There has been a clear progression in the materials used for residential and commercial rooftops. For a long time, roofing material included large pieces of slate. While the slate itself didn’t deteriorate, it was hard and brittle and would chip and break. Additionally, the nails would rust out causing the slate tiles to slide off the roof.
For years now, asphalt shingles have been the standard material for residential roofing. While most people still use asphalt shingles, there are now better options. Steel roofing is typically thought of as a material for commercial roofs, however, the benefits of steel roofing for residential roofs is becoming more and more evident.
Steel roofing can be coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy, which increased the lifespan of the roof to 100 years. Even without the alloy coating, a metal roof will last over 50 years with regular maintenance, and this is true regardless of whether you choose a steel material or an aluminum material. Roofing contractors can better explain why metal roofs last so much longer than asphalt roofs.
In addition to lasting longer, metal roofs are also less expensive upfront. The cheapest slate or tile roofing options are roughly 30% more than the most expensive metal roofing options. The initial investment is what deters a lot of homeowners from getting a new roof when they should oppose to waiting until it is an emergency.
A metal roof will also save you money on your monthly energy bills. Metal roofing holds and reflects temperature significantly better than asphalt shingles. One study showed that you can save up to 25% on your monthly energy bills simply by switching to a metal roof.
Metals roofs also come in over 100 different colors. This range provides homeowners with significantly more options since asphalt shingles only come in 15 to 20 different colors. It is unlikely that you won’t find a metal roof in a color you like.
Not all roofing contractors will be able to help you with a metal roof installation. Many roofers focus on asphalt roofing between it are the widest spread. When looking for roofing contractors be sure to ask up front if they install metal roofs. Otherwise, you might have a contractor come over to provide a free estimate and try to talk you into an asphalt roof simply because they want your business.
Another benefit to metal roofing that many people may not realize is they are much more environmentally friendly than asphalt roofing. New metal roofs contain 30% to 60% recycled metal content. This means their production is more environmentally friendly than other roofing options, and metal roofs are 100% recyclable. Although metal roofs will last 50 to 100 years, when they are replaced, they can be completely recycled, opposed to being thrown in a landfill.
Metal roofs will stand up better during storms, which has made them more popular in some areas. In some southern states where hurricanes are a real threat, metal roofs have been adopted as a standard for years now. However, the overall benefits of these roofs are now being realized in other regions. The two most commonly used styles of metal roofing are vertical panels and interlocking shingles. Both of these share the same benefits but provide a different visual effect.