Top Ten Advantages of a Metal Roof

Life Span and Warranty

1. A metal roof, correctly installed, can last three times as long as a composite shingle roof. Also, metal manufacturers typically offer a 30-50 year warranty on their metal roofing systems.
2. Raises the value of your building and may reduce home owners insurance. Much cheaper than shingles over its lifespan.

Low Maintenance

3. Metal roofing can be applied right over existing shingles and other materials.
4. Much less on-going maintenance is required than a shingle roof.

Energy Efficiency

5. Reflects heat and adds insulation which can easily save you 10-20% on cooling and heating costs.
6. Causes significantly less pollution and waste than shingles.
7. Solar energy panels can be fastened to metal roofing.

Environmental Factors

8. Metal roofing withstands hurricane force winds, with panels rated up to 146mph wind uplift resistance.
9. Coastal living concerns? The right metal roofing systems provide excellent corrosion protection.
10. Does not hold heavy debris, ice, or snow and is fire retardant.

WHY METAL ROOFING?

Common Roofing Materials

The most important component of any building is the roof. Without a good roof, even the sturdiest of buildings will fall into disrepair when exposed to nature’s extremes. Modern roofing capabilities offer a wide variety of roofing materials to suit your needs. The most common materials used for roofing are steel, also known as metal roofing, and composite, or petroleum based shingles.

Modern Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is no longer just a practical roofing material that out lasts shingles. Metal is quickly replacing shingles as a stylish and cost effective alternative. Not to mention the energy and money saving properties that goes along with it. Today, metal roofing offers a variety of panels and styles that allow the consumer to customize and stylize to their needs and even desires.

METAL VS. SHINGLES

Labor Efficiency and Waste

Most of us are familiar with the unavoidable mess that occurs when worn out shingles must be torn off of a neighbor’s house. A few thousand pounds of shingles, tar paper, and rusty nails being heaved to the ground, instantly turns your landscaping into a construction zone. One of the benefits of metal roofing is, in most cases, the metal can be run right over shingles. This allows the shingles to act as additional insulation and you can avoid the extra cost and mess associated with tear off.

Cost

The price of a new roof system depends on many variables: materials used, contractor utilized, location, labor cost, and even time of year. For each roofing material, there are different gauges with corresponding prices, as well as a variety of styles and paint systems. The best advice is to research the full range of products available and make a choice according to your budget and needs.

However, metal roofing is much less expensive when considering the life expense of a roof. Also consider, installing a new metal roof will likely be the last decision you make about the roof of your home.

Life Span

An asphalt shingle roof needs to be replaced approximately every 15 years, while a properly installed and maintained metal roof can last over 50 years. This means you typically have to replace your shingle roof three times in the life span of a metal one.

Green and Efficient

The life span is not the only way you can save money with metal roofing. A metal roof can help save you 10-20% on your energy bill, making a metal roof good for your wallet and the environment. Adding to this point, petroleum based shingles prices are rising with the price of gasoline. Taking into account the upward trend in oil and gas prices, one can conclude that the prices of shingles will follow.

Protection and Aesthetic Appeal

The most common metal roofing panel is made of steel coated with zinc and/or aluminum. This special coating protects the steel from exposure and damage. Siliconized modified polyester (SMP) paints can also be applied further protecting the metal roofing from oxidation as well as providing an elegant aesthetic appeal.