Pros & Cons Of Metal Roofing
Is metal roofing right for your home? This expert guide reveals the benefits and drawbacks of metal roofing and compares metal roofing to other roofing materials to help you make an informed decision.
If you are in the market for a new roof, the roofing material you choose will make a huge difference in your new roofs cost, look, performance, maintenance, and durability. Asphalt shingles, wood shakes, composite tile, concrete tile, metal roofsall of these options vary greatly.
Here are the pros and cons of metal roofs, comparing it to other materials. Then, after the discussion of benefits and drawbacks, well dig deeper into whether a metal roof is right for your home.
For a comprehensive look at the many different choices in metal roofing, be sure to see our Metal Roofing Ultimate Buying Guide
Metal Roof And Rain: What You Should Know
by Mountaintop Metal Roofing | Jun 28, 2021 | Residential
The Pacific Northwest and rainy weather go together like peanut butter and jelly. Because of the significant amount of rain that we have in this area of the country, we often get questions if metal roofing will be noisy when it hails or rains. The short answer is no, they arent much louder than traditional roofs!
Will Your Metal Roof Make Noise When It Rains
So, will your new metal roof make noise when it rains? The answer is yes, youre going to get an echo from the rain hitting your metal roof.
If your metal roof is installed over solid decking, its going to be quieter. This is because the wood between the metal panels and your ceiling helps absorb some of the noise.
On the other hand, youre really going to hear the rain if there isnt solid decking under your metal roof. Youll only be able to rely on your ceilings insulation to help dampen the sound.
But no matter what, a metal roof is always going to have some noise when it rains. Even with decking and your ceilings insulation, its impossible to completely drown out the sound of rain when there’s a heavy thunderstorm.
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With So Much Interest In Metal Roofs We Get A Lot Of Questions About Both The Pros And The Cons Our Design Sales And Installation Teams Have Collected The Most Common Inquiries We Receive About What To Expect When Switching To A Metal Roof
Isnt a metal roof expensive?
A metal roof is more expensive to install than asphalt shingles approximately double. However, a metal roof has roughly triple the lifespan around 50 years versus 15. So the total cost of ownership makes a metal roof more economical than asphalt roofing over time.
Compared to natural materials like slate, shake or clay tiles, a metal roof is a much cheaper alternative to install and, again, has a total cost of ownership that makes it even more affordable over time.
Is a metal roof loud when it rains?
Whether a metal roof is loud when it rains is probably the most common question we get asked by homeowners. This isnt surprising given that most of us have only seen metal roofs on barns and other industrial shelters. But when a metal roof is installed on the house, its done with solid sheathing and attic insulation, making it much quieter than other roofing materials.
Wont a metal roof attract lightning?
Metal is highly conductive, which is why metal rods are used to draw lightning during storms. So you would assume that a metal roof would attract lightning, too. However, while metal is conductive, lightning is not drawn to metal. Lightning is attracted to the highest object in the area, like trees, hydro poles, towers, and antennas.
If lightning does strike, a metal building system gives lightning a lower resistance path to the ground than other materials.
Is a metal roof challenging to install?
But what about maintenance?
HELP CENTER
Q: Do Metal Roofs Increase The Value Of Your House
A: While its hard to judge what actually adds value to a property, its safe to say that all the benefits of a metal roof will certainly make your house more attractive to prospective buyers. If your home is more energy efficient and wont require much if any roof maintenance then this already saves any new owner a nice bundle. This can be a valuable selling point when marketing your home.
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How Much Weight Does An Rv Roof Support To Walk On
When you need to do a repair or cleaning on your RV, of course, you may need to walk on it. Sometimes, you will need to put something on it like a Kayak youll use in camping. Generally, an average of 220 to 300 pounds can walk on an RV roof. You can also see your roof limit on your RV ladder or you can also look through your owners manual or contact the manufacturer.
What Doyou Use To Seal A Metal Roof
If it is a brand-new commercial metal roofing is installed, or youre having an old one restored, you need to know that it has suitable water penetration protection. Metal roofing comes in panels and an experienced, professional roofing contractor will attach those individual panels to each other by snapping them together using rubber grommets, fasten them to the roof decking.
If this is a new commercial metal roofing, they use butyl seam tape or other types of metal sealer on the joints and seams where the metal panels meet. It is also applied over any fasteners that well that butyl caps to ensure good sealant.
With a commercial metal roofing restoration project, thefasteners, joints, nails, and seams are prone to dilapidate with rust whichallows water to penetrate, as such, thorough re-sealing with new metal roofsealer is needed. Experienced commercial metal roofing contractors will use butyl tape, butylcaps, or some other approved metal roofing sealant on these detailed areas.
After installation of the metal roofsealers is complete, and any rust has been primed or removed, a base coating isapplied, sometimes with customized reinforced polyester fabric is placed inareas that need extra strength. Then a topcoat is applied, leaving a fullyrestored commercial metalroofing that is UV protected and is waterproof.
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Quick Tips For A Quiet Roof
Since most re-roofs are done where shingles were used previously, and often on top of a layer of shingles, noise is not going to be an issue. Installing a metal roof over a solid deck with a good underlayment , and with an insulated attic airspace below, makes it easy to control the noise.
When following these tips, some say their metal roof is even quieter than their old shingle roof.
Does A Metal Roof Attract Lightning
No. Grounding of any exterior metal siding or roofing is not recognized as necessary by any major building code organization. Because metal roofing is both an electrical conductor, and a noncombustible material, the risks associated with its use and behavior during a lightning event make it the most desirable construction material available. Lightning strikes are more connected to the location of the building and other factors. Metal roofs actually protect buildings from lightning strikes.
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Myth #: Metal Roofs Dent Easily
Contrary to popular belief, metal roofing is actually very difficult to dent and even more difficult to puncture. There is always a concern among consumers that the first time a wave of hail rolls through, there will be dents all over a metal roof. In actuality, the average hail storm is very unlikely to cause damage or dent a metal roof. The possibility for denting increases as the size and quantity of the hailstones increase, but it would take a huge storm with extremely large pieces of hail to create any significant denting or penetration points.
Luckily, an industry guideline called the Standard for Impact Resistance of Prepared Roof Covering Materials , exists to test a metal panels resistance to hail and other items it could come into contact with. The products tested are rated on a scale from Class 1 to 4, with Class 4 being the toughest and least likely to dent and/or fail when in contact with items such as hail.
Metal Panels Can Go On Low
Most metal roofing materials can be installed on gently pitched roofs without leaking. Minimum roof pitch for metal shingles is typically 3-in-12this means the roof rises 3 inches for each horizontal foot. Some standing-seam roofing can be used on 2-in-12 roof pitch or, in some cases, even as low as 1-in-12.
In comparison, most asphalt or roof shingles cant be used on a roof with a lower pitch than 3-in-12 and materials such as tile require a slope that is 4-in-12 or steeper.
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Metal Surfaces Reflect Heat
Metal reflects radiant heat from the sun, minimizing midday heat gain. This reflective characteristic means you save energy needed for air conditioning during the day. In fact, federal rebates are offered for metal roofing that has appropriate pigmented coatings that meet EnergyStar requirements. You can get a 10% tax credit up to $500 .
Regarding the insulation value of metal roofing in both heat and cold: Though the material itself is low in insulation R-value, metal roofing can be applied over foam insulation that has very high R-values. In addition, many systems utilize a dead-air space between the metal surface and roof deck beneath it to minimize heat transfer, increasing energy efficiency.
A Metal Roof Installs Fast
Metal roofing materials are sold as large standing-seam sheets or in multiple-shingle sections that are 12 to 36 inches wide. Standing seam sheets are typically 3 feet wide by 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 feet long. You can also get custom sizes.
An accomplished contractor can install these quickly. If your roof is stripped off and a storm is on the way, shortening the installation process by a day or two may offer a critical advantage. Obviously, there is also considerable cost savings if you can ease and shorten the duration of roof installation.
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Whats The Difference Between Metal Roofing And Shingles
The Acoustic Group at the University of Luleå, Sweden, documented the noise level of rain on metal roofing and shingles. You can see the results in the graph below. According to their tests, the difference between shingles and a metal roof is between 6 and 15 decibels depending on how the metal roof is installed.
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Whatare The Disadvantages Of A Metal Roof
Weve talked about the good that commercial metal roofingoffers, but like anything, there are disadvantages too.
- Affordability commercial metal roofing can cost 2 to 3 times more than other materials you may be considering.
- Noisier while commercial metal roofing of today is quieter than years before, it can still be noisier than other roofing materials during hard, heavy rain, hailstorms, etc.
- Movement commercial metal roofing contracts and expands with the temperature, which can cause it to loosen from the fasteners and begin leaking if regular inspection and maintenance arent done.
- Color Matching if replacement panels are ever needed during a repair, the color will be inconsistent due to the original panels being exposed to the elements that fade the color some.
Ifmetal roofing sounds like something you want on your commercial building butyoure not sure where to get started, the Internet will give you listings ofroofing contractors. Type in the search bar, Commercial metal roofing near meor Commercial metal roofingcontractors near me, and youll probably get 100s to choose from.
Get written quotes from 2 to 3 different ones and compare them to each other. Remember, cheaper is not necessarily the best, even if your budget is tight. It could end up costing you twice as much later. For your commercial metal roofing in Pittsburgh, PA, call Great Lakes Commercial Roofing at today.
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How To Soundproof A Metal Roof The Best Way Possible
Are you planning shortly to install a metal roof on your house? You might already have a metal roof, but youre bothered by the noise it creates when something comes into contact with it, like rain. Try not to stress yourself out too much from your roofing noise because this article will explain exactly how you can have a metal roof without worrying about noise.
So how to soundproof a metal roof? There is entirely no reason why a metal roof should be noisier than any other types of roof. Make sure to have a good quality underlayment before applying the roof. You will also need to have the ceiling on the upper level well insulated, so the noise from the metal roof doesnt transfer down through the entire house.
Steel roofs are becoming more and more popular for new homes and even when replacing an existing roof. It is not difficult to comprehend why. A durable metal roof can last up to 50 years and also needs much less repair work as well as maintenance than many other types of roofs on homes today.
A metal roof is also a greener alternative to standard roofs since its considered to be a much more environmentally friendly option. Also, mounting a metal roof on your house can considerably reduce your energy bills.
So why doesnt every person have a metal roof on their home if they are that good? Since lots of people are bothered by all types of noise, is a metal roof actually noisier than your conventional asphalt roof?
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Selecting The Right Roof Materials
Metal roofing is more durable, fire resistant and long lasting than asphalt roofing. Clay and concrete are also strong and safe roofing materials that you might want to consider if you like the look and having a quiet roof is your top priority. Metal roofs last longer than even the highest-quality asphalt shingle roofs. These roofs are also more resistant to major damage than almost any other material. The only real risk with this material is large hail, and this concern is most considerable for softer aluminum or copper roofs rather than steel roofs.
With steel roofing, the primary concern is the condition of the coating on the steel. If this wears down, corrosion or rust may start to form and prematurely undermine the condition of the roof. Regardless of which material or design you choose, you should plan on regular maintenance to prolong the life of a roof.
Be sure to ask any contractors you consult with about the expected noise level of a roof made of metal. Be sure to discuss roofing materials as well as all of the layers under the roof such as decking, underlayment and insulation. If the roof on your home currently has shingles, you should also determine whether these materials should be removed prior to installing a new roof. Depending on the building codes in your area, if may be possible to install metal roofing over shingles. This method of insulation can help to further reduce noise, though additional ventilation may be necessary.
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Can You Stop Rain Noise On Your Metal Roof
After reading the last section, you know theres no way to stop rain noise on your metal roof. However, there are things you can do to help dampen the noise.
You already know solid decking helps absorb some of the sound. But there is an upgrade you can add to your metal roof replacement to help even more.
This upgrade is installing wood fiber insulation boards between your roofs decking and your metal panels. These boards provide an extra layer to absorb sound from rain.
Getting this upgrade means the sound has to travel through the insulation boards, the roof decking, and the ceilings insulation. But remember, adding the boards wont completely block out the noise from a heavy downpour.
Be aware, adding upgrades like insulation boards affects the cost of your new metal roof. To learn more about what goes into the cost of a roof, check out this article on the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof.
Metal Roof Noise: 5 Ways To Soundproof Your Metal Roof
The sound of hail banging against a metal roof is never a good time. Some might even say its worse than nails on a chalkboardso much so that as a form of mental torture, tin roofs have been used in prison facilities since the smallest impact against them can cause an incredibly loud noise.
Just close your eyes for a bit and imagine that tick tick tick, on a continuous 4-hour loop. Sheesh.
We totally understand homeowners looking for metal roof noise reduction, and were here to help. In this article, were talking about how you can soundproof a metal roof and make it more family-friendly.
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Are Metal Roofs Noisy When It Rains
There are a lot of factors that help you decide if a metal roof is right for you. But a concern some homeowners have is about the noise it makes when it rains.
While this might not seem like a big deal to everyone, its a factor every homeowner needs to think about if they want a new metal roof. Especially when you consider a metal roof could last up to 50 years.
The last thing you want after investing in a new roof is to have the sound from the rain hitting your metal panels bother you and your family for years to come. Thats why were going to help you understand the noise that comes with a metal roof.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality metal roofing services to the residents of Nashville and surrounding areas since 1990. No matter what your roof needs, you can count on our workmanship to get the job done right. Thats why were proud to provide a lifetime warranty.
