January 3, 2020

If you’re considering replacing your roof or are building a new home and wondering what type of roof would work best for it, then just like millions of other American homeowners today, you’re doubtless considering a metal roof.

There are many reasons why metal roofs are proving so popular today, but here are the top 4:

1. Built to last and designed to be strong:

Metal roofs have a much longer lifespan than those made of other materials, and when professionally installed, a metal roof will typically survive for as long as the house it sits upon, with an average lifespan of 40 to 70 years. Compare this to the average lifespan of a traditional asphalt roof at just 12 to 20 years, and you can see why metal roofs and their strength and durability have proved popular. Able to withstand gusts of wind up to 140 miles an hour and neither corrode nor crack due to their rust-proof coatings, metal roofs are built with strength and longevity in mind.

2. Friendly to the environment:

With their high dependency on fossil fuels, and requirement to be replaced an average of every 15 to 20 years, traditional asphalt roofs often end up languishing in landfill sites, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Compared to metal roofs which typically consist of at least 25% recycled materials and are 100% recyclable, it’s easy to see why a metal roof can help you do your bit for the environment.

If you’re an environmentally conscientious homeowner and wish to begin using solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, then a metal roof can prove to be the perfect conduit for this. With some metal roofs being incredibly lightweight, they can also be installed directly over the existing asphalt shingles; saving the effort and environmental waste of simply tearing down the old roof and dumping at a landfill site. 

3. Energy efficient:

Most homes with a metal roof can save their owners a huge amount in monthly cooling and heating costs, thanks to its powerfully reflective properties. Reflecting solar rays rather than absorbing them as other roofs do, the average homeowners summer cooling costs can be reduced by more than a quarter, and if the metal roof has come with a reflective coating, it will further minimize heat gain and lower energy bills even more.

4. Good looking!

With a wide choice of materials available for metal roofs today, ranging from tin and zinc to copper and steel, and a mind boggling selection of colors, finishes and shapes, modern metal roofs can add a tasteful design element to your home, in a way that conventional asphalt shingle cannot. With the most popular metals used for roofs being steel and aluminium, both can hold paint finishes well and homeowners can choose from up to 100 different colors!

If you’re still not sure whether a metal roof is right for your home, call your local roofing supplier today to discuss your options in further detail.