METAL PANEL
Overview
Metal roofing is one of the fastest growing parts of the roofing industry. Its popularity is increasing everywhere due to its many positive attributes. While a premium metal roof costs more initially than many other roofs, it can be a good investment in the long run. Not only are metal roofs long lasting, they can also increase a home’s resale value, decrease a home’s energy consumption (by up to 40%!), and in some areas, reduce the home owner insurance premiums immensely.
Non-metal roofs start to deteriorate as soon as they are installed and exposed to the elements. UV rays, high wind, and severe temperature changes can damage most other roofs, sometimes drastically decreasing their service life. The average life span of a NON-metal roof varies between 15 and 20 years. Metal roofs can last 2 to 3 times that long, depending on style, quality, and workmanship. In many cases, a metal roof can be the last roof you’ll ever install on your home.
Metal Roofing comes in a wide variety of designs, colors, and styles. You can purchase metal roofing in shapes that imitate asphalt shingles, tile, wood shakes, as well as the common vertical seam styles. Metal roofing can come stone-coated and smooth. You can also get metal trim pieces to match the color of your roof, or get contrasting colored trim to offset the roof.
Materials and Installation
While copper and stainless steel are not unheard of, the most common types of metal used for metal roofing are steel and aluminum. Both are available in varying thicknesses but the most common are typically 24 gauge steel and .032” aluminum. Both are very durable and easy to work with, making them ideal for both the building owner and the installer.
Metal roofs are very durable in that they are quite hail resistant and wind resistant (installed properly, of course). Another added bonus is that you can install them right over the top of an existing roof (some criteria have to be met to ensure a proper “fit”). You can walk on metal roofs without damaging them, but just to be safe, you should contact your contractor or the manufacturer of the metal roofing materials. Some special profile metal roofs can be tricky to walk on without damaging them.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a choice for virtually any roof where steel or other materials are being considered. Its natural properties of light weight, strength and longevity make it a desirable roofing material. These qualities make aluminum the number one metal of the aerospace industry, so it only makes sense for them to be equally popular in the roofing industry. Because aluminum roofs are lightweight, consumers can re-roof their home and reduce the weight on their housing structure. Unlike heavy tile and slate roofing, aluminum roofing does not require structural reinforcement. The other important factor to consider is an aluminum roof's resistance to rust and corrosion over time. These unique characteristics makes aluminum roofing the preferred material in salt spray costal environments.
Aluminum roofs not only provide premium protection, they are also great for the environment. According to the Bureau of Cedar Shakes and Shingles, three full grown trees are destroyed for the average shake roof. One study has shown that composition shingles buried in landfills, will take over 300 years to decompose. Aluminum roofing shingles are completely recyclable and often have a high recycled content.
And lastly, because aluminum is more malleable, it can generally be formed into more intricate and detailed product designs which allow the building of strength and beauty into a roof.
Steel
Galvalume steel is an ideal roofing material because of its strength, extraordinary outdoor corrosion resistance and longevity. Steel roofing used in residential applications today is metallic coated with either Zinc (G90) or Zinc/Aluminum (AZ50) to provide the corrosion resistance homeowners desire. Steel roofing is strong and therefore gives higher wind uplift resistance and a broader range of application than other roofing materials. As a result, an installed steel roof system has a broader range of price levels and products than many other kinds of metal roofing. Steel roofs have passed the UL 90 wind tests due to their strength and weight. For additional test results, visit www.fsec.ucf.edu to view the reports done at FL Solar Energy Center in their Flexible Roofing Facility.
Steel roofing offers excellent rust protection as well. Galvanized steel roofing is available painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. Unlike conventional non-metallic roof systems, Galvalume steel roofs won't crack and peel when subjected to the sun and weather.
For more information, please contact Robison Roofing at 208-785-4626.
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