Tag: advantages of metal roofing

There are numerous types of roofing types and materials. From wood to ceramic tile roofing, you may be weighing the pros and cons of your options. Here’s why a new metal roof is a smart long-term investment.

Looking to replace your roof? There are more options for you than ever before. There are so many different materials that you can use, and that makes it harder to figure out which one you want to use. Out of all the materials out there though, metal roofs are becoming very popular. Here’s why, and why you should consider it as an investment in your home. 

How Metal Roofs Are Installed

Before you consider a metal roof for your home, you’ll want to think about how they’re installed. Typically, they’re quite different from your regular shingled roof. They come in large sheets, and these are screwed down onto the roof itself. They can come with lips that connect together, to make a long uninterrupted roofing material on your home. 

What makes this the best option for your home though? Let’s take a look at the benefits of a metal roof.

A Long-Lasting Roofing Material

If you ask anyone with a metal roof why they chose it, this will be the number one answer. As compared to many other roofing materials out there, metal will outlast them by decades. For example, a shingled roof can last up to 25 years, depending on the weather and the quality of the shingles themselves. If you go for a metal roof though, it can last for up to 50 years in most cases. 

That’s a huge benefit for you right off the bat. You don’t want to be thinking about replacing the roof in just a couple of decades, especially if you plan to stay in that home. With a metal roof, you’ll be able to install it and not have to worry about it for years and years to come. 

Lightweight And Easy On Your Roof

Another big benefit of a metal roof is that it’s so lightweight. Typically, they’ll weigh around 1 to 3 pounds per square foot, as opposed to shingles which will weigh around 3.5 to 5 pounds. As such, it means the roof will need a lot less support. That’s especially helpful if you’re installing a roof on a new house, as you’ll need less support in the first place. 

This lightweight structure also means that you can put a metal roof over existing shingles. There are some conditions that the roof needs to meet if you are going to put a metal roof over it. For example, it needs to be in sound condition and free of rot. If you’ve had a roofer inspect it and give you the go-ahead though, you can do this. 

That saves a lot of time, money, and effort in replacing the roof. As you’re not tearing the original roof off, you’ll save a lot of manpower that way. It also leaves an extra layer which is helpful for insulation and adds extra sound insulation for rain and hail. It’s something you’ll want to consider if you’re looking to replace your roof.

Excellent Fire Resistance

Something you do need to think about when picking a new roof is fire resistance. All roofing materials will have a fire-resistance rating, and the higher it is, the safer it is. One of the best things about a metal roofs is that they have one of the highest fire resistance ratings out there. 

Simply put, a metal roof can’t catch fire. If there’s a fire in your home, any flying sparks or embers won’t be able to set it alight. 

Be aware that if you install the roof over the existing roof, that will lower its fire-resistance rating. Typically these will be classed as C, rather than A as regular metal roofs are. 

Available In An Array Of Different Styles

When you think of a metal roof, are you thinking of the ridged designs that you often see on commercial buildings? These can actually look great on your home, but they’re not the only design available to you as a homeowner. Metal roofs actually come in an array of different styles, so you can pick something that works for you. 

For example, a metal roof panel can be made to mimic regular shingles, slate tiles, shakes, and more. This is great as you’ll get the look of these materials, with all the benefits of a metal roof. You can also pick from a wide array of colors, so you can have a color that suits your home perfectly.

Metal Roofs Are Great For The Environment

Have you ever thought about how a new roof affects the planet? If you go for an asphalt shingle roof, you’ll be looking at using petroleum and fossil fuels to make it. There are many homeowners out there that are looking to be more eco-friendly in their design choices, and a metal roof allows them to be just that. 

Typically, a metal roof will be made with some amount of recycled materials. When it’s ready to be removed, the metal in it can be recycled and used elsewhere. Plus, you’re already cutting down on waste as you won’t need to replace it as quickly as other roofs. 

Metal Roofs Are Resistant To Inclement Weather

The weather is probably the biggest enemy of your roof. It’s so easy for the wind to rip shingles off, and for water to get in and damage the structure. Materials like shingles can protect against the weather, but if you’re not replacing those shingles quickly when they get damaged, you’re looking at real issues. 

A metal roof can take more than you’d think. As they go on in large sheets, there are fewer areas where water can make its way in. You’ll also see that they can withstand even tornadoes and hurricanes, up to 140 mph. That means there’s less worry for you when there is inclement weather.

Wrapping Up The Advantages Of A New Metal Roof

As you can see, there are so many reasons why you’ll want to look at a metal roof for your home. As they’re fire-resistant, lightweight, and can withstand inclement weather, they can be the very best investment in your home.

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Metal roofing styles and colors have become highly popular in recent years. Although it’s one of the more expensive roofing styles out there, it will last for decades and look good doing so. There are lots of different options for you if you’re considering a metal roof, so you can get one that fits in with your home’s style. Here’s what’s available to you and how you can use it on your home.

Metal Roofing Styles

When choosing a metal roof, you’ll soon see that they come in a huge array of styles. With so many available to you, there’s going to be something that fits in with the architectural style of your building. Here are some of the most common options available to you right now.

Standing seam: This is the most common option you’ll see when looking into metal roofs. These are large panels with lines where the panels interlock. It’s a simple look, which allows it to blend in with a wide array of housing styles. Those panels are held in place with hidden clips, which allow them to move.

Shake: This metal roofing comes in panels, much as a standing seam roof does, but is molded and painted to look like shake tiles. Modern shake roofs look highly realistic, so you can get the look of shake with the benefits of a metal roof. Many homeowners go for it as real shake roofs require a lot of upkeep, which metal won’t. 

Slate: This is another metal substitute for another roofing material. Slate roofs look amazing, but they’re expensive and heavy. If you’re concerned about the weight putting pressure on your roof, you can instead go for a metal version. It’s lighter and installs much faster than real slate.

Shingle: Want the look of Victorian shingle, but want up-to-date roofing techniques? You can have both with metal shingle roofs. They can be made in a variety of colors and have just the look of shingles without the hassle. They’re also installed in panels, making them easier and faster to get put into place.

Tile: Metal roofs can also imitate the look of clay tiles, something that many people are looking into now. Metal is so much easier to install than tile, as well as being lighter and much more robust. The metal ’tiles’ are given a PVDF finish and are embossed, so they’re indistinguishable from real clay.

Metal Roofing Finishes

There are several different finishes you can choose from for your metal roof. These are all applied in the factory, and they will help the roof in better condition for longer.

These include finishes such as PVDF, which is used to make a roof more UV resistant. That avoids fading and chalking, which is when you get a fine powdery residue on the roof.

There’s also SMP, which is used on less expensive metal roofs. This allows you to cover color defects with a warranty of around 25 years. However, you will see fading in around 10 years.

If you’re not sure which finish to go for, you can always talk to your roofer and see what they recommend.

Metal Roofing Colors

Now that you’ve chosen the style of your metal roof, you’ll need to pick a color. There’s more choice than you’d realize for this roofing material, so you have more options for making your roof unique. Here are a few options you have if you’re looking at installing a metal roof.

White: If you live in an area where you get a lot of sun, then this is going to be the option for you. A white roof will be much better at reflecting heat, and that means you won’t have to use as much energy cooling your home in the summer months. Not only will you save money, but it will be much more eco friendly, too.

To help the white roof blend in with the rest of the house, you can try pairing it with white trim and decorative details.

Blue: If you want to go with a blue roof, a good way of doing so is to use three different colors spaced apart from each other on the color wheel. For example, a blue roof, along with cream yellow stucco and red brick, all work very well together. This color often looks good on metal shingle roofs.

Red: A white house can have any color of roof, and it will be bound to look good. If you’re looking for the right color, then red could be the option for you. Keep it simple, with just red and white on the exterior of the home, and it will feel fresh and vibrant.

Green: A green metal roof will often work well on a country style home. Add it to a home with gambrel roofs, field stone exteriors, and wood trim, and it’s going to look amazing. While the farmhouse look is something that harkens back to a bygone era, it’s one that’s very much on trend these days.

Adding Snow Guards

If you’re in a cold climate, it’s worth considering snow guards for your metal roof. A metal roof is good for snow, as it doesn’t allow snow to stick to it for long. However, you don’t want large sheets of snow to slide off and flatten the shrubbery beneath it. That’s where snow guards come in.

These are designed to hold the whole mass of snow back, allowing it to melt over time. These can be rails that are installed around the edge of the roof or guards, which are small plates that stick up a few inches above the roofing. They can both be used to keep the pathways around the house safe and free of snow.

There’s a lot to consider when planning to install a metal roof. They come in so many styles and colors; you’ll be able to pick something that really makes your home stand out. Use this guide to help you find the look that you want for your new metal roof.

Have you decided to use a metal roof in your building project? It has lots of applications and has been used in both commercial and residential projects in recent years. If you’re planning a metal roof installation, you’ll need to understand how pitch affects your plans. Here’s everything that you need to know about metal roof pitch.

The Benefits Of A Metal Roof

Before even thinking about roof pitch, you’ll need to consider what kind of roof you want to install. There are lots of different options, but more and more people are choosing metal roofs. These were most commonly used for commercial buildings, but now they’re showing more and more on residential buildings too.

There are lots of reasons why you would want to go with a metal roof. Firstly, you can use a metal roof to really protect your home against the elements. There are fewer potential entry points for water so that you can avoid most cases of water damage.

As well as this, most metal roofs are rated A for fire resistance, the highest rating you can get. Overall they do last for a long time, giving you up to 70 years, while a shingle roof will last up to 25 years when well cared for.

Now you’ve decided to go with a metal roof, and you’ll need to decide what to do about the roof’s pitch.

What Is Meant By Metal ‘Roof Pitch’?

Firstly you need to understand what ‘roof pitch’ is and how it affects your project. Put simply, the pitch of the roof refers to a roof that has a downward slope. There may be a roof with a slope in just one direction, or it may have a slope in two different directions, forming a peak at the top.

Roofs are most usually pitched to help protect them from poor weather conditions. For example, if you get a lot of rain where you’re building, you’ll want to install a metal roof pitch. That slope will allow the rainwater to roll off the roof and into the gutters so that it can be directed away from the building. It also allows snow to slide off, rather than collecting and causing more problems like ice dams and added weight to the roof itself.

How Is Roof Pitch Measured?

To understand pitch, you’ll need to understand how roof pitch is measured. A metal roof pitch will be expressed using a ratio. The ratio will indicate how much the roof rises by every 12 inches the roof runs horizontally. For example, if the roof pitch is 3:12, the roof rises 3 inches every 12 inches the roof runs horizontally. Commonly, you’ll see roof pitches of 3:12, ½:12, and ¼:12.

Do Metal Roofs Need To Be Pitched?

Now the question is, do you need to have a metal roof pitch? Pitch protects against weather, but metal roofs are hardier than most other roofing materials. They offer fewer entry points to water, for example, as they are laid in large sheets rather than in smaller shingles. Does that mean that it doesn’t need to be pitched?

Like all roofs, a metal roof pitch does need some slope to it, even if you’re aiming to install a ‘flat’ roof. Without the pitch, any water won’t roll off and so will cause ponding on the roof. That can lead to further problems down the line, so there are minimum requirements for pitches.

There are different pitch requirements for metal roofs, depending on how it’s constructed:

• A metal roof that is lapped with non-soldered seams without lap sealant will be 3:12, otherwise known as a 25% slope.
• A metal roof that’s lapped and has non-soldered seams with lap sealant will need to be at least ½:12, or a 4% slope.
• A metal roof with a standing seam system needs to be ¼:12, or a 2% slope.

This is according to international building codes that were implemented in 2012. There may be extra requirements in your area, so you’ll need to check local building codes at the planning stages.

Low Or Steep Slope?

Now you know what the requirements are. You’ll need to decide whether you want a low or steep slope for your project. There are some benefits to both, so you’ll need to consider them when making a decision:

Low slopes: A low slope is anything under 3:12. These are often less costly to produce and install, as fewer materials are needed to construct them. It has a simpler geometry, too, so it’s much easier to install. Again, that reduces costs when it comes to implementing the roof structure. You’ll usually see a low slope roof on commercial structures, as they work well on larger buildings.

Steep slopes: A steeper slope is anything that’s over 3:12. It would be best if you considered these for areas that see a lot of rain and snow. The steeper slope will make it much easier for it to run off and into your gutters. Of course, the gutters need to be kept in top shape, too, to allow that to happen. They’re most often used on residential structures, as it often looks attractive on these buildings.

What Roof Profile Should You Use?

Now you know the basics of metal roof pitches. You’ll want to decide what kind of pitch you want on your project. There’s all kinds of things that you will need to consider, such as building type, weather, local building codes, and so on.

The best way to get the right roof pitch is to talk to a reputable building company, so they can help you pick the right option for you. They have the expertise, so they can walk you through everything you need to know.

Now you know everything you need to know about installing a metal roof pitch on your next project. With this guide, you can start to make decisions, along with the help of an experienced roofing company.