Those increased costs will be evident up-front, but the efficiency and durability of metal roofing often make it more affordable in the long run. Metal roofing is very energy-efficient, minimizing heat gain and reflecting the sun rather than absorbing it, which can help lower cooling costs in your home.
Roofing Calculator – Estimate your Roofing Costs
If you are considering a new metal roof as potential replacement option for your aging asphalt roof, or you simply want to learn more about this sturdy and energy efficient roofing option,
Metal roofs can be made from a variety of metals and alloys including Galvanized steel (hot zinc dipped G-90 steel, or G-60 steel coated with thinner, least-expensive coating), Galvalume steel (Zinc and Aluminum coating — more expensive and longer lasting compared to G-90 steel.), stone-coated steel (G-90 galvanized steel), aluminum, copper, zinc, terne (zinc-tin alloy), and stainless steel.
The downside of galvanized steel is that it can corrode, eventually, especially when exposed to the moist salt-spray environment, such as near the coastal lines and salty marine environments.
It must be noted that all things being equal, Galvalume steel offers a greater degree of corrosion-resistance and hence longevity than G-90 galvanized steel. G-60 steel is joke compared to Galvalume steel and its cost reflects that
Steel is the most frequently used material in both residential and commercial metal roof and wall applications, mainly due to its superior durability, strength, and slightly lower cost than aluminum.
Snow Guards for Metal Roofs
mission is to help building owners select the snow retention system that works best for their situation. Whether it’s our product or not. With so many types of metal roofs and snow guard systems available, narrowing down the best one for your home or project can be confusing.
I’ve personally spent many hours searching and condensing information from our competitor’s sites and noticed that every site has one thing in common. Each manufacturer presents their snow guard or snow retention system as the best and offers up various reasons why their particular product is better than others. Obviously, every snow guard and every manufacturer can’t be the best. What I realized is that an architect, homeowner or contractor researching metal roof snow guards faces a daunting task of determining which is the best snow guard for their metal roof
The cheapest and easiest snow guard to install may not be the best fit for your situation. Likewise, the most expensive and elaborate may not do what you expect it to. To help answer these questions, I started out on my mission of distilling the different metal roof snow retention systems into a single, objective summary. Explaining each type and the advantages and disadvantages with that specific snow guard. Many of these are products we sell, but many are not. I hope that this series of articles will help you make a good, informed decision about the best type of snow retention for your metal roof.
All snow guard system types are designed to keep snow on your roof to protect you, your family, and your property from falling ice and snow. Metal roofs have a very smooth surface that doesn’t absorb water. That’s why metal roofs are good roofs but also why snow and ice slide off.
In a nutshell, there are 3 different snow guard types for metal roofs that are currently in use. This article briefly discusses each type. Additional articles follow this one that go in-depth into each type including manufacturing materials, methods of attachment and most importantly, the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Metal Roofing Installation: How to Install Metal Roofing Over Shingles
Can you put steel roofing over asphalt?
Can you avoid tearing off your old asphalt shingle roof by putting a steel roof over it? Maybe. Most codes now allow no more than two layers of roofing before requiring a complete tear-off. So, if your roof has two layers, it may require a complete tear-off, even though steel is lighter than asphalt. Codes vary, so call your local building department to know how to install metal roofing over shingles properly, code-wise
What’s involved in how to install metal roofing
A steel roof is a lifetime investment, lasting 50 years or more if it’s a good one. Asphalt roofs typically last 20 to 30 years, depending on the installation and shingle quality. So, the investment might be worth it, but the range of choices makes shopping for a steel roofing system more complicated than you might think.
If you want to install steel over asphalt, your best choice for installing metal roofing is to use a steel shingle system like the one shown instead of the more common (and more expensive) standing seam steel. In a standing seam roof, long, single panels run vertically all the way from the eave to the ridge. In contrast, steel shingles are small panels installed in horizontal rows much like other shingles.
Better steel shingle systems, like the one shown, install over a framework of 2x2s. This framework has three big advantages. First, because the frame is screwed directly to the rafters and the interlocked shingles are screwed to the frame, the roof can withstand winds of up to 120 mph without damage. Second, the frame creates a flat and straight surface even when the shingles are badly curled or the roof ridge is bowed.
Pros and cons for metal roofing installation
Steel roofs can be noisy and unattractive in residential settings. However, if the steel roof is installed over an existing asphalt roof, noise shouldn’t be a problem. And, as you can see from the photos, if you pick a good-looking style from the many choices available, your house definitely won’t look like a cattle barn.
Metal Roofing: Everything You Need to Know
Environmentally Friendly and More
Designer Lisa Furey explains, “Metal roofs offer many benefits, including:
Longevity. Metal roofs can last 40-70 years, depending on the material.
Durability. Some metal roofs can sustain wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour, will not corrode or crack, and may be impact-resistant (depending on which metal you choose). In addition, metal roofs don’t need the periodic costly maintenance that other roofing materials often require. However, they should be inspected periodically to make sure no repairs are required.
Safety. Metal roofs will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike.
Energy efficiency. Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat, which can reduce cooling costs by 10-25%.
Environmentally friendly. Metal roofs not only have 25-95% recycled content, depending on the material used, but are also 100% recyclable at the end of their life as a roof.”
Things to Consider
“Metal roofs can be as much as two or three times more expensive than other roofing materials,” says Lisa Furey. “While the life of a metal roof is much longer, investing in a metal roof only makes sense if you plan to stay in your home long enough to enjoy the cost benefits.”
The Noise Factor
“While you can choose from tin, zinc, aluminum, copper, or galvanized steel, metal roofs can be noisy, especially during a heavy rain or hailstorm. Adding more insulation during installation usually solves this problem, but that may increase costs,” explains designer Lisa Furey. “If a repair is required or a home extension is added years later, it may be difficult to find an exact match to the existing metal,” says Lisa.
The Right Choice For the Location
“We use metal roofs on the majority of our residential projects. Metal roofs are very durable and long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing and suitable for low-slope conditions. They easily shed debris such as pine needles and leaves. In snow country, the metal roofs allow snow to slide off fairly quickly,”