Will A Metal Roof Rust?

While metal roofing was often used as a commercial option, increasing numbers of homeowners are taking advantage of it too. There are many reasons you may want to look into using a metal roof on your home, such as durability, ease of maintenance, and more. However, there are lots of myths floating around that say metal roof rust over time. It makes sense to most people, as the metal will rust when out in the open. Is that true about metal roof rust, though? Let’s find out. 

Will A Metal Roof Rust?

Here’s the main question: if you have a metal roof installed, will it rust over time? The answer is, most of the time, it should resist rusting for decades to come. How is that possible? It’s all in the type of metal used, the finish, and how it’s installed. If you have just bare steel on your roof, for example, of course, it’s going to start rusting. If you pick a metal more resistant to rusting and have it professionally installed, you can stop this from happening. 

When picking out your roof, your roofer should help you select what’s right for you. There are some metal roof types that are supposed to rust, though. A weathering steel option, for example, will be designed to rust to a certain point to get the right aesthetic. 

How Rusting Is Prevented

Over the years, there have been lots of advancements in preventing rust. This has been used in creating new metal roofs to make them as resistant as possible. These include:

• Galvalume steel: Galvalume is a coating typically used over steel to prevent rusting. It’s made up of zinc, aluminum, and silicone. These materials together fully coat the steel, protecting it from the elements. This is often a good option for your metal roof if you live anywhere with consistently high temperatures, near a coastline, or high precipitation.

• Galvanized steel: Galvanized steel is another type of steel coating that’s very popular for metal roofs. It’s a way of creating carbon steel with an alloy of zinc oxide. The zinc is what helps protect the roof from moisture and rust. The steel is then finished with a resin coating, which protects the metal and gives it a smooth, aesthetically pleasing look. It also helps resist scratching and scuffing.

• Weathering steel: These roofs are designed to rust, but only up to a certain point. The steel is covered with a coating of copper phosphorous and silicon. Once the roof is installed, that coating will start to rust. As soon as the top coating has rusted away, the steel underneath ionizes. When this happens, the steel is protected and won’t. It’s a great option as it’ll last for decades, but also, many appreciate the look this gives their roof.

Painting And Coating A Metal Roof

As you can see, one of the most crucial things you can do is pick the right coating for your metal roof. With a good layer, you’ll be able to fully seal your metal roof against the elements and ensure that no water damage or rust happens.

There are two different types of paint coatings you can use on a roof to prevent metal roof rust:

• PVDF: This is Premium Polyvinylidene Flouride, and it’s a commercial grade paint that is designed to protect against the weather. As it was designed especially for metal roofs, it’s excellent at sealing metal and making it safe no matter what the elements are throwing at it. 

It’s also great aesthetically, as it can maintain its color for a long time. That’s even after being exposed to UV rays and pollutants, so it’s a good choice if you don’t want to be repainting the roof after installation. 

• SMP: This paint is Silicone Modified Primer and is one of the hardest paints on the market right now. Once applied, it’s highly resistant to scratches, abrasions, and more. This avoids any gaps in the sealant happening and rust occurring underneath. 

It’s often a very economical option too, so it’s become very popular on home owner’s roofs. Both styles of paint come in a wide variety of colors, so you’ll be able to pick one that works for you and your home. When talking to your roofer about painting the roof, ask about warranties. There should be warranties available on the paint you choose, so you’re protected if anything should happen to the paint or the roof. 

Hiring Professionals Is Important To Rust Prevention

Finally, if you want to ensure that your new metal roof doesn’t rust, then you want to ensure you’re hiring professionals to do it. There’s no denying that metal roofs are an expensive option, as they’re more long lasting. However, errors can occur without you noticing if you attempt to install it yourself. When these happen, that can allow rust to start forming. 

When you hire professionals, they’ll be able to bring their experience to the installation job. You’ll see that as they know the ins and outs of the process, they’ll be able to install the roof cleanly and without issues. That helps you avoid problems down the line and save you money in repairs later on. 

Once the roof has been installed, you should inspect it at least once a year. That involves checking it inside and out for any issues that have appeared. If you find these issues, call a roofer as soon as possible to help you put them right. That will help avoid rust and keep the roof looking as good as new. 

Conclusion

As you can see, it is possible for metal roofs to rust, but thanks to modern roof manufacturing techniques and coatings, you shouldn’t see rust form on your roof. The best way to avoid this is to talk to a professional roofer and have them handle the installation job for you. That, and regular inspections, will ensure that rust won’t show up on your metal roof.