Although not considered as traditional roofing, metal roofs are fast gaining popularity because of their amazing features. They are not only lightweight, durable, fire retardant, and energy efficient, but they also do not require any maintenance. Another amazing feature is that metal can be used to imitate almost any style of roof. Furthermore, metal roofs have a long life expectancy, as much as 30 years and more. There are some manufacturers that even provide a lifetime warranty. In this article, we will discuss about a few important things that you must know about metal roofing.
Materials Used
When it comes to metal roofing, the two most popular materials used are aluminium and steel. They provide durability and a light weight to the products. Both aluminum and steel can be successfully molded to form tiles or slates without the need for any additional support. Although stainless steel and copper may also be used, they are mostly expensive. Aluminium can be easily transformed into visually appealing slate, cedar shakes, and tiles. These features coupled with the fact that aluminum does not rust has made it a popular choice for metal roofing. It should be coated with a plastic coating as per the individual preference of the homeowners.
Easy and Quick Installation
The materials are formed into various shingles and sheets as per the requirement of the homeowners. This enhances the efficiency of the installation process and results in significantly low cost per square. Another advantage is the speed of installation, which implies that your home is not left open for a long time, thus reducing the damage caused by unexpected weather changes. Most of the metal roofing material is available in the form of sheets; however you may buy these products as separate shingles.
Non-Combustible
As metal is a noncombustible material, hence you get good fire resistant rating. Due to the Class A rating, several financial companies provide considerable discounts on home fire insurance when the roof is installed at home. However, it should be noted that the fire rating of the entire roof is not same as the fire rating of the materials used.
Thermal Conductivity
The radiant heat produced by the sun is effectively reflected off the metal, and this significantly reduces the heat gain during summer seasons. The R-value of the raw metal is usually low; however the manufacturers tend to include foam and other types of insulation materials below the metal sheets to substantially increase the R-value.
Finally, metal roofing can be easily installed on almost any type of roof that has a considerably low pitch. If the roof of your house has a low pitch, we would suggest that you check the product data sheet provided by the manufacturer to make sure that the material will work well on your residential property and whether the warranty will be considered.
If you are planning to install a metal roof then you must contact the local manufacturers in your area. They will send a professional to your home to determine the amount of time and cost required for the project.