Tornado Warnings? Let’s Talk Metal Roofing!
Not long after a post talking about our wet summer and an increase in roof work being done we made it through another brutal rain storm and for some of us a tornado warning.
As we’ve been saying for a while now, the weather change over the last couple of years isn’t going to get any better any time soon.
People are finally catching on and we’re getting more and more questions about metal roofing. So that’s what we’re going to be talking about in today’s post. For more information about metal roofing, you can click here, here and here for some of our older posts.
BENEFITS OF METAL ROOFING
The primary benefit of metal roofing is longevity. Manufacturers routinely offer 50-year warranties and even lifetime, non-prorated warranties.
They claim their products will last two to four times longer than roofs with asphalt shingles. By avoiding one or two re-roofing jobs during the life of the metal roof, you will more than offset the higher initial cost.
Near-term, a new metal roof recoups a bit more of its installation cost upon home resale (6% according to Remodeling Magazine) than does a new asphalt roof.
There are other advantages, as well. Metal roofs are lightweight, sometimes allowing them to be installed directly over old roofs. And when metal roofing is painted with specially formulated “cool pigments”, solar energy is reflected and emitted, rather than radiated as heat into the attic.
Additionally, metal roofs are effective in preventing the spread of fire when hot embers fall on them. In fact, some insurance companies will give you a discount if you have a metal roof.
In addition, metal roofing is made with a large percentage of recycled metal—often 95 percent—and when its useful life is done, it can be recycled again. No worries about it filling up dwindling space in landfills.
MYTHS ABOUT METAL ROOFING
Metal roofing has more than its share of myths, it could be because it has undergone so many transformations over the years. Here are the most common myths about metal roofing:
It will increase the likelihood of a lightning strike: Metal conducts electricity, but electricity is not drawn to it.
Metal roofs are noisy in the rain: Not so. They may even be quieter than other roof types.
Metal roofs are susceptible to damage by hail: While extremely large hailstones can dent a metal roof, normal hailstorms will not..
You cannot walk on a metal roof: You can, but you have to know how to do it without causing damage. Check with the manufacturer of the product you choose.
A metal roof will make your house colder in winter: Actually, a metal roof has no effect on the temperature of the typical vented attic in winter. It’s the insulation under (or on top of) the floor of your attic that keeps you warm.
Now keep in mind, we are roofing contractors and we work with and install all roofing materials. We just feel that metal roofing is a superior material for the money. That being said, we at DYMI Construction are always here to answer your questions about any roofing issues or projects. Just give us a call or drop us a line.
