Once used largely for industrial and outbuildings, metal roofs are coming back in style…
Indeed, metal roofing has currently become one of the most popular alternatives to the previously used asphalt shingles. Typically made of steel, aluminum or copper sheets, metal roofing provides ultimate protection for your home and has a number of advantages.
Here’s a quick list of the benefits of metal roofing, then we’ll get into more details…
What are the advantages of metal roofing? Metal roofing is light, durable, easy and quick to install, energy-efficient in solar and heat defense which reduces air conditioning costs. Metal roofs are low maintenance, they look pleasing to the eye, last a long time and are made largely from sustainable sources so it’s eco friendly.
That’s the quick rundown, but there’s more to it than that, for starters, here’s the list of 9 benefits to installing metal roofing.
9 Benefits of Metal Roofing
Listed below are some of the major benefits offered by metal roofing.
1. Low weight & portability
Metal roofs weigh about one-fourth the weight of a tile roof, and about half the weight of asphalt shingles. It’s generally more cost-effective and means it’s less weight to truck into an area or to hoist onto your roof.
2. Easy to install
Requiring few materials to construct, and with the ability to cover large areas and to easily secure down connecting pieces quickly make metal roofing much quicker to install (generally) than most other materials.
3. Durability
Metal roofs are highly resistant to damage from wind and hail storms. They’re also fire-resistant and have an average lifespan of nearly three times that of an asphalt shingle roof.
4. Low maintenance
Most of the metal roofing products need very little to no maintenance.
5. Energy-efficient
Metal roofs are one of the most energy-efficient roofing types currently available. They reflect a larger proportion of sun rays and, depending upon the coating applied to the metal surface, can help you save up to 20-30 percent on heating and air conditioning costs.
6. Aesthetically pleasing
Amongst all the types of roofing materials, metal roofs are available in a wide variety of styles, colors, and textures, thereby giving you plenty of ways in which to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your home.
Copper roofing, especially, is a very popular option due to its tendency to change its color with time and thus adding a vintage beauty and character to the building.
7. Longevity
According to a study conducted by the Metal Construction Association (MCA), the average life expectancy of unpainted, low-slope 55% Al-Zn alloy coated, typically referred to as Galvalume®, steel standing seam metal roofing (SSR) system is about 60 years.
Since the service life of a typical commercial building is also 60 years, thus a Galvalume metal roof does not require replacement. This is beneficial fo both the building owners as well as the environment as it significantly lowers the demand to manufacture replacement roofing systems.
8. Extreme Durability
Along with having a long service life, metal is known to be a highly resilient raw material making it the best match for harsh weather conditions.
Reputable companies like ours offer metal roofing systems and wall panels that are fire and wind resistant, preventing water and air leakage. With the ability to withstand winds up to 140 mph, metal panels serve as durable, strong, weathertight building shields – and we know how to fit them to withstand a lot of extreme weather too!
9. Sustainability
Made up of 25-35% recyclable raw material and practically 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle, metal roofing panels installed by us and other reputable companies are energy efficient throughout and even beyond their composition.
Their surface is coated with infrared reflective finishes. This coating reflects most of the infrared radiation of the sun thus keeping the surface temperature of the roof lower as compared to traditional or uncoated roofing materials. This saves air conditioning costs and conserves energy.
Metal panels serve as durable hosts for other energy-efficient, and energy-producing building materials. Good quality metal panels can be used with any sort of insulation system and can even support very thick layers of insulation, thus optimizing a building’s performance.
In addition to this, metal roofs are perfect surfaces for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. PV systems can be fixed on a metal roof without penetrating the surface, which results in quality performance with the lowest possible risk of damage or leaking.
All of these advantages make metal roofing the most suitable choice for commercial, agricultural and residential building applications.
Metal roof vs wood or asphalt roofs
Wood and asphalt shingles are the most common roofing materials available in the market, however, they pale in comparison to the advantages that a metal roof can offer. Unparalleled in durability, longevity and cost efficiency, metal roofs are also gaining popularity for their wide range of environment-friendly benefits as well.
Some Misconceptions Regarding Metal Roofing
A number of common misconceptions also exist when it comes to metal roofing.
Homeowners are concerned that hail will dent their metal roof. However, most reputable metal roofing materials are manufactured with a guarantee against denting.
Another common concern is that metal roofs might attract lightning during a thunderstorm, thereby making it a huge safety hazard. However, this concern has also been proven to be baseless.
Some think metal roofs are noisy, but this is usually taken care of with some low-cost insulation.
There is a belief that you cannot match the color for repaired areas, more often than not you can, and if you can’t, then hey no problem, just get a new and up-to-date paint finish on the entire roof instead!
There is a belief that metal is more expensive, but when you take it over the lifetime of the product it is actually more cost-effective. You just need to weigh up if you’re going to be in the property and benefit from it for the long term.
Water can accumulate in some areas and cause damage, well, this only occurs where metals roofs have been poorly installed.
Roofing Trends in Ann Arbor Michigan
When it comes to metal roofing systems in Ann Arbor Michigan, following two types of metal panels are most commonly employed:
1. Sheet Metal Roofing
It has emerged as one of the trendier options. It protects your home from extreme weather elements. In addition to this, sheet metal roofing is light-weight, fire-resistant, and non-combustible.
2. Steel Roofing
Steel roofs are a popular choice among farm and commercial structures. Their long service periods keep them looking aesthetically pleasing for more than forty years. Also, their textured panels protect the building from hail indentions.
Reasons to Consider Metal Roofing for Your Ann Arbor Home
Here are some ways you can benefit from installing a metal roof.
Recycled Installation
Metal is the most environment-friendly roofing material available in the market for a variety of reasons. This is because metal roofs are manufactured from recycled material, and they can be again recycled at the end of their life cycle.
Also, they can be set up over your already existing roof, which minimizes both wastes as well as installation time.
Moreover, fewer pollutant emissions are released in the environment during the manufacturing of metal roofing, and because of its lighter weight, lesser emissions are released during the transport process as well.
Heat deflection
Most importantly, metal roofs have up to 95% solar reflexivity, which allows them to dissipate heat from the sun with greater efficiency, particularly in contrast to the 5% reflexivity of asphalt shingles.
This would prevent your home, especially your attic, from over-absorbing solar heat and become too warm, especially in the summer season. This would enable you to save a significant amount of money on your energy bills since you could easily cut back on your air conditioning costs.
Low Maintenance
Not only does metal roofing has a long service time, but the maintenance is also minimal. Touching up paint, clearing debris, replacing old washers, and keeping the gutters clean are the few major things that you would have to worry about.
Under normal circumstances, rust or corrosion wouldn’t be a problem since metal roofs are designed to be impermeable to air and water and dry out really quickly. However, if you have a lot of garbage on your roof and if your gutters are choked, then it can cause water to pool up and cause significant damage with the passage of time.
So finally,
Just that one fact alone of lasting nearly three times as long as current alternative methods, it’s no wonder that many people are turning to metal roofs over traditional forms of roofing.
We hope this guide has been useful if you’re looking to upgrade or replace your old roof and considering a metal roof, you came to the right place. Why not get in touch, and we’ll be happy to discuss all the aspects of metal roofs with our unbiased experience!
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