Before we look at pros and cons of metal roofing, let’s first figure out what is wrong with roofing shingles…

The problem with asphalt shingles roofing is that it is a petroleum based product, which means that it is inherently ecologically and environmentally unfriendly choice. There is no easy and effective way to dispose off all the asphalt shingle roofs that require replacement other than to tear off the old shingles, and send it into the landfill where it will be buried in the ground and left there to decompose for many decades to come.

Petroleum based Products should be Eliminated as much as possible, not recycled.

One does not need to be a hardcore environmentalist to see how detrimental asphalt shingles roofing products are to the nature and the environment. So, the big question comes up, what is an environmentally friendly and practical roofing alternative to an asphalt shingle roof? The answer is simple, for the last few years metal roofing has been gaining market share and popularity as a green roofing material of choice.

Metal roofing can last much longer than an asphalt shingle roof, which only averages 10 to 20 years of service life. Metal roofing on the other hand, can last well over 35 years when properly installed.
The key to a long lasting metal roof is strict adherence to the metal roofing manufacturers installation guidelines.

Metal Roofing Installation Video

Installing metal roofing correctly involves preparation of the roof deck, proper application of roofing underlayment, and correct installation of metal roofing system. Whether or not you hire a professional metal roofing contractor, or choose to go do it yourself way, be sure to follow the installation instructions thoroughly. This way your metal roof will last for decades providing energy savings, maintenance free roof protection, and durable and long lasting beauty.

Here are a few reasons to consider metal roofing for your home

Metal roofing is reliable and long lasting green building material, which means that you can earn green building credits for the installation of the energy efficient metal roof that is rated by Cool-Roof council and by Energy Star for its solar reflective properties.

Metal roofing can help lower your homeowner’s insurance by as much as 35%. Metal roofs are fire retardant, which means they do not support fire, which can be a significant factor if you live in a heavily wooded area. Metal roofs can withstand powerful storms and category four hurricane winds. This may be very helpful if you live in a hurricane prone area.

Metal roofs provide excellent protection in the cold climates. Coated with specialty coatings, metal roofs shed snow and ice, which may help you prevent ice dams from forming on your roof.

As far as aesthetics go, modern metal roofs may add a unique touch of modern architecture to your home. You can choose from than traditional metal shingles and shakes profiles available in beautiful metal roofing colors, to the vertically oriented lines of standing-seam metal roofing panels that can easily be enhanced with roof integrated solar roofing panels. This combination will make your house not only energy efficient, but also capable of generating electricity from the sun.

Do not let the initially higher metal roofing costs to deter you from considering installing metal roofing for your home. Metal roofing will help you lower your cooling costs, appraise the value of your property, and provide many years of reliable and worry free service to you.

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

Unfortunately, and all too often, our good old cheap asphalt roofs fails on us when we least expect it! And we used to think that, it could never happen to us… I have been in those shoes myself!

Let’s face it, a roof that is leaking is not a kind or problem that can be ignored. A leaky roof could cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home, and the sooner you take care of your roofing problem, the better off you will be. I know this is not the most exciting moment of your life, but you will have to make some decisions as to what roofing materials you will choose for your house. There are many different roofing options available, and I am going to suggest that asphalt roof is not the option you will want to pick, because they are becoming obsolete. Yes, I said obsolete!

Like it or not, but we live in the 21st century and it seems as though the good old cheap asphalt roof no longer cuts it. Unless, of course, you plan to sell your house in a few years and move out so that the new owner will get stock with the inferior roof. It is estimated that an average lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is only 15 years. Add a few years in a temperate / good climate, and subtract a few years for Northern and extreme Southern climate such as Florida, Arizona, and Texas. This is not a very lucrative option to know that your roof is bound to fail and you will have to spend your money on re roofing your home all over again. So what is the solution you may ask…

In the last decade, there has been a quite sizable increase in the popularity of metal roofing installations, and I am not talking about the old barn style naked roof that makes the rain drops sound like a machine gun rattle. No, that is not the case, and in fact, modern metal roofing choices have become very sophisticated. They come in a variety of metal roofing colors from white snow to Vermont slate blue, and shapes that will blow your mind. For example, there are metal roofs that look just like wooden shake with unique texture and coloring. If you like the look of slate roofing, then you can get a metal roof that looks like slates.

Whatever your style and color preferences are, metal roofing seems to provide a solution to satisfy those unique needs and desires, from red Spanish tile – stone coated steel roof, to  aluminum shakes reminiscent of traditional Cedar Shakes. But, here is the best part, unlike asphalt roofing that is bound to fail soon, quality metal roofing installations are known to last as long as 100 years. As for the material manufacturer warranty, many modern metal roofing products come with up to 50 years non-prorated warranty.

And by the way, metal roofing can save as much as 25% on the air-conditioning costs. If you choose a white colored, sun reflective metal roof, than your energy savings could be as high as 50%. And did I mention, there is also a 2010 $1500 tax credit available from the government if buy a metal roof.

Finally, as far as cost goes; metal roofing prices, may initially seem as high vs asphalt shingle roofing, but if you stay in your house long enough it will more than pay for itself. Best of luck with your roofing project.

Original Metal Roofing Articles source:

21st Century Roofing Technology

Fuel hungry cars, airplanes, and manufacturing plants are not the only CO 2 / carbon footprint contributors. Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings are also contributing a great deal to overall carbon footprint. Poorly insulated buildings consume vast amounts of energy, natural resources, and contribute to greenhouse gases affect. One of the ways to combat environmental degradation associated with poorly constructed buildings, is to use green building technology in retrofitting of existing buildings and constructing new buildings using green building practices.

Green building practices encourage environmental responsibility through the use of sustainable building materials in residential and commercial retrofit and new construction projects. The roof structure of the building is not an exception when it comes to in green building design. In fact, roof constructed according to green building practices can earn green building credits with the U.S. green building council based in Washington, DC.

Whole Foods Market place, one of the U.S. top organic food retailers has embraced green building technology by building a state of the art store made of aluminum and green building materials. The roof design incorporates vegetated roofing technology by using easy to integrate green roofing containers containing local vegetation. Green roofing design provides energy savings, insulation, and combats urban heat island affect.

In order for a roofing system to qualify for green building credits it must meet solar reflectivity index of a minimum of 78 percents for flat roofs and 29 percents for sloped roofs. Solar reflectivity index is assigned by cool-roof rating council. SRI incorporates solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity.

Metal roofs provide a wide variety of sustainable roofing options including standing-seam roofs made with long lasting and environmentally friendly metals such as aluminum, zinc, steel and copper. Metal roofs contain up to 50% post consumer content and are fully recyclable. Painted metal roofing panels are coated with solar reflective paint finishes that help keep the roof cooler in warm seasons.

The use of metal in a residential, commercial and industrial roofing aides in reducing building’s carbon footprint, and provides long lasting and reliable roofing solution that is also U.S green building council accredited.

In a typical residential re-roofing situation, the cool-roof rated galvanized steel metal roofing system can offer longevity, durability, energy savings, and earn green building credits for existing buildings and new construction. Modern steel shingle metal roofing systems are available in wide variety of cool-roof rated metal roofing colors that literally reflect solar radiant heat, reduce air conditioning load and provide energy savings.

For homeowners whose roof is covered with a flat roof, installing PVC based cool flat roof membrane similar to IB roofs in performance will provide significant energy savings, reliability, and long lasting roofing solution. Yes, PVC and green combination may seem counter intuitive, but PVC roofs can last three times longer than EPDM Rubber roofs and can be recycled when the roof has served its purpose. Certain PVC roofing systems are designed to withstand standing / ponds of water, which means that they can be used for vegetated green roofing systems.

No matter what type of metal / cool roofing system you choose, be sure to pay special attention to longevity and Cool Roof ratings of the roofing system in question.

References:

Metal Roofing Materials

Green Roofing

Metal roofing and green building

This roofing calculator will estimate annual cool roof energy savings and roof prices for such green roofing including Metal Roofing and Cool White flat roofs.

If you want to put this Roofing Materials Calculator on your website, use the simple code here.

Roof Energy Savings and Prices Calculator:

Roof Calculator allows you to estimate roof installation prices for different roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, metal roofing and EPDM rubber roof, as well as calculate roof pitch and the size of your roof.

Also, if you want to integrate Temperature Conversion Calculator into your blog, we have developed a WordPress Temperature Converter Plug-in.

If you use a Google Chrome browser, we also developed a Temperature Converter extension for Chrome.