A new roof is a serious home investment, and deciding on a roofing material can be difficult. Many companies are intent on selling you a roof, so they focus on the positive aspects of their material without mentioning the drawbacks. It can take a fair amount of research in order to get all the information you need. If you’re considering a metal roof for your home, read on to find all the reasons it might—or might not—be the best choice for you.
Pro: Material
Metal roofs are made from steel or aluminum. This makes them much stronger than traditional roofs, which are made out of materials like wood or asphalt. They can therefore withstand much stronger weather conditions. In fact, a properly installed metal roof will usually last as long as the house itself. If you live in an area with heavy rain or snow, or high winds, at metal roof can be particularly appealing. Also, a metal roof won’t succumb to insects, mildew, or rot. And it offers much better fire resistance than a traditional roof.
Con: Noise
If you have a metal roof, and you want to know if it’s raining outside, you may not need to look out the window, as you’ll likely hear the rain tapping down from above. For some people this can be a pleasant sound, but others find it disruptive. A severe storm can make the noise even worse. If you have pets, they may find the noise upsetting, at least until they grow more accustomed to it.
Pro: Weight
While you might think a metal roof would be exceptionally heavy, but actually it’s much lighter than a traditional roof. This makes it easier to build and install.
Con: Denting
If you live in an area with a lot of hailstorms, it’s possible the hail could dent a metal roof, especially if it’s made out of a softer metal such as aluminum. If this is a concern of yours, consider speaking to the company that makes the roof to see what their policy is regarding denting, or if they have any guarantee.
Pro: Easy to Install
A good contractor should be able to install a metal roof much more quickly than a traditional one. Likewise, if the roof is damaged from something such as a storm, it should be a much easier and faster job to repair it.
Con: Leaking
If a metal roof is not installed properly, rain water could get into the screw holes, causing leaks. It’s very important to hire an experienced and reputable company to install a metal roof. They will make sure the screw heads are properly sealed, so that leaking doesn’t happen.
Pro: Energy Efficient
Metal roofing has a higher degree of energy efficiency than a traditional roof. Using cool roof pigments, sunlight is reflected, lowering the amount of energy absorbed by the roof. Also, most metal roofs have a level of thermal emittance that’s very high, so they can release a lot of the heat they absorb.
Put together, these two characteristics can seriously lower the amount of heat a metal roof absorbs from the sun. This means less heat coming into the home, significantly lowering the energy costs required to cool the home. In fact, savings can be up to 25% when compared to a traditional roof.
Con: HOAs
This may not apply to you, but if your home is governed by a homeowners association (HOA), you should consult them before putting a new roof on your home. Some have rules against using a metal roof.
Pro: Environmental Impact
Metal roofs are an ecologically-friendly choice, as they’re usually made from recycled materials. Also, once it reaches its end of life, it can be fully recycled. This is often not the case with traditional roofs.
Pro: Aesthetics
Metal roofs come in a wide variety of styles and colors, so you have many options regarding how you want your home to look. For its whole life, a metal roof will continue to look great. Traditional roofs, however, can start to really look worn out after five or ten years.
Con: Cost
While proponents of metal roofs will argue that the extra cost is a worthwhile investment, the fact remains that you’ll pay considerably more upfront for a metal roof than most traditional ones. This is because they’re made out of premium materials. While you’ll save money on repairs and maintenance, as well as climate control, those savings can take years to materialize. If you’re not planning on staying in your home for a long time, you may want to consider a different type of roof.
Conclusion
As you can see, the answer to the question “Should you get a metal roof?” is not a simply yes or no. The real answer depends on your preferences, your situation, and your budget. While some may be better served by a different roofing material, a metal roof can be an ideal choice for many.