Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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BENEFITS OF METAL ROOFING

Beautiful style, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and a proven performance expectation of 50+ years.

 The benefits offered by today’s metal roofs allow homeowners to upgrade their homes with products of lasting value.            While other roofs quickly diminish in value as they age, metal roofs provide the following lasting benefits:

• Proven performance expectation of 50+ years
• Beautiful styles to match any home or neighborhood
• Interlocking panels for maximum wind resistance
• Hail & Fire resistance
• Energy efficiency by keeping homes cooler
• Low weight to help preserve structural integrity and life

Sustainable Metal Roofing:

Because they're largely made of recycled material and can be recycled again and again, metal roofs are considered a more sustainable choice than asphalt shingles. Metal roofs are also more energy-efficient thanks to their reflective qualities, which can block heat transmission to the home's interior.

Longevity and Durability

Perhaps the most critical advantage metal roofing offers homeowners is longevity.

Roofing can often be one of the most expensive purchases a homeowner will make after the purchase of the home itself. Between the cost of roof replacement and the obvious disruption, it comes as no surprise that most homeowners make it a priority to minimize the number of times they need to replace their roof.

When comparing longevity between metal roofing and shingles, there really is no contest.

Typical asphalt shingles have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Metal roofing has an average lifespan of 50+ years.  In fact, for many homeowners, the first metal roof they install on their home is the last roof they install.  That's simply not the case for asphalt shingles.

Instead, asphalt shingles are well known for needing regular maintenance, especially on homes that experience extreme weather like heavy snow, hail, and high winds. Shingle replacement, as well as re-caulking and sealing, are common for residential asphalt roofs.

Metal roofing, on the other hand, is naturally resistant to hail and is one of the best options for high wind areas. In fact, many different styles of metal roofs are Class 4 rated roofs meaning that they are classified to withstand higher wind speeds and impact damage from hail than all but the most expensive shingles.

Reasons Why Good Ventilation is Important for Any Home

1. Energy Efficiency. Ventilation is used during the summer to vent heat out of the attic, reducing air conditioning costs. For many years, building science experts were focused on reflectivity as a way to keep heat out of the attic. While reflective or “cool roofs” are still a good idea, tests have shown that good ventilation which quickly removes any gained heat back out of the attic is equally if not more effective at home energy efficiency.
2. Condensation. A great deal of moisture is generated inside of a home’s living space. It is generated primarily by laundry, showers and bathing, houseplants, cooking, and ventless stoves. That moisture, originating in the living space of the home, migrates upward and, if a 100% reliable vapor barrier is not in place behind the home’s ceilings, it ends up in the attic. Once it’s in the attic, if that warm, moisture-laden air reaches a cool surface, it condenses. (Think of that cool glass of lemonade sitting outside on a hot, humid day.) The resulting condensation can create a very unhealthy environment prone to support mold, mildew, and other biological growth. A well-vented attic also helps to keep your attic’s insulation dry which increases its effectiveness. As it gains moisture, insulation loses considerable R-Value and effectiveness. The general calculation for this is a 2.5% decrease in R Value for every 1% increase in insulation moisture content.
3. Ice Dams. For homes in northern climates, good attic ventilation can help minimize the potential for winter ice dams. Ice dams occur when warm air from the living space reaches the roof deck and causes the snow to melt. The melted snow then runs down the roof and refreezes over the home’s cold overhangs, creating damaging and dangerous ice dams which can force melted snow into the home. Proper attic ventilation ideally keeps the attic the same as outside temperatures, helping to prevent the snow load on the roof from melting due to interior heat and then forming ice dams as it reaches cold areas of the roof.

Energy Efficiency

Metal roofing is far more energy efficient than asphalt shingles. Metal roofing offers homeowner’s significant energy savings through the use of cool roof pigments and above sheathing ventilation.

Cool roof pigments are designed to reflect sunlight which lowers the amount of energy absorbed by the roof material. Most metal roofs also have high thermal emittance which is a measure of a roof panel’s ability to release heat that it has absorbed.

These two characteristics of metal roofing materials decrease the amount of the sun's energy that the roof absorbs. Meaning less heat entering the roof system so there is less heat entering the attic space and the rest of the home. These features of metal roofing materials lower the utility load significantly. Studies have shown that a cool metal roof can lower home cooling energy costs.

Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, absorb heat and trap it in the home, which increases utility consumption.

Will a Steel roof make my home hot?

No. A properly vented steel roof system moves air both between the shingles and the underlying deck as well as moving air from vents under the decking. Heated air is allowed to dissipate through the ridgeline as cooler air is drawn through eave vents. Reduced energy bills can result from airflow both under and over the decking.

Can you walk on a steel roof?

Yes. Some care must be exercised while walking on the roof, but note that roofers walk all over the shingles during the installation process.

Is a steel roof noisy in the rain?

One of the most common questions when it comes to metal
roofing is “Are metal roofs loud when it rains?” The answer
to this question is no. This myth stems from the metal roofs
that were traditionally used to cover barns and sheds. In
these instances, the roofs were installed over the open
barn frame and produced a louder sound when it rained.
However, when a metal roof is installed on a house, it is installed over a solid wood roof deck, roof insulation, & Sheet Rock it absorbs most of the sound produced by rainfall. For this reason, metal roofs are not louder.

With the combination of dead air space it  can minimize outside sounds.

How wind resistant is a steel roof?

Metal roofs excel at protecting against wind-driven rain. In wind uplift tests, metal roofs earn a 140-mph wind rating, according to the Metal Roofing Alliance.

But the Fact is, nothing can ever guarantee a defeat to the strength and power of “Mother Nature”.

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Will a steel roof rust?

The steel substrate is protected from corrosion by layers of metallic and polymer coatings.

A Galvalume coated steel has repeatedly been shown in industry studies, conducted over the last 20 years, to outperform the corrosion resistance of other coated metals.

Is a steel roof fire safe?

Steel roofing is classified as a noncombustible roofing material (Class A). In new construction and in many re-roofing applications the metal roofing system is a Class A noncombustible roof assembly.

There are many examples of the safe fire performance of stone-coated steel roofs in areas subjected to fire storms. Additionally, the lightweight strength of the steel roofing system precludes it from crashing down on occupants exposed to fire within their residence.

What does hail do to steel roofs?

Metal roofs are very tough and highly resistant to hail damage. In fact, many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating (Class 4) granted by Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) Some insurance carriers extend a discount on premiums to homeowners that have a Metal roof. Except in extreme storms.

Are steel roofs more susceptible to lightning strikes?

Steel roofing is no more susceptible to lightning than other roofing materials. It has been demonstrated that lightning strikes most frequently the highest points of terrain. Where concerns exist, lightning rods can be installed on roofs that are the highest point of surrounding terrain.

Solar Installation on a Classic Metal Roof

Traditional solar panels can be integrated nicely with our metal roofs. With clip-fastened standing seam roofs, the panels can be clamped onto the raised seams so that no or very few actual roof penetrations are necessary. With other types of metal roofs, penetrations of the roof will be necessary but there are many commercially available fastening brackets designed for water tightness that work very well.

Metal roofs are ideal for solar installation. The durability of the metal roof will hold up to roof traffic when the solar array is installed and serviced. The metal roof will also easily last as long as the solar panels themselves. Additionally, cool metal roofs can help to increase the efficiency of the solar panels. And, finally, using a metal roof to save energy while producing energy at the same time with solar, is the best of both worlds.