Metal Roofing > Shingle Roofing
7 Reasons to Install a Metal Roof over a Traditional Shingle Roof
Generally speaking, most people in the U.S. choose to go with a standard shingle roof installation when replacing their roof or building a new home. The main reason for this is that it is the cheaper option when compared to metal roofing options. Another factor that might contribute to this could be the fact that most, if not all of the houses around have used shingles on their roof and it could make your home stick out a bit.
Apart from that, there aren’t many reasons why a new or renovating homeowner shouldn’t consider applying some type of metal roof to their home. While it may be more of a monetary investment in the short term, metal roofing stands the test of time in that It can last up to 50 or 60 years longer. If you’ve been looking for a reason to up fit your home with a new metal roof, look no further. Listed below are all the reasons we could think of to replace your old raggedy shingle roof with the best solution your local roofing contractor has to offer.
Lightweight
First and foremost, what you’ll notice about the metal sheets that will potentially be installed to your roof is how lightweight they are. While much more durable than a traditional shingle style solution, they are easier to manage and repair should it take any kind of storm damage. It is also much better to have this lighter load of weight up so high over your home’s structure in terms of safety and convenience.
Options
Who doesn’t like having more options? Metal roofing solutions provide a much wider range of options when it comes to texture, color and even the type of metal the homeowner would prefer. While it is true that generally asphalt shingle roofing has more color options, in many areas the only colors available to suppliers are black and gray. This is obviously depending on the market and consumer demand, but metal roofing can always be sealed and painted however the homeowner would like.
While a Standing Seam steel roof is usually the longest lasting, best looking option, there are many other material options including tin, steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc. A standing seam roofing solution can be made of either steel, aluminum, copper or zinc but is most commonly made of steel. This is the most durable option, and it makes sense to try and get the most life out of it when investing the extra money.
Something else to consider is the cost of labor. Since it usually doesn’t take near as long to install a metal roof and do it right, the cost of labor is almost always cheaper. It won’t amount to much of a change in the overall price since it can be a rather expensive undertaking, it can help mitigate those expenses a bit.
Durability and longevity
As mentioned before, shingles typically only last around 30-40 years. This is heavily dependent upon the region and climate as well as the year-round weather conditions for the area. A metal roof’s longevity, however, is less dependent on the surrounding area’s conditions. Even at it’s best, a shingle roof will usually have to be replaced or need serious repairs at least twice before a standing seam steel roof. Now that’s getting more bang for you buck! Not to mention it’s resistance to the elements in that it will retain it’s color much longer and withstand more damage from hail/fire/tree damage. It may help to alleviate some concerns of having such an expensive material on top of your home to know that it can be fixed rather easily in comparison to the cheaper option.
Curb appeal
While also being the most responsible long-term choice for your roof replacement or installation, a nice new metal roof is one of the best ways to up fit your home and give it a modern look. It’s not a bad thing to stand out! Impress your neighbors with the latest and greatest in roofing technology. This can be especially valuable when considering the resale value of your home. Instead of picking the cheaper option to save the money, consider the long-term implications of how your home will sell to a prospective buyer.
Less maintenance
There are two different types of steel roofs. Corrugated roofing is the much cheaper option, but it doesn’t look quite as appealing to the eye and may require more maintenance. It typically doesn’t last as long as it’s counterpart, standing seam, and is often used for sheds, barns and non-residential buildings.
While we’ve covered standing seam roofing fairly comprehensively already, there are a few other important facts to include. Standing seam roofing is much more customizable than any other roof and requires much less maintenance than a corrugated roof. They tend to last much longer than any other roofing options, with upwards of 100 years of use for a single roof.
The only downside to choosing a standing seam over a corrugated roof might be that there is more of a likelihood of hail damage, but this is simply because there is more surface area that is flat. This is one of the things that makes it so visually appealing: the fact that it looks more like one single entity as opposed to sheets that have been put together.
Energy Efficiency
Because of the simple fact that metal roofing reflects sunlight, this option is much more energy efficient for your home. Especially in a hotter climate where much more cooling can be required, a metal roof will deflect heat from the sun as opposed to soaking it all in like an asphalt shingle roof.
Metal roofing is also much more conducive to applying attachments such as solar panels. While installing panels to a shingle roof is always a viable option, the difficulty in installing and removing the panels from your metal roof is much less. This means that generally the cost of labor and attachment equipment should be much less of an undertaking.