A Guide to Metal Roofs for Residential Homes

Confusion is normal when you’re uncertain about which roofing material will best suit your new roof installation. Most homes favor asphalt, tar and gravel, and other conventional materials contractors may recommend. You would seldom see some use metal roofs for residential homes.

Some homeowners overlook metal roofs. It is understandable; some still believe it makes properties look like warehouses or “too industrial” to look residential. In fact, some towns disallow its residential use as per their residential building code.

However, if you can install metal roofs as part of your home, you gain enormous advantages in your lifetime investment for a durable and long-lasting home.

 

The Advantages of Metal Roofs

Metal roofs for residential homes offer many advantages rivaling the capabilities of asphalt shingles and tar and gravel roofs. Here are some of them.

Longevity

Homeowners who employ professional and manufacturer-accredited contractors comply within parameters of the manufacturer’s warranty. Proper roofing installation contributes up to 40-70 years in the lifespan of a metal roof.

This beats the 30-50-year lifespan asphalt shingles and membranes have. In fact, it beats single-ply membranes, which have a lifespan of 25-30 years despite having an affordable price.

Indeed, metal roofs cost a little bit more than these two materials. However, its lifespan is truly the longest when it comes to roofing material.

Durability

Metal roofs for residential homes may be noisy, but their durability is unquestionable. Aluminum lasts up to 70 years. As a matter of fact aircraft manufacturers use it for production. Prolonged moisture exposure does not corrode the material the way copper, zinc, and steel does.

Hailstorms will dislodge shingle surface material contributing to gutter clogging. In fact, single-ply membranes will have immense bruises after a severe hailstorm. Metal roofs will withstand several impacts in the same spot and does not bruise, puncture, or dent easily.

Superior Fire Resistance

Copper, zinc, aluminum, steel, and tin are heat conductors. However, they’re not flammable such as asphalt shingles, wood shakes, clay tiles, and even single-ply membranes. Should the house unfortunately catch fire, it will resist fire engulfing for the longest time unless a cave-in happens to its foundations and support structures due to the fire.

Coated metal roofs prevent electrical conduction. The additional layer protects it from severe thunderstorms veering danger away from the property and its inhabitants effectively.

Effective UV Protection and Insulation

The combination of felt roofing underlayment, special metal roof coat (if available from manufacturers), and the roofing material itself provides excellent protection against dangerous ultraviolet rays and improves property insulation.

Roofing coat adds an extra layer of metal roof protection improving its lifespan. In turn, it creates an additional airtight seal supporting the roofing felt contributing to a leakproof and well-insulated home possibly reducing power costs by 10-25%

Stylistic

Roofing coat is not just to improve the lifespan, durability, and insulating capacity of metal roofs for residential homes. It comes in different colors allowing homeowners to find the right coat suitable for the aesthetics of their property.

Typical Materials for Metal Roofs for Residential Homes

As mentioned earlier, manufacturers use different types of metal roofs for residential homes for residential properties. As a matter of fact, manufacturers use these same industry-grade material for commercial metal roofing systems.

Copper

During the early 16th century, numerous residential properties with a colonial or roman design used metal roofs as part of its architecture. Gold, silver, and copper were common metal roofing materials designers and masons used during the era.

Nowadays, copper is still cheaper than gold and silver roofs. However, compared to aluminum or metal roofs, it is more expensive. When used as roofing material, they introduce immensely attractive curb appeal improving the real-estate value of the property despite staining bricks, concrete, and sidings when the material corrodes due to moisture.

Zinc

Zinc is a highly malleable and extremely durable material in the same league as galvanized steel. In addition, it is environmental-friendly. Manufacturers of zinc roofs use less energy and resources to create them.

Sheet metal manufacturers use zinc for designer residential or commercial properties. Its ultra malleable property allows manufacturers to follow the designer’s specifications to the dot. You can think of it as malleable clay for sculptors or clay pot makers.

Aluminum

Aluminum is an aircraft-grade metal material. Favored by contractors because of its weight and resistance to corrosion, they recommend metal roofs especially for properties situated in high salt air environments such as the seaside.

Despite bending almost as easily as copper and zinc, aluminum roofs have a projected lifespan of 70 years because of its non-corroding capability. However, property owners may need to ask for maintenance services from contractors to ensure the health of their roof especially after a strong hailstorm.

Steel

Steel is an effective roofing material because of its great strength. Properties living with violent windstorms or strong-wind rainstorms with steel roofs are at an advantage. However, due to their weight, homeowners will need to install additional roofing joists to provide efficient support.

Steel roofs come in different variants such as:

• Galvanized Steel: Comes with a layer of zinc to protect the core steel layer from any corrosion. It also helps roofing coat stick better.
• Galvalume Steel: Uses a coat of aluminum and zinc to provide the same benefits as galvanized steel.
• Weathering Steel: Used in most industrial properties as it provides an extra steel layer for better protection.

Metal Roof Styles

Residential metal roofs have two different styles offering great aesthetics and improved protection for homes.

Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Manufacturers produce standing seam metal roofs in huge panels. These panels have a different set of interlocking systems. Depending on the aesthetics of the property, contractors may choose metal panels with exposed nail and screw systems.

Luxurious homes often utilize hidden interlocking systems offering better insulation and UV protection. Standing seam metal roofs are quick to install and easy to repair compared to its counterparts.

Metal Shingle Roofing

Manufacturers recreate traditional shingle, wood shake, clay or slate tiles, and others using metal roofing materials. Combining the benefits of metal with residential-oriented aesthetics, manufacturers offer homeowners a truly cost-effective and property-improving solution with stylized metal roofing.

Areas to Check for Repairs

Despite the impeccable durability of metal roofs, homeowners will need contractors to check up on their properties from time to time. Effective maintenance is crucial to provide the necessary repairs especially after a truly damaging rain or hailstorm.

Here are some areas to check for repairs before calling a contractor to help.

• Loose Nails
• Holes and Rust Patches
• Leaks
• Reseal Seams and Edges

Conclusion

Metal roofs will not introduce an industrial aesthetic to your home. Aside from an efficient and durable roofing system, in addition you get a wonderful homey aesthetic especially if you use traditional-styled metal shingles, tiles, and shakes. Remember, metal roofs offer the best durability and longevity of 50-70 years for any property making them excellent investments.