5 MYTHS ABOUT METAL ROOFING

There are some myths about metal roofing that have been floating around nigh onto forever. Bet you’ve heard at least some of these. When your clients bring them up, here is some facts to counter with.

METAL ROOFS ARE LOUD IN THE RAIN AND ATTRACT LIGHTNING
No and no.

Metal roofs are no louder in the rain or other conditions than any other type of roof. Because a metal roof has plenty of insulation, pounding rain is no louder than on a traditional roof.

Metal roofs also do not attract lightning. Metal is a wonderful conductor but a metal roof is no more likely to be struck than any other. In fact, it can be safer because metal is noncombustible whereas a wooden roof could catch fire from a lightning strike.

METAL ROOFS RUST EASILY
Metal roofs that are properly coated and maintained do not rust. Manufacturers coat all of their products to ensure they are moisture-resistant. In addition, painting metal imparts rust-proofing as well.

METAL ROOFS ARE EASILY DENTED BY HAIL AND YOU CAN’T WALK ON THEM
The typical hailstorm will cause little to no damage to your metal roof. If the hailstone is large enough it may cause a dent but it would have to be very large, indeed, to do any damage. If the roof is textured any damage may be unnoticeable. Metal roofs are also more resistant to wind damage and the weight of snow and ice.

Walking on a metal roof can be tricky but probably not because you will dent the roof. Check with your metal building manufacturer to find out the best way to walk on your roof to keep from damaging it and to keep from damaging yourself by sliding off.

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METAL ROOFS PREVENT ICE FORMATION AND THE THREAT OF FALLING SNOW
Unfortunately, no, a metal roof cannot prevent the formation of ice on its surface. Ice gets formed by snow melting on a warm area, running to a cold area, and refreezing. These are called ice dams. The only prevention is to make sure you have enough insulation below the roof to prevent hot spots.

And while some metal roofs will keep snow from accumulating others won’t. Once the snow sticks it can pile up and get heavy but a well-made metal roof won’t buckle. But when the temperature rises a few degrees above freezing snow will start to slide off the roof in chunks.

If your roof design has valleys, avoid standing seam roofs that can direct the falling snow into those valleys and pack it which can result in the roof caving in from the weight.

METAL ROOFS NEGATIVELY IMPACT RESALE VALUE
On the contrary, metal roofs can actually raise the resale value as well as save the new owner money. A metal roof, while a larger, one-time expense than a traditional roof, will last for 50 years or more. Frequent reroofing is unnecessary. A traditional roof may last 10 to 30 years provided it doesn’t suffer hail or wind damage.

The metal roof can not only withstand weather that easily wrecks traditional roofs, it is also more energy efficient, thereby saving on utilities.

Now when you hear a client mention these myths, you have the knowledge to debunk it; politely, of course. Doing so will remove yet another proposed obstacle to buying a metal roof.


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