Metal Roofs Are Now An Attractive Option
If you’re building a new home or remodeling the one you’ve got now, a roof is an important and costly decision. When choosing which type of roof is best for your home, consider cost, durability, appearance, and the expected life of the material. Many people are now considering metal roofs, and they are a perfect choice for many people.
In both appearance and functionality, modern residential metal roofing has improved greatly from the days of their corrugated, “tin shed” appearance. Metal roofs now are more aesthetically pleasing, while retaining all the advantages of the material. Metal roofs are extremely durable, fire resistant, light weight, wind resistant, reflect heat well, and are easier to install. Drawbacks include initial cost, louder noise from rain or hail, poor insulation ability, and easier chipping and denting.
Metal can be heated to very high temperatures without burning, so metal roofs have excellent fire retardant ratings. This can add to the resale value of your house and reduce the cost of insurance. Also, metal roofs are very resistant to high winds, which is appealing if you live in a location where hurricanes and/or tornadoes are frequent.
Metal roofs reflect the sun’s heat and reduce the cooling burden in the summer as a result. While they have almost no insulation value of their own, this can easily be gotten around by using a dead space between the metal components and the underlying roof components or by the use of insulating materials. Use of sound deadening insulations also reduces the objection to possible noise related to weather. Heat can also cause contraction and expansion of metal, and some loosening of connectors.
The lightness of metal roofs can reduce construction costs decreasing the amount of support members needed for them. Low weight can also mean that metal roofing can be installed over an existing roof in need of replacement without having to tear it off, saving time and money. Since metal types often come in sheets covering a fairly larger area, installation takes less time. However, large sections may be harder to replace if that becomes necessary and may be hard to match if an addition is built.
The often greater initial expense of premium metal roofing can make the option less attractive. However, discount metal roofing is available. Metal roofs enjoy a 20 to 50 year life span, and may outlive the rest of the house. Therefore, the total cost of ownership can be much less in the long run, particularly for those people who are planning to stay in their home for a good portion of the metal roof’s life span.
Roofing is a consideration for any home, and a significant expense for existing homes. When selecting a roof, take into consideration cost, lifetime cost, durability, and the length of time you intend to live in the home. Most people associated metal roofs with cheap tin in previous years. Modern residential metal roofing is more attractive and functional, with the advantages that current technology can provide. The greatest barrier to the use of metal is the expense, since the cost falls into the premium price range. Discount metal roofing is available, and in any case the long lifespan may make metal effective cheaper than roofs that seem a bargain.
- Ryan McCall