Erie Metal Roof is a great choice for homeowners looking to upgrade from traditional asphalt shingles. They offer a long lifespan, energy efficiency, and an attractive appearance.
But installing a new metal roof is not inexpensive, and you will want to understand what factors go into the total cost. This will help you make an informed decision.
Whether it’s an elegant, sleek aesthetic or a bold, textured look that draws attention and enhances the beauty of your building, metal roofing offers endless possibilities to meet your specific architectural vision. A wide array of colors enables your roof to seamlessly blend in with the overall design theme of your home, while contrasting finishes offer even more customization for homeowners looking to make their home stand out in the neighborhood.
The panel profile of your metal roof is another critical consideration when it comes to aesthetics. If you are interested in a clean, minimalist aesthetic, consider the sleek lines of a Standing Seam roof. Alternatively, if you are looking for a more classic design, a Corrugated roof might be the best fit for your home.
Additionally, a metal roof can be designed with slopes and other features that add character to your roofline. Skylights and dormers are popular options that provide a unique focal point, while increasing the amount of natural light in the home and allowing for stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Slopes also provide a more dramatic accent to the roofline, allowing for even more visual appeal.
Additionally, the latest trends in metal roofs are embracing both sustainability and diverse appearances. Energy-efficient and eco-friendly roofing options like cool roof coatings and solar reflective pigments help to improve the thermal performance of your roof, while also contributing to a more sustainable environment. Meanwhile, mixed materials and contrasting elements are an increasingly popular aesthetic trend that combines modern and traditional elements for a truly unique and personal style.
Durability
One of the biggest reasons why many homeowners opt for metal roofs is because they are extremely durable and long-lasting. They can resist harsh weather conditions and outlast other roofing materials, including asphalt shingles. Moreover, metal roofs don’t crack or mold easily and require less maintenance over the course of their lifespan.
Aside from being resistant to damage, dents, and scratches, metal roofs are also flame-resistant. As a result, they can help protect investments and lower insurance premiums in buildings that store flammable materials or equipment. Additionally, they can reflect sunlight and cool interiors, helping businesses decrease their energy bills during hot months.
Additionally, because metal is a highly durable material, these roofs can resist high gusts of wind without losing their structural integrity. This is particularly important in areas prone to wildfires or where there are high winds that can cause damage.
Another benefit is that a well-installed metal roof can last up to 50 years and is often covered by a lifetime warranty. The warranty covers any manufacturing defects and can be transferable. Moreover, a metal roof can be made from recycled materials, which reduces the overall environmental impact.
However, the lifespan of a metal roof can be reduced if protective coatings are not properly maintained or if the roofing panels are exposed to harsh environments. This includes coastal areas that experience salty air, and industrial settings with pollution that can accelerate the deterioration of metal roofs. Additionally, improper handling or installation can lead to oil canning, a wavy or rippling appearance in the flat areas of metal roofing panels. This can be avoided by hiring professional installers and using high-quality materials.
Noise
Many homeowners have a hard time considering metal roofs because of the sound they produce when it rains. This sound can be quite loud, especially for those who live near other buildings. This issue can be resolved by installing insulation and sound-dampening underlayment or textured coatings to reduce the noise generated by a metal roof.
Metal roofing is known to cause some pings and clicks during a rain storm due to its expansion and contraction with temperature changes. This is a natural process that occurs with all roof materials. This is why it is important to perform regular visual inspections of your roof to ensure that no underlying issues are causing the sounds of your metal roof to become more prominent during a rainstorm. In addition, loose fasteners that have been loosened over time are also prone to making these noises.
If a metal roof is installed properly, as it will be by a professional metal roofing expert, it should accommodate these thermal variations without producing the dreaded noises. This is because most houses have a plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) roof deck that the roofing materials — including shingles and metal — are installed on top of. Unlike older metal roofs that had nothing between them and the building structure below, these decks help to deaden the noise of rain on metal panels.
Nevertheless, the sounds of rain on metal roofs aren’t nearly as pronounced as those from traditional shingle roofs. In fact, according to the Acoustic Group of University of Lulea, Sweden, metal roofs generate only about five decibels more noise than shingles. Keep in mind that the softest sound humans can detect is zero decibels and safety standards indicate that exposure to noises greater than 85 decibels over long periods of time can damage hearing over time.
Expansion/Contraction
While many people don’t think about it, all materials experience thermal expansion and contraction as temperatures rise and fall. It’s a natural process that causes the metal in your roof to shift slightly. This shift is what creates the pops and pings you might hear on your metal roof in the morning when the sun starts to heat it up. As the metal expands, it will move against segments of other metal that aren’t expanding at the same rate causing the friction and energy that creates those noises. When the sun sets and the roof cools, this same movement occurs in the opposite direction. This back and forth can cause a lot of stress on the seams and fasteners in your roof if the metal isn’t designed and installed to allow for these movements.
Luckily, this is a problem you shouldn’t have to worry about with a quality metal roof. Most of the time, it’s only a concern if your metal roof isn’t properly designed and installed. This can lead to issues such as leaking, loose panels, and other problems.
The key is to make sure your metal roofing contractor understands, plans, and accommodates for these thermal movements. This may include leaving gaps, using specialized fasteners that can float with the movement, and other techniques. It’s also important that your contractor knows about the physical properties of the different metals you choose for your roof. Because different metals expand and contract at varying rates, it’s crucial that your contractor knows about the differences to ensure your roof is installed correctly. For example, steel has a higher coefficient of expansion than aluminum and will expand/contract more with temperature changes.
Warranty
A metal roof offers an added layer of protection and security to the people and items inside of a home or commercial building. As such, homeowners can choose from a variety of warranties to protect their investment in a metal roof.
Many metal manufacturers offer a product warranty that covers the integrity of the metal roofing materials, while installers offer workmanship warranties that cover the installation. These warranties are an excellent way to help homeowners understand the value of a metal roof and the level of protection they can expect for their home or building.
It is important for design professionals to thoroughly review all available warranties and their coverage in order to provide accurate information to the homeowner. This will ensure that the homeowner understands what they are purchasing and can make an informed decision when choosing a metal roof and installing it with a qualified roofer.
As with any product, warranties have exclusions and conditions so it is critical to be aware of these when making a selection. For example, if a manufacturer offers a “lifetime” warranty, it is important to understand that this means a lifetime for the original purchaser and only in the original environment in which it was installed.
Other factors that can affect a warranty include how fade resistant the paint is. Some manufacturers have specific criteria for how much of the roof must fade in order to qualify for a replacement or repair. As a premium roofing option, a metal roof is more costly to replace than a traditional shingle roof and it is important for the homeowner to know that their investment will be protected. This peace of mind can be worth the extra cost.