Metal Roofing for Your Home

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An increasingly popular alternative to traditional roofing materials, metal roofs are lightweight, maintenance-free, fireproof, energy-efficient and durable. In addition, they can be manufactured in any style desired. Metal roofs last more than 30 years and often provide owners with a discount on their homeowner’s insurance. Many metal shingles provide a lifetime warranty.

Metal roofs can be applied over old shingles, thus eliminating the cost of tearing off old shingles. Other reasons why metal roofs are gaining in popularity is that they are fast and comparatively easy to install.

Metal Roofing Materials

Both durable and lighter weight, the two most common metal roofing materials are painted aluminum and steel. These can be fashioned to look like tile or slate, which is almost cost prohibitive because it is so rare and difficult to find. Other metal options are copper and stainless steel, but the cost of these materials is often beyond the budget of most homeowners.

Aluminum is gaining in popularity because it doesn’t rust, is easily formed to look like cedar shakes, tiles and slate, and because it deafens the sound of rain hitting the roof. The simulated cedar shakes are the most popular, particularly because they are amazingly difficult to distinguish from real cedar shakes. Aluminum is also available in many standard colors and in several energy efficient paint options. In addition, most aluminum and steel roofs are painted with Kynar, a dense, pure plastic.

Additional benefits of metal roofing include the following:

1. Completely seals out water

2. Resist mildew, insects and rot

3. Survive high winds

4. Offer long warranties

5. Minimize heat gain from sun’s radiant heat

6. Often utilize a dead-air space between the metal and roof deck to increase energy efficiency

The only major drawback is the steeper cost of installing metal roofing, which isn’t as much the case for re-roofing. Another drawback, in some instances is noise from rain or hail that can usually be controlled with materials that provide a structural barrier that minimizes noise. Some metal roofs will dent or become marred and others shouldn’t be walked on because they dent or get slippery when wet.

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