Top 5 metal roofing myths to promote metal roofing awareness.
Not too long ago, I had the old rusty barn roof image in my mind. But now, after having been involved with metal roofing for nearly 10 years I have developed a true appreciation for this roofing material, and I would like to share some of the insights dealing with unexpected benefits and advantages of metal roofs, with you.
After reading these tips you will gain a better understanding, and appreciation of metal roofing technology.
Myth 1:
Metal roof has a higher risk of getting struck by a lightning.
Reality; No, metal roofing does not increase chances of your home getting struck by a lightning. But, if your house does get hit by a lightning, metal roof will help to dissipate the charge. Because metal is a non combustible material, your roof will not catch fire.
Myth 2: Metal roof makes a lot of noise when it rains.
Reality; You probably envision the old and rusty corrugated metal roofs that you can see covering old barns. You probably also think that modern metal roofs will sound like a machine gun burst when it is raining, but this is far from the truth.
Modern metal roofing is typically installed over solid sheathing such as plywood or solid wooden boards that comprise your roof deck. With the solid sheathing and roofing underlayment, your new metal roof will make no more noise than a regular asphalt shingle roof.
Myth 3: Metal roofing costs a lot of money.
Reality; It may seem like metal roofing costs a lot, but if you look at the cost of metal roofing over a long enough period of time, you will realize that it is actually the best remodeling investment a homeowner can make.
You may be surprised to find this out, but a metal roof will actually costs less than an asphalt shingle roof if you stay in your house long enough. A metal roof, which is an energy efficient roofing retrofit will increase the resale value of your home in terms of remodeling costs vs. value, but it will also help you save significantly on your cooling costs. Metal roofing can result in up to 35 percent savings in energy costs during summer months.
Metal Roof installed right is a very long lasting roofing system, and it may well be the last roof you will ever have to install on your home, provided that you get a quality installation from a qualified metal roofing contractor.
Metal Roofing Costs Vs. Shingles Example
Learn from this hypothetical example of the cost of metal roofing vs the asphalt shingle roof, from a homeowner’s stand point.
Myth 4: Metal Roof is susceptible to rust and corrosion.
Reality; Modern metal roofing is built to last for decades. Steel metal roofing has a metal coating protection layer made with zinc or aluminum, which is bonded to the steel and then painted with a high quality paint designed to withstand the toughest abuse from bad weather, and provide the desirable color and looks that homeowners want.
Myth 5: Metal Roof is susceptible to dents.
Reality; Modern metal roofs are built to withstand years of abuse from severe weather such as hail, extreme winds, and snow. Hail will not dent a metal roof, and extremely high winds are not a threat either, as many modern metal roofing systems are rated for 120mph winds. In fact, metal roofs perform extremely well in the hurricane. It is not unusual to see the metal roof with no damage, next to naked regular roofs that have lost all its shingles and plywood in hurricane.
As I was writing these 5 metal roofing myths, yet another metal roof myth came to my mind! This one in a bonus! Please enjoy!
Bonus Myth: You cannot walk on metal roof without damaging it.
Reality; While you should definitely take all the necessary precautions before venturing out for a walk on your roof, metal roofs are completely walkable. I would recommend using sport shoes with rubber soles, because they will provide good traction for your feet when on the roof. Avoid walking on your roof when its raining as you could easily slip and fall. Rule of thumb is to stay off the roof whenever its surface is wet. Contact your roofing contractor for special techniques on how to walk on the metal roof they have installed.
I hope that you enjoyed reading my metal roofing tips, and that you have learned something new about metal roofing.
I would love to get your comments and feedback on this article, as well as your request for another metal roofing article. If you have something to contribute, please feel free to offer your perspective at the bottom of this page.
New England Metal Roofing Company www.newenglandmetalroof.com – Learn about the true cost of metal roofing features useful information about metal roofing, providing facts, answering questions and dispelling metal roofing myths. Provides always current metal roofing prices, and explains advantages and benefits of the metal roofs.
References:
Cost of metal roof vs shingles
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Uri
Should, I ask my contractor to remove the old roof (shingles) before installing a new metal roof. I have 3 layers of shingles on the roof now and some are missing, loose, and damaged by hail?
Thank you
John
Hi John,
Yes, with 3 layers of shingles on your roof, you definitely need to remove all 3 layers and inspect your roof deck before installing a new metal roof.
A
I have a friend who wants to put over his shingled roof he wants to run 1×6 across to screw the roofing too.do you think this is going to be ok
hi just checking to see if it is possible to reuse the tin from another roof if its in good shape.
I have 1 layer of Architectural shingles that got hit by hail, do I need to remove them?
I have 4 layers of shingles on the roof now. I read on some articles that aluminum metal roof will not corrode (i live on the coast). How long is the lifespan of an aluminum metal roof close to salt water?
Thanks!
Leny
Hi Lenny,
An Aluminum roof will last forever near the coast / salt water if the
installation is done right. You would also have tear off all 4 layers of shingles before installing a new metal roof.
Hi Patricia,
Not unless, there is a roof damage / leaks. If you do remove your old shingles, installing a new metal roof will resolve any future hail issues, as metal roofs are designed and warrantied to protect from hail.
Thanks for this very educating article. I’m a single woman researching and trying to learn as much as I can about metal roof. I love their look but have all the horror stories about rusting, leaking and color fading.
Your article has answered many of my questios.
Thanks!
Thanks for this very educating article. I’m a single woman researching and trying to learn as much as I can about metal roofs. I love their look but have heard all the horror stories about rusting, leaking and color fading.
Your article has answered many of my questios.
Thanks!
This is a very odd question but my neighbor has a car port with a metal roof and he wants to put shingles on top of the metal. Is this advisable? I would think it would be too heavy.
Thanks very much.
Thank you SO much for your article! We are needing to replace our roof and I wanted to compare metal to shingles. Your information was extremely helpful!
Hello,
It is definitely not advisable to try to install shingles over a carport’s metal roof. The roof can however be coated with a specialty metal roof coating to preserve water tightness and longevity.
HI,
I was able to salvage 10 pieces of 10″ galvanized metal roofing in good condition except for the holes where the nails were removed. I want to reuse this tin on my shed I am building. How do I go about making it ready to install, especially the nail holes? I have been looking into rubber bonding material. What are your ideas?
Thanks!
I meant 10 ‘ (feet) lengths! Ha!
Personally I prefer architectural shingles. I am entering my sixth year in construction and have never seen a shingle roof not meet its life expectancy. While I did see two metal roofs less than five year sold fail. The key is to use a good synthetic underlayment.
To all:
I have been installing metal roofs for 20 years and through trial and error have gotten to be somewhat of a proffessional. I have one word for you when it comes to metal roofs “Screws”.. They make all the difference in the world. I always strip my roofs with 1×4 which I fasten with 12d gun nails into the rafters below the shingles and plywood decking and I use 1 1/2 ” premium screws with a cap that securely holds the rubber seal in place. I have seen so many roofers and homeowners spend thousands on metal roofing and use 100.00 dollars worth of cheap screws that will cause leaks in a few short years. 1″ screws will spin out or strip the wood underneath causing them to work loose from the elements. When this Happens water begins to seep in and rot takes over. Before long metal is loose and small undetectable leaks are everywhere and you are one good wind storm from disaster. Same thing with cheap screws. The rubber seals spin out or work out from overtightened screws and the results are the same. Heard some folks and myself say “well you just don’t over tighten the screws”. Well under tightening is as bad as over tightening. Always ask your distributor for the best screws available. A capped head screw has a solid cap that covers over half of the rubber seal. When tightened the cap almost hits the roof and there is no way that the seal will ever come out. Cheap screws are .05 to .10 cents each and capped screws are .15 to .20 cents. A properly installed metal roof will last 200 years with proper maintenance. That’s right nothing is maintenance free and never let someone tell you it is. The metal should be washed every 5 years or so to keep a nice look. Do this the same way you wash your car. With a brush on an extension pole and soap and water. Also Screws need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years. The rubber seals do dry and crack over time. This is a very cheap fix usually under 500.00 installed. Hope this helps someone from making a spiral mistake……
I bought an old farm house in WV where it rains like crazy. The farm house has a composition roof and other four outbuildings have the old corrugated metal roofs. Not one of the metal roofs, including the one on the old horse barn which collapsed leaks, while the composition roof on the farm house leaks like a sieve and needs to be replaced after only 15 years. If you live in an area that gets a lot or rain, I would highly recommend a metal roof. I wish the person that made the decision to roof my house with composite had decided to roof with metal; I wouldn’t be going through the troubles of a leaking roof now if they had.
Only problem with metal roof is that once you have a problem down the road and type of metal roof you have is discontinued you are back at square one. Shingles are the best, I can repair any color or style even though its manufactured by a different company. Now days I have been installing LifeTime Warranty shingles and best in the market.
There are a number of good comments and some great advice regarding this topic. As a roof consultant (I no longer sell or install roofs or work for a roofing company) I spend a great deal of time assisting policyholders (residential, commercial and industrial) and insurance companies on disputed roof claims including many types of metal roof systems. Though I appreciate the use of metal roofs for many applications and in many configurations/profiles, but like most products and services, you get pretty much what you pay for; all things being equal and installation is properly completed. That being said, I would like to address a few comments/concerns. Hail will and absolutely does dent metal roofs and I have innumerable photos to prove it including metal roof panels that have been split open due to hail. Metal roofs come in a number of thicknesses/gauges/gages and the thicker the metal the higher the hail resistance. Similarly, the thicker the metal the higher the cost. Secondly, I would not recommend, as a rule, metal roof systems that have exposed screws regardless of the length of the screw. Each and every screw punctures the very panels that you’re hoping will keep water out and the interior of your house dry. Even though the screws have washers made of various pliable materials, they still tend to deteriorate with weather and age and that doesn’t take into account the numerous screws that are not installed properly to begin with including screws that have been overdriven with too much torque which damaged the washer. Conversely, if the installer doesn’t drive the screw down far enough, then there is no seal created between the washer and the roof panel. I inspect hundreds of thousands of sqaure feet of metal roofs yearly and can attest to the problems associated with these types of systems. However, these systems are very popular and have been for decades due to their less expensive costs. If you’re going to go with this system, just verify the experience of the installer, the quality of the material and be prepared for some likely maintenance and or leakage in about 10 to 15 years. Any time a very expansive material ,like metal roof panels, are secured at both ends, there is going to be added stresses which will be at the location of the fasteners which ultimatley leads to some type of problem in the system/unit. I would suggest that you at least obtain a couple of quotes on concealed-fastener systems (generically referred to as standing seam systems). Metal roofs are often warranted by the manufacturer for 25 to 30 years or longer, which is typically on the finish; Kynar, Galvalume, etc; but the metal itself can last well beyond the warranted years. There is much more that can be addressed, but I’ve said a lot already.
maybe all the roof folks who may visit this page can help answer something for me. I have a very small cottage (450 -ish sq ft). its got an attic space that is not used…there’s a drop ceiling. I’d like to get rid of that drop ceiling and open up what is essentially one room that makes up the house (like i said, its a small house) to make it feel roomier…or turn part of the attic into an open loft. so i climbed up a ladder and scoped out the attic space from the vantage point of one of the attic windows on the side of the house. i was surprised to see that the wood panels of the roof didnt meet at the tip of the triangle…in other words i could see the metal roofing along the entire top ridge of the roof. it was like a strip of wood was missing or something. is that normal? its an old little house but i have no problems at all with the attic….its completely dry. no leaks. nothing.
Does a tin roof produce more moisture in the attic than a shingle roof?
I want to store my winter clothes up there, but notice that water drips off every morning and I never noticed that with shingles??
Help?
Rosa
if you have time could you check out a site called General Shelters here in Texas. they build homes with metal roofs. I am thinking of purchasing one of these homes. I believe their roofs are made of either 26, or 29 gauge metal. They have good pictures where you can clearly see the roof on these cabins. I am just wanting to know what you think of the roof you see on the site. Thank you for your time, Jan.