List of Pros and Cons of Metal Roofing

One of the hottest roofing materials today is metal. Up in the snow country metal is extremely popular. It is lightweight, sheds the snow, and is fire resistant. It warms up very quickly under the sun for melting snow. However, there are both good and bad sides to this type of siding. It’s not for everyone or every situation.

Weighing the pros and cons before you buy a metal roof will help you determine if it’s right for you. In your analysis you want to compare it to the other options like wood, tile, or asphalt. Remember that metal roofs can be steel, aluminum, or some other type of metal.

What Are The Pros of Metal Roofing?

Metal beats out other materials in terms of ‘life expectancy’. The durability of metal is quite impressive. These roofs should last you as long as your house, and seal out the water, survive high winds, and shed the snow. They are mildew and fire resistant as well as excellent defenders against insects and rot.

When you consider the weight of a metal roof you can be happy to know that it is lighter than most types of tile (regular tile is around 750 lbs. per square or 100 square feet, and concrete tile weighs in at around 900 pounds a square). The metal roof can run anywhere from 50 to 150 lbs. per square. Another benefit to metal roofing is that you can add it directly over the top of the existing roof, without the need to tear off the old one or add any additional structural support.

1. Installation
Metal roofs are easy and quick to install. The panels can be from 12 to 36 inches wide. Any contractor worth their salt can have these installed in no time.

2. Heat Conduction
A metal roof is an energy-saver. The metal reflects the sun’s heat which minimizes your mid-day heat gains. That means saving energy on your air conditioning output throughout the day. The material itself carries a low insulation R-value but many systems will use a ‘dead-air’ space in between the roof deck and the metal that increases energy efficiency.

3. Rain and Snow
A metal roof has interlocking sections that make it virtually impenetrable to rain and snow. They have a solid surface that is slippery and the run-off from rain and snow flows right off of them.

What Are The Cons of Metal Roofing

Nothing is perfect. Metal roofing has many good points, but it has some negative aspects as well.

1. Initial Costs
This is a big deterrent for many people who think they would like a metal roof. The initial cost can be discouraging for some. It is considered a premium material (for all the positive features mentioned above) and can run you from $150 up to $600 a square. You are getting a deal but it comes over the ‘long term’ because of the durability of a metal roof. It will save you from replacing shingles and new repairs every year. A metal roof investment makes sense only if you plan to stay there a while.

2. Dings
Metal roofs can be dinged just like your car by hailstones. This can make them look a bit unattractive from a distance and at certain angles. The larger panels are harder to replace when damaged.

3. Lightning
Lots of people believe that because they have metal on their roof they will be more susceptible to lightning. This is simply not true. However, for anyone concerned about it, a metal roof is easily grounded just by enlisting the help of a lightning protection company.