Roofing Contractors Lexington | Metal Roofing
Metal roofing in Lexington and the surrounding rural areas has really gained in popularity over the last 10 years or so and for great reason. Metal roofs are very durable and outlast many traditional roofing materials. If you’re looking for a new roof for your house or you need to replace or repair your existing roof, a metal roof can be a great choice for a total roof replacement project.
Metal roofs have many pros and a few cons to consider if you’re looking to see what the cost of a metal roof is. Be forewarned, a metal roof will be more expensive than traditional asphalt shingles. But let’s explore the benefits and the drawbacks of metal roofing before you let the sticker shock you out of a good roofing material.
Metal roofs require very little maintenance at all. In addition, a metal roof is very eco-friendly or what some refer to as a “green” product. Your new metal roof is also going to last a lot longer than traditional roofing materials but we will discuss this more later.
Metal roofing can be made of several materials based on climate and consumer choice. Aluminum, zinc, tin, galvanized steel or copper are some of the roofing choices for Central Kentucky.
All of our metal roofing materials are labeled, tested and approved by FM Global or UM. If you’re getting cheap prices on metal roofing from other roofing contractors it’s probably because they are using cheap materials that will cost you more in the long run.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of metal roofs.
Metal Roofing Advantages
Some of the many advantages of metal roofing include:
- Durability. Although we recommend inspecting your metal roofing for damage or wear from time to time, a metal roof is one of the toughest roofing materials money can buy. A metal roof should not corrode or crack. This durability can save you on costly repairs over the life of your roof. Metal roofs can withstand winds of over 150 MPH and a metal roof can be upgraded to an impact-resistant. An impact-resistant roof can also save you money on costly storm damage repairs.
- Energy Efficient. We all want to save a little green while being green right? A metal roof can save you over 25% on cooling costs due to the reflectivity of the materials and colors available.
- Fire Resistant. If your home is struck by lightening or endangered by embers from a nearby or approaching forest fire, a metal roof will not flare up and catch fire like shingles will. This could lead to a safer household environment during electrical storms and forest wildfire season.
- A Green Roofing Material. Well not exactly a “green roof” in that we aren’t using plants and vegetation as a roof covering but environmentally conscious and friendly in the fact that metal roofing is 100% recyclable. In addition, we buy metal roofing materials from manufacturers that use up to 95% of recycled metals to make their new metal roofing materials. Basically all of the shingle material roofing gets torn off and thrown in a dumpster thus contributing directly to the landfill. So if you’re wanting to reduce your waste a metal roof is a great way to be more earth friendly.
- Time Tested Material. Most shingles are designed for a lifespan of 15-25 years and most of the time they don’t last as long as they claim due to harsh weather and storm damage. A good quality metal roofing material can literally last a lifetime. A typical metal roof should last anywhere from 45-75 years.
So purchasing a metal roof is a bigger initial investment but will most certainly pay dividends in the long run.
Disadvantages Metal Roofing
We all know that life isn’t all peaches and cream and roofing is really no different. We want to help you make the best decision for your home and that’s why we also want to discuss some of the drawbacks of a metal roof.
- Price. Let’s face it. A metal roof can be an expensive initial investment. Some people just may not find it in their budget to pay 2-3 times the cost of a shingle roof despite the fact the metal roof will last much longer. Older homeowners or ones that don’t plan to remain in the house for very long may not see the benefits of a metal roof.
- Durability. Wait, didn’t we just say this was an advantage of a metal roof? Well yes but here’s what you need to know. If the metal roofing material isn’t certified by a trustworthy company you could be getting a cut rate grade of metal. What happens are inconsistencies in the thickness of the metal and poor quality. This can lead to corrosion and rust. The thinner material can also rust easier in a hail storm and may sustain greater hail damage than normal. Be sure your metal roof is installed by a qualified company using only certified materials.
- They Can Get LOUD! During a hail storm or heavy rain the metal roof can tend to be quite noisy. i find this to be very nostalgic and soothing but others who aren’t used to the pitter patter on a tin roof may be disturbed by the increased rain volume. More insulation can be added to reduce the noise if so desired but expect to pay even more to reduce the noise level.
- Color Coordinating. Fading over the years can make matching a new metal roofing panel a little bit of a challenge. If you add an addition on to your home someometimes inconsistencies in the newer and older section roofing colors are unavoidable. Also, if a repair is necessary those color discrepancies can also rear their ugly heads. A minor issue but certainly something to consider.
- Movement. Contraction and expansion is a natural phenomenon of metals and it’s no different on a roof. Temperature extremes cause the roof to expand and contract but proper installation can prevent any problems from arising. Yet another reason you want to go with a certified metal roofing installer on your next home roof renovation.
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