According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, sales of metal roofing products have increased steadily over the past ten years. This is a clear sign that homeowners and builders are grwoing more and more aware of the benefits that metal roofing offer. Also, according to the Metal Roofing Allicance, an estimated 5 to 8 million U.S. households enjoy the benefits of metal roofs. This number is growing at well over 150,000 new installations each year. Metal roofs accounted for over 10% of the total North American roofing market in 2003, up from 4% in 2000.
Expected life:Properly installed, a metal roof should last as long as the house. A metal roof will not dry out, split, curl, peel or flake like conventional roofing products. Metal roofing has been successfuly used for centuries and it lasts virtually forever. An asphalt-shingled roof, which is the most popular kind in America, is likely to last an average of just 13 years, even though the shingles themselves are backed by 30, 40, or sometimes 50 year warranties.
Weight:Metal roofing is very lightweight, compared to conventional roofing products. Metal roofing is less than one-third the weight of asphalt and adds only 10% to the weight of the existing roof materials. Metal roofing weights only about 70 lbs per 100 square feet while shingles weigh almost 4 times that.
Installation:Metal roofing comes in panels that cover several square feet at one time. An accomplished contractor can install these quickly. Plus, metal roofing is put down with screws instead of nails. This results in a fastener that will not pull out like nails do under normal weather conditions. Metal roofing can be installed directly over existing roofing or on a roof that has been stripped off. Also warranties on metal roofing will cover the material on very low sloped roofs.
Fire Resistance:Because metal roofing is noncombustible, it is given a class A fire rating (the most resistant). Metal roofing will not burn or support the spread of fire.
Heat Conduction:Metal reflects radiant heat from the sun, minimizing midday head gain. According to studies done by the Florida Solar Commission, metal roofs reflect as much as 70% of the sun, thereby reducing solar gain by as much as 34%. This helps keep attics cooler in the summer, translating into energy savings and improved interior occupant comfort. Conventional roofing tends to absorb heat, which makes attics warmer and proper ventilation a problem for most homeowners. If you have a hard time understanding the difference in heat gain and absorbing heat with regards to metal roofing and shingles, think about this. Shingles are made from fiberglass and asphalt, similar to the materials in pavement. After the sun has been on a parking lot all day, its still very hot well after the sun goes down. Now take a piece of our roofing and put it in the sun all afternoon. As soon as the sun goes down, the metal begins to cool because it does not absorb heat.
Color:Conventional roofing comes only in a limited number of colors. However, metal roofing is stocked in several different colors depending on the type of roofing. We stock in house 22 different colors and can order numerous different colors. Metal is also available in several different profiles, unlike shingles which mainly does a three tab and a raised profile design. Color on a shingle roof is embedded in the granules that make up its surface, which tend to wash off in time. This is evident in nearly all gutters of houses in the United States today. Metal roofing, however, has a baked on paint system that is guaranteed for 25 years.
Environment-Friendly:Steel is 100% recyclable. This is little waste and can be recylced an infinite number of times without degradation. Most often metal roofing can be installed directly over an existing roof which eliminates tearing off the old roof and burdening over capacity landfills.
Noise:For some people, the sound of rain tapping the roof is romantic and homey. Contrary to popular belief, metal roofs are not noisy when it rains. In fact, according to one study, metal roof's noise levels are about the same as other products such as shingles. More noise actually passes through walls and windows than through the roof.