Metal Roofing Advantages
Metal roofing is the most cost effective roof covering, period. That takes into account its longevity, virtually no maintenance, energy savings, safety, and durability.
- LONGEVITY: Metal is the only roofing that I know that will realistically last 40 years.
- MAINTENANCE FREE: Metal does not need yearly cleaning.
- ENERGY SAVINGS: Metal not only reflects the suns rays, but it cools off quickly when the sun stop shining. Other roofing products hold heat for a long time and keep dissipating it into the attic well into the night. A recent customer of ours observed a 16% decrease in attic temperature when they went from a shingle roof to a tan metal roof. That temperature decrease correlated into a decrease in their electric bill over the summer.
- SAFETY: On a commercial building, safety is an important consideration. Not only do you eliminate the need for pressure cleaning the roof which is a hazard, but you don't have to worry about tiles breaking and falling on a person or car below.
- DURABILITY: The durability factor takes into account that you will come through a hurricane much better than any other type of product. A metal roof will reflect wind borne debris rather than absorbing it like other roofing products.
There are other advantages like fire, rot, and bug resistance which are not commonly discussed.
For residential re-roofing in 2009 and 2010, the federal government if offering a federal tax credit of up to $1500. I believe that one of the factors for doing this is that metal is environmentally friendly. Besides the energy savings factor, metal roofing is "Green" because of cleaner water runoff and because of its longevity there will be a significant reduction of waste going into the landfill every 20 years when most roofs need replacement.
Metal roofing comes in a variety of styles and colors to suit your preferences, needs, or budget.
Here are some thoughts from HOMETIPS.COM which I copied:
Metal Roofing: Advantages & Benefits
Metal beats out conventional roofing materials on a number of counts:
Expected life. Properly installed, a metal roof should last as long as the house, completely sealing out water, surviving high winds, and easily shedding snow. Metal is resistant to fire, mildew, insects, and rot. Warranties vary widely, but most companies strongly back their products for 20 to 50 years.
Weight. Compared with tile at 750 pounds per square (an area equal to 100 square feet) or concrete tile at 900 pounds per square, metal roofing is lightweight. Most varieties run from 50 to 150 pounds per square. Some types of metal shingle systems may be applied over one or two existing roofs without the need for tear-off or additional structural support. In fact, if you're building a house or an addition, you can often downsize or reduce the number of roof support members.
Speed & ease of roofing installation. Most metal roofing materials come in multi-shingle sections or in sheets. An accomplished contractor can install these quickly. If your roof is stripped off and a storm is on the way, shortening the process by a day or two may prove to be a critical advantage. You can also buy single metal shingles that are relatively easy-though time-intensive-to install. Unlike three-tab asphalt shingles, each piece must be individually placed and nailed.
Fire resistance. Because metal roofs are noncombustible, they're given a Class A fire rating (the most resistant). Part of a roof's classification depends on materials beneath the surface that could ignite in intense heat, so some metal roofs applied over an old combustible roof, such as wood shingles, may be rated lower.
Heat conduction. Metal reflects radiant heat from the sun, minimizing midday heat gain. Though the material itself is low in insulation R-value, many systems utilize a dead-air space between the metal and roof deck to increase energy efficiency.
Minimal roof pitch. Most metal roofing materials can be installed on gently pitched roofs without danger of leaking. Minimum roof pitch is 3-in-12 (the roof rises 3 inches for each horizontal foot).
I am a believer in metal.
If you need any other help, let me know.
Scott Kauffman
Building and Roofing contractor