Why Choose a Residential Metal Roof?
A residential metal roof might not seem like the obvious choice, but there are plenty of reasons to consider one for your home. While you might think of a shed or livestock barn when you think of a metal roof, recently more and more homes have them. Tin and metal roofs have been around for hundreds of years, but galvanizing metal with zinc, a combination that prevents rust, has only been around since the 1830s. This combination made it easier to use it as a roofing material with less maintenance due to corrosion. However, with the proliferation of less expensive and easy-to-install asphalt shingles, you see metal roofs less and less – until now. And it might surprise you to see the variety of materials available, and the metal roof benefits today. We have some of the best reasons you should consider a metal roof. Read on to learn more.
Unmatched Durability
Your roof protects your most significant investment – your home. It also protects what’s most valuable – your family. When choosing a roofing material, you want durable options, and nothing is more durable than metal. In the South, we get our fair share of severe weather, including hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, hail, humidity, and heat. While some other roofing material might stand up to some of that, only metal can consistently withstand those extremes.
Long Lasting
Asphalt shingles, arguably the most common roofing material used in the U.S., have an average life expectancy of about 15-20 years. Metal roofs can last 50-60 years. If you invest in copper or zinc, your roof could last upwards of 100 years. Where other materials break down over time, metal does not, and it’s not affected by freeze/thaw cycles the way other materials are. It isn’t a hospitable environment for fungus and mold growth, pesky critters can’t dig holes through it, and you don’t have to worry about it cracking or coming loose in a storm. And corrosion-proof coatings mean you won’t have to worry about rust becoming an issue.
Safe and Fire-Resistant
When considering metal roof benefits, what’s more important than safety? Fire is always a concern for homebuilding, but adding a metal roof to your plans for either a new home or an existing home is a great way to include some fire-retardant material. Metal has a Class A rating for fire resistance, which means it’s undergone testing for how it responds to flame spread, the number of hours before ignition, and how it resists cycles of gas flame. Class A is the best rating and shows that metal is one of the least combustible materials you can use for your roof.
Metal is Environmentally Friendly
Studies have shown that traditional asphalt shingles can take up to 400 years to fully decompose in a landfill because of the petroleum products used in their manufacturing. Every time a homeowner replaces their old asphalt shingle roof with a new one, all that waste will sit for hundreds of years, polluting our planet. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that amount at nearly 20 billion pounds of roofing materials annually. Metal roofs offer a way for homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint, increase their eco-consciousness, and save money on roof replacement throughout their home’s life. Metal is a significantly more sustainable option often made from at least 25% recycled materials. Additionally, when the metal roof is ready for replacement, the roof material itself is recyclable.
Increased Energy Efficiency
If you’re looking for ways to increase your energy efficiency while decreasing your monthly energy bills, a metal roof is a great addition to your home. The primary factor impacting efficiency is the metal’s reflective properties. Instead of absorbing the heat from the sun during our hot South Carolina summers, it reflects it, reducing cooling costs and energy use by up to 40%. In the winter months you’ll also get increased efficiency due to its superior insulating properties leading to energy savings of up to 20% over asphalt shingles during the colder months.
They’ve Got Great Curb Appeal
Metal roofs look amazing and come in different styles and a wide range of colors. The most common type of residential metal roof is the vertical seam, with a sleek look and hidden fasteners. Traditional roofing materials come in 15-20 color options, while metal roofs have at least 100 colors to choose from, so you can accent your home with the best color to highlight its architectural features.
With so many metal roof benefits, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t want to investigate this option for your next roof. Do you want to learn more about why you should consider a metal roof? Contact the roofing professionals at Premiere Roofing for all the information you need and to get a free estimate.
