Is A Metal Roof Right For My Home?

Homeowners often ask us whether a metal roof is right for their home. Fact is, metal roofs can be a great addition to just about any home. The key considerations in making a decision, though, are what the homeowner’s goals are with a new roof and also what special considerations there may be with their roof. Let’s take a look at both of these areas.

First, here are the goals that typically will prompt a homeowner to buy a metal roof:

They intend to stay in the home through at least one re-roofing cycle. In most areas, that is from 12 – 20 years. Because residential roofing prices double about every ten years, the financial benefits of metal roofing really kick in once the homeowner has gone through one re-roofing cycle.

The homeowner cares about the aesthetics and value of their home. The top of a house is not a friendly place to hang out and most roofing materials show their age quickly. Installing a metal roof, which will keep a fresh look over the long term, will make your home more beautiful, and also more valuable.

The homeowner wants to do the right thing for the environment. The recycled content, sustainability, recyclability, and energy efficiency offered by metal roofing is unmatched by other materials. Hands down, the green benefits of metal, as well as the ongoing energy savings, put it far ahead of other roofing material choices.

The home is located in an area prone to weather extremes. Metal roofing has a great track record and specific benefits such as low weight and interlocking panels which make it very lasting in severe weather areas. So, if you live in an area prone to high winds, hurricanes, hail, blazing sun, ice, snow, earthquakes, or firestorms, metal roofing can offer great protection.

A large portion of the home’s exterior is roof. Fact is, homeowners would never use other materials that matched all of their neighbors’ homes but yet we do just that with roofing all the time. A beautiful and unique metal roof is a way to increase the character of one’s home.

The home is older and/or you’d prefer to keep the old roof in place. Aging structures have special needs. Metal roofing is as little as one-twelfth the weight of dimensional shingles. This low weight can preserve the life of your home. Metal’s low weight also encourages its installation over old shingles, allowing homeowners to invest their money in a better roof rather than old roof removal and disposal.

Next, let’s look at Special Considerations to keep in mind if you’re considering a metal roof:

It is important to know the pitch of your roof. Most metal roofs work very well on roofs of 3:12 or greater pitch. For lower pitch roofs, there are great metal options but they are more limited in number. Never install a metal roof that is not appropriate and recommended by its manufacturer for your home.

Existing leaks should be addressed. If you have any problems with your current roof, those should be tracked down and addressed appropriately before installing any new roof.

Think about increasing your attic ventilation. Good ventilation can make your home healthier, avoid winter ice damming in snowy areas, and save your energy dollars. Roofing is the perfect time to enhance the ventilation in your attic.

Complex roof lines are ideal for metal. If your roof is complicated or steep, there is a lot of labor involved in re-roofing no matter what product you’re installing. The permanence of metal roofing means it makes sense to do it once, do it right … and not have to spend those labor dollars again.

Skylights, chimneys, and other protrusions. Even though they are intentional, these are still holes in your roof and, to some degree, a hole in your roof never makes sense. However, metal roofs can be flashed around these things with permanence. Having a caring and experienced installer is critical.

Flared gables. This is when the ridge of your roof is wider than the bottom of your roof. This is done on some log homes as well as other home designs from time to time. While this architecture looks great, it also can be difficult for metal roofs. To some degree, metal shingles are easier to properly install in this situation that are standing seam and other vertical roofing panels. The same thing can be the case for curved, arched, or round roofs.

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