Why Metal Roofing Is The Go-to Roofing Solution In 2022

Here’s why you must consider metal roofs for your home

Are you looking for the right roofing option for your home? Here’s why you should choose none but metal roofing.

While there are many options for roofing, asphalt shingles are the most common, given their low prices; with metal roofing, you make your roof full-proof.

You will ask, why is that so?

Metal roofing is a sturdy and long-lasting solution that requires little to no maintenance, unlike cheap asphalt roofs, which wear out in 10-15 years and result in additional expenses from time to time for their upkeep.

There’s more to it. Metal roofing comes in the category of eco roofing as it is friendly to the environment. Eco roofing has become a trend in modern-day housing as climate-conscious customers opt for them over any other option.

Let’s have a look at it in more detail.

What is Metal Roofing

You’ve seen why metal roofs fare better than any other roofing option. But you might ask what metal roofing is.

Simply speaking, metal roofing is a roof system made using metal shingles, tiles, or panels.

Steel and aluminum are most commonly used for metal roofing. These metals are economical, durable, easy to work with, and molded into different styles.

Compared to other metals, steel is heavier, making the overall roofing sturdy. Steel can also be coated with a range of finishes to protect against rust and corrosion and painted with the color of choice.

On the other hand, aluminum is lightweight and rust-resistant but is more expensive and more prone to denting.

Both steel and aluminum have their advantages. However, you can choose between the two depending on your priorities and requirements. 

If lightweight roofing is what you need, aluminum should be ideal. Steel roofs, on the contrary, are a long-term solution.  

Evolution of Metal Roofing 

Now that you know what metal roofing is exactly, let’s learn about its evolution.

As modern as it may sound, metal roofing in architecture, copper, in particular, has played a major role for thousands of years.

In the 27th Century BC, the Romans used copper roof covering for one of their holiest sites, the Pantheon.

Metal roofing of copper and its alloys was central to medieval European architecture. In fact, the copper roofing of St. Mary’s Cathedral at Hildesheim, Germany, dating back to the year 1280, survived until its destruction by bombing during the second world war.

What about America?

Within the US, metal roofing dates back to the late Eighteenth Century when sheet iron was first manufactured in New Jersey by Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris.

He, in fact, used metal roof for his mansion in 1794.

In France in 1837, metal was galvanized with zinc to protect its base from rusting. By the 1850s, galvanized metal roofing became popular across the US and was used on post offices, factories, train sheds, among others. 

In the southern US, metal roof was used for the first time in 1857 on the US Mint in New Orleans.

It’s quite an interesting history, isn’t it?

Why Metal Roofing Is So Ideal For Your Home

We’ve delved so much into its history. But why should you choose metal roofing over other conventional roofing materials?

Metal roofs simply beat out conventional roofs in many ways.

Let’s see how.

Metal Roofing is a long-term solution.

A good quality metal roofing installed well can easily last up to 50 years, surviving heavy winds, shedding snow, and sealing out water. 

Here you should note that metal roofs are fire, insect, and rot-resistant. That becomes a big factor in extending longevity.

Let’s compare the lifespan of metal roofs with the conventional roofing options for a better idea.

A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) research has the following findings.

The expected lifespan of asphalt shingles is 20 years, and wood shakes last 30 years meanwhile.

Fiber cement shingles last 25 years. And flat roofs of tar and gravel can last between 20-25 years.  

The difference is for you to see as no other roofs even come close to metal roofing.

Want more?

Major metal roof manufacturers back their products with warranties between 20 and 50 years.

Painted metal shingles, on average, may have a 30-year warranty, while metals finished with resin-based durable PVDF coatings may even come with a 50-year warranty. 

Moreover, you can also save significantly on home inspection and subsequent maintenance by using these metal shingles.

You don’t get such lucrative warranties and incentives with conventional roofing.

Durability like no other.

It is the snow season in the US. And your biggest worry might be snow damage to your roof.

Especially if your roofing is made of asphalt or wood shingles, there’s a reason for you to be worried as these materials can’t withstand extreme weather events.

However, with properly installed metal roofing, you can be worry-free. 

Metal roofs are best at shedding snow. These are sturdy enough to withstand strong winds, hailstorms, and even hurricane damage.

Also, metal roofs are fire resistant and come with a Class A fire rating, meaning your roof will be safe in the event of a fire, including something as worse as a wildfire. 

There’s more. 

Metal roofs with better coatings are even resistant to debris, mold, mildew, and rodents. 

All these features are absent in conventional roofing; for instance, wood shingles are prone to fire. 

Similarly, asphalt shingles aren’t very strong. They can be easily damaged by snow or hail.

You see, the importance of a full-proof roofing system can’t be overstated. You never know when the next hailstorm, hurricane, or wildfire will hit your region. 

What best can you do to protect your roof? 

You can choose a roof that is strong enough to endure these events. And no roofing does it better than metal roofs.

Lightweight lets you save on roof support.

Your metal roofing would typically weigh between 1 and 3 pounds for every square foot, depending upon the thickness and type of metal used.

When compared to other roofing materials, this is one of the lightest.

Let’s look at the weight of other roofs for a better comparison.

Weight per square foot for conventional asphalt shingles can be between 2 and 3.5 pounds. It can increase to 3.5- 4.5 pounds for wood shingles and further to 5.5-10 pounds for clay tiles for every square foot.

As you can see, the difference in weight is quite stark. 

When you opt for conventional roofing, you end up spending extra on roof reinforcements and other structures to support the heavyweight of your roof. 

You clearly stand to save on these extra expenses with metal roofing.

Save the environment with metal roofing.

When you choose metal roofing, you stand to benefit the environment. You’ll see how.

There are many reasons why metal roofs are considered eco-friendly. 

First, metals are highly recyclable, meaning your old roof panels, tear-off metals, and even scrap metals from manufacturing can all be easily recycled. That means you can stay assured that your old roof shingles will never end up in dump yards.

Second, you can opt for metal shingles or sheets made of already recycled materials. Aluminum, among other metal roofing materials, is made of recycled metals. In fact, close to 95 percent of aluminum roofing is made of recycled materials.

Third, metals like zinc and copper are present in the environment and also in the Earth’s crust. So these metals can be naturally replenished over a period of time.

On the other hand, traditional roofing materials harm the environment in many ways. 

Manufacturing asphalt shingles cause pollution as many toxic and greenhouse gasses are released in the process. Also, your used asphalt shingles aren’t recyclable, meaning they will be dumped, harming the environment.  

Wood shingles, meanwhile, may require chopping down entire trees and can be very unsustainable. 

Consumers are increasingly getting conscious of the environment. 

If eco-friendliness is a priority for you, metal roofing can be your best bet.

It needs little to no maintenance. 

Metal roofs don’t need maintenance as frequently as other roofs. A good coating of paint, and you may not have to look back for another decade. 

With traditional asphalt or wood roofing, you need to spend a good amount of money repairing and replacing shingles almost every year. Wood shingles, in particular, are sure to incur additional maintenance expenses as they rot easily and are also prone to fungus.

With metal roofing, you stand to save on the maintenance cost.

That is another advantage that you don’t get with the conventional roofing options. 

It saves your energy bills.

Metal roofing can have the reflective properties of cool roofs. 

You can get it painted in white or any other light color, thus reflecting the sun’s rays and keeping your home cool during warm days.

This will greatly decrease your energy bills, as you’re less likely to use cooling appliances like air conditioners.  

In fact, metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coating meeting the conditions of EnergyStar attract federal tax benefits. For example, you can get a 10 percent tax credit (up to $500) when installing metal roofing.

That’s wallet-friendly and eco-friendly at the same time, isn’t it?

Common Myths Around Metal Roofing

The many myths around metal roofing may influence consumer decisions. As such, we must fact-check these myths for reality.

Myth 1 – Metal roofing is noisy 

You might be driven by the idea that metal roofs are noisy. But this is more of a myth than reality, as the noise levels in your home depend highly on the construction. 

In fact, metal roofing shouldn’t be noisier than its competitors in the market, like asphalt and wood shingles. 

And you can control noise in any roofing type by using quality materials that come with in-built barriers to minimize the effect of sound. 

You can do soundproofing by installing metal shingles over noise-canceling insulation and solid plywood sheathing, as well as having an attic between your roof and the rooms.

There you have it, a quiet soundproof home.

Myth 2 – Metal roofs attract lightning

Metal roofs attracting lightning is a myth, pure and simple. Because metals are good conductors of electricity, you might assume they will attract lightning and cause a fire.

That isn’t the case, however. There were many instances when lightning struck trees and other high objects near metal roofing rather than the roof itself.

It would be best if you made sure a lightning protection company properly grounds your metal roof.

If, in any case, your metal roofing attracts lightning, it will disperse the energy and is much less likely to catch fire, unlike wood roofs.

That’s safe!

Metal Roofing DIY

As discussed in earlier blog, DIY is an attractive option for home-makers.

You save up on labor costs. And that’s a smart way to save money. 

Even the 10 percent federal tax incentive on metal roofs doesn’t include labor costs.

So why not DIY?

Installing metal roofing is a complex process. There are many crucial components involved apart from the metal shingles, including roof underlayment, linear pieces, sealants, and much more.

With DIY, you may miss out on any of these components, and your roof won’t have the desired weather resilience and durability.

Also, DIY involves dangers. For example, working on roofs isn’t safe and includes personal hazards.

Roof installation, in particular, is skill-intensive, and you may not have the same skills as an experienced professional. However, you may even lack the right tools to install metal roofing.

Further, it may be illegal for you to work in your municipal zone without a qualified expert.

You see, there are so many downsizes to DIY. 

You, at best, should leave metal roofs to professionals.

Conclusion

You saw how metal roofing is your one-stop roofing solution. It is simply impossible to find so many advantages in just one roofing type.

Its long-run cost-effectiveness in particular out-smarts all other roofing materials in the market. 

Now that most consumers are turning to eco-friendly alternatives, metal roofs are one of their most preferred choices. 

Not to forget, you stand to benefit from the many offers and long-term warranties that cover metal roofing packages.