Top 8 Reasons Homeowners Choose a Metal Roof

Posted on Aug 25 2015 - 12:45pm by Housecall
#22

Contributed by Paul Kazlov, Global Home Improvement

metal roofIn recent years, there has been a lot of talk about metal roofs and their manifold benefits. And why not? As one of the most durable roofing materials available on the market, metal roofs have outshined the famous asphalt shingles, slates, and other composite roofing materials. Here are eight reasons why homeowners choose a metal roof:

1. Durability

Everyone wants a strong roof that can shield the family and the home from windblown debris and unfriendly weathers. Unfortunately, many roofing materials do not have the strength to withstand against aggressive wind and temperature change. Metal roofs, on the other hand, are fire-retardant and impervious to rust, mildew and mold. They are great for coastal homes and areas with wind that travels up to 140 mph.

2. Longevity

The fact that metal roofs do not succumb to many of the common roof plagues makes them not only durable, but also lasting. They do not experience extreme thermal expansion and contraction, making them even less likely to break, chip, crack, or become loose over time. According to the Metal Roofing Alliance, a metal roof can live between 40 to 60 plus years, which is two to three times longer than a well-maintained asphalt roof.

3. Convenient Upkeep

If your metal roof has been properly installed, then maintenance on your part is virtually zero. Unlike other roofing materials, metal roofs do not absorb water and can rid snow easily from its surface. These two factors alone greatly reduce the chance of having a damaged roofing structure and gutter system.

4. Energy Efficiency

Metal roofs have high solar reflectance and thermal emissivity, which means that they can efficiently reflect solar heat right back to the atmosphere. Depending on where you live, a metal roof can keep its surface approximately 100-degree Fahrenheit cooler than any conventional roof.

5. Eco-friendly

Unlike an asphalt shingle roof that needs to be replaced every 15 to 20 years, metal roofs can live beyond age 50 without any sign of decay. Additionally, metal roofs are 100 percent recyclable. Whereas more than 13 billion pounds of asphalt shingles lay uselessly in landfills, retired metal roofs are reused and contribute to at least 25 percent of a newly constructed metal roof.

6. Customization Flexibility

Metal roofs can not only be painted in hundreds of colors, but can also be coated to emulate textures of other roofing materials. They are excellent for various residential buildings, especially historic homes that need a strong roof to protect the building structure and still maintain its cosmetic integrity.

7. Resale Value

There are many factors a buyer considers when looking for a new home. Because metal roofs require virtually no upkeep, are durable, and last for decades, homes with a metal roof generally enjoy a 1-6 percent increase in resale value when compared to an asphalt-shingle home.

8. Great Return on Investment

Although slightly hefty in its upfront cost, metal roofs are a true energy saver in both summer and winter. Known to reduce your cooling costs by as much as 40 percent, Home Guides reports that a metal roof helps homeowners recoup an average of 85.9 percent in their investment. In the meantime, homeowners living in the eastern regions of the U.S. have been found to recoup up to 95.5 percent of costs on average for their metal roofs.

Paul Kazlov is a “green” home remodeling enthusiast and an industry pioneer for innovation in home renovation. Paul writes for the Global Home Improvement blog and strives to educate people about “green” products such as metal roofing and solar. Follow him on Twitter @PaulKazlov.

22 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Aaron October 18, 2015 at 8:05 pm -

    I found this article useful. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

    Aaron Robertson
    http://www.authoritypm.com

  2. Coop March 12, 2016 at 10:19 am -

    Thank you very much for posting this information

    LNC (“Link”) The Proprietorship

  3. Michele June 27, 2016 at 2:41 am -

    I agree. Metal roofs are worth of money and durable than anything. They are highly customizable and we can even create textures like wood and tile. Here at Toronto, companies like Royal York Roofing Ltd offers metal roofing installation services. Anyway, thanks for sharing this blog.

  4. Tony The Roofer August 22, 2016 at 6:21 am -

    Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  5. Luke Martin September 3, 2016 at 2:21 am -

    Metal roofs no doubt give a beautiful look to a home and they are also available in different styles as well as colours. I totally agree that they are the most durable ones. One of the most effective uses of metals roofs as you have also mentioned is energy efficiency. As Metal roofs have higher heat reflectivity than other roofing products like asphalt, fiberglass shingles, wood etc and so in summers it helps in saving your money as you need not to use cooling devices for longer duration. As I work as a roofing installer and many homeowners ask questions related to metal roofing and so here is a post covered on the topic http://www.countrytowne.ca/top-8-questions-home-owners-interested-metal-roofing/ where many homeowners can find answer to similar queries.

  6. Steven Sheehan January 23, 2017 at 12:37 am -

    Yes, that’s right! Metal roofs are pretty much in vogue due to a couple of reasons such as durability, longevity, minimal maintenance, and eco-friendliness. Apart from this, a metal roof system is an energy efficient roofing type, which reflects solar heat and can cut back on cooling costs immensely.

  7. James January 30, 2017 at 6:00 am -

    Today metal roofing material is preferred over all the conventional roofing materials due to numerous counts like expected life, weight, durability, fire resistance, etc. But before you choose one, just make sure to find a good metal roofing contractor is through friends and neighbors who have had similar work done.

  8. Steve April 14, 2017 at 12:15 pm -

    Metal roofs are a great option, the cost might be a little more up front but the durability and maintenance pays for itself.

  9. Kat May 20, 2017 at 7:53 am -

    Excellent article…Metal roofs are not only durable but also affordable.

  10. NWSM Building Group Sheds February 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm -

    This is just great! Love your blog on 8 reasons for homeowners. Thanks for sharing this one.

  11. Roofer Paul March 12, 2019 at 2:10 pm -

    We love using metal roofs for business parks. They are durable and last for years.

  12. Matt Steen March 29, 2019 at 10:36 am -

    Metal roofs are great but I feel like they are sometimes overlooked! Great article with a good core concept here.

  13. Roof Replacement Auckland November 26, 2019 at 5:09 am -

    Thank you for this article reasons homeowners choose a metal roof because it’s really informative,I love reading your article and I hope that I will read some more about this stuff, it’s really informative and very entertaining.Thanks a lot and have a great day.

  14. Dean Weedon December 14, 2019 at 7:51 am -

    I have enjoyed reading the information you have posted about some useful guidance for roofing service. Really these are more useful and also helpful. I am very glad to go through your informative article. Thanks for sharing a nice blog.

  15. Leonard Rutherford April 28, 2020 at 12:50 am -

    There are so many reasons for selecting the metal roof by home owner. This article shares all the top reason for selecting the metal roof. Some best tips in your post are very inspiring to me. I am very thankful to you and your post.

  16. Roofing Invercargill May 8, 2020 at 7:57 pm -

    I love reading your article and I hope that I will read some more about this stuff, it’s really informative and very entertaining. Metal roofs, on the other hand, are fire-retardant and impervious to rust, mildew, and mold. Thanks for sharing a nice article. Found an another website csroofingsouthland.nz it has lots of valuable information for everyone.

  17. Coverall Roofing Toronto June 3, 2020 at 7:42 pm -

    Another option would be slate roofing. Slate is a heavy roofing material and for this reason, the roof needs to be able to withstand the weight of slate roofing but lasts for a much longer time.

  18. Lora July 4, 2020 at 11:57 am -

    Thank you very much for posting this information, it is really useful!

  19. Roofer Memphis October 10, 2020 at 7:34 am -

    The premier roof for a commercial building, metal roofs furnish building designers and owners with a world of choices; from system design to type of metal to a rainbow of color options.

  20. aluminum welding November 10, 2020 at 6:16 am -

    The top reasons why choosing a metal roof are indeed precise!

  21. Emily Blunt June 26, 2021 at 1:52 am -

    I have never heard about metal roofs lasting than non-metal roofs. I want to mention that metal roofs are recyclable at the end of their life.