Metal roofs are the rage in residential areas, with good reason

You may not realize it, but chances are your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects you, your family, and your property from the elements. Choosing the right roofing material can be a difficult decision as there are pros and cons to all of them. It is important to understand the pros and cons of various types of roofing options and compare them to other materials and give you some tips on how to choose the right roofing material for your home.

Metal roofing has exploded in recent years as the design, aesthetics, and color options.

Metal roofs are durable and long-lasting. Thanks to the material's unique durability, you can count on it to withstand the elements — including gusts of wind up to 140 miles per hour — and not corrode nor crack thanks to rust-proof coatings. 

If you intend on living in your residence for more than 15 years, a metal roof will likely yield a positive return on investment. That is the average amount of time it takes before you need to replace the first asphalt shingle roof with a second roof. It is important to know various types of metal roofing and the main types of metal roofing materials. We have covered it all here. 

 

Here are the main 5 types of metal roofing -

Corrugated Metal Roofing -

Corrugated metal roofing is a lightweight, low-cost, but durable roofing type that is easy to install and makes for a great replacement for typical asphalt shingles. Corrugated metal roofing is used in both commercial and residential buildings, and it can be used as metal roofing or metal walls. Corrugated roofing panels will be able to withstand severe weather conditions, including hail storms, snowstorms, heat waves, and hurricanes, and are fire-resistant. If you make this investment a metal roof could last you an entire lifetime.

The term corrugated metal roofing is a bit tricky. Mostly, only an “ S “ shaped wavy panel is corrugated. In simple terms, it is anything round and wavy and NOT square or boxy. However, the term corrugated could mean any type of metal that is formed into grooves and ridges. It could literally mean any type of metal roofing, including the more square and boxy-looking panels.

Sheets of metal are made stronger by corrugating or folding the metal to make grooves and ridges. The corrugation process further increases the tensile strength of steel. This means that a light gauge metal like aluminum, copper, or steel, which may otherwise be flimsy, can be made into a strong panel.

 

Standing Seam Roofing

Standing seam metal roofing is a concealed fastener roofing system that features vertical or trapezoidal legs with flat space in between. This metal roofing system from MBCI is one of the most durable and weather-tight roof systems available in the industry.

Standing seam roofs are less likely to leak. There is a much lower chance of leaks with standing seam since it is a concealed fastener roof system. The fasteners don't penetrate the metal roofing panel. The vast majority of standing seam metal roofing jobs are 24 gauge steel. It’s a premium roofing system that’s expected to last 40-plus years. The components must be designed to work as a whole. Standing seam roofing panels are the most expensive panels and use the best paint system. It wouldn’t make sense to use light gauge steel for minimal savings and lesser performance.

The biggest difference between these two classic metal roofing systems is the method of attachment. Standing seam panels are a concealed fastener system which means the fasteners don’t penetrate the face of the panel during installation, and they’re not visible. Corrugated panels are exposed to a fastener panel, meaning that you need to drill a screw hole through the panel to fasten it to the structure.

 

Metal Shingle Roofing

The oldest commercial metal shingles were developed in 1959 by Kaiser Aluminum; their product line was later bought out by Isaiah Industries, Inc. in 1980. Most other metal roofing products available today were invented in 1980 or later.

Metal shingles are formed with airspace between the metal and the roof deck. That airspace acts as a thermal break to stop the conductive flow of heat from the surface of the roof into the attic. (Think about what the dead airspace between two layers of glass in a thermal pane window does.) Testing done by Florida Solar Energy Center showed high reflectance brown metal shingles were reducing heat gain by 40.9% compared to standard asphalt shingles. This is all because of the airspace between the metal and the roof deck. In cold climates, there needs to be insulation on top of the ceilings as there would be with all other tiles.

 

Metal Slate Roofing -

Slate Rock metal roofing system was designed for homeowners who want the classic high-end beauty of slate roofing. Slate Rock utilizes the latest in metal roofing coatings to achieve unsurpassed beauty. The dimensional-appearing finish is a four-layer PVDF coating unmatched for performance.

Slate Rock is a system of interlocking aluminum panels with concealed fasteners. Permanently rust-free and wind-resistant, Slate Rock is longer lasting than natural slate roofing, and at a lower price than real slate.

 

Metal Tile Roofing-

A metal tile roof is an investment in your home. It’s not nearly as economical as a shingle roof, but the short and long-term benefits may make it worth your money. Metal tiles are coated to reflect solar radiant heat. With less energy making it into your home, you’ll need less energy to cool it, resulting in far more tolerable electricity bills immediately after installation.

Metal tile panels, which sometimes start their lives as recycled material, have a 50-year warranty. This means that you might go through 2 or more full asphalt tile roofs at the same time you only invest in one metal tile roof. The metal is also fully recyclable. Because it’s both profitable and an easily recycled material, finding facilities to take them is an easier process.

 

5 Types of Metal Roofing Materials

1. Copper which is extremely long-lasting, very soft with a low melting temperature

2. Aluminum which is long-lasting, and resistant to salt water corrosion

3. Zinc which is extremely long-lasting, resistant to corrosion, and lowest melting point

4. Steel has three variations : galvanized, galvalume, and weathering steel (Corten)

5. Tin, which is often referred to as steel, was used prior to World War II. No longer commonly applied.

Metal roofs are becoming popular again. In fact, metal roofing sales increased by 9%. One reason for this is that metal roofs are much more durable than asphalt roofs. The US Department of Energy's Roofing Rater's Consortium found that metal roofs have an expected life of more than 50 years. However, choosing the right metal will make sure that your roof lasts even longer. Study about different metal options, how to choose the right one, and how to install it. There are a variety of metal roofing systems to choose from and they each have their benefits. This blog will look at different materials used in metal roofing, how to choose them, and how to install them.