(512) 676-5838
Blog Layout
6 Reasons Metal Roof Panels Are Smart and Sustainable
christine • August 17, 2020
Get A Free Quote Today!
Get A Free Quote Today!
One important decision to make, whether you are constructing a new building or looking to renovate an old one, is the roof, which will serve as a layer of protection
With so many choices, from asphalt to wood to slate, it can be difficult to decide which material to use. However, a smart and sustainable roofing material with a large return on investment to consider is metal! Metal roof panels have a variety of benefits that will serve your building well for years to come.
Their Long Lifespan
One important benefit of having a metal roof is its long, durable lifespan. Once properly installed, a metal roof can last 40 - 70 years, while zinc or copper roofs can last over 100 years! In comparison, a more traditional asphalt roof generally will last 12 - 20 years before it needs to be replaced.
Though a metal roof can cost twice as much in its first year than asphalt shingles, the cost is negated and, over 60 years, which is roughly the metal roof's lifespan, it will cost about one third the cost of an asphalt shingle roof, which will require more maintenance. The longevity of a metal roof will reduce the number of times the roof will need to be replaced, which can save money as well as the hassle of replacing the building's roofing. The longer you keep the building, the more you will save!
Their Low Maintenance
In addition to metal roofing's long lifespan, metal roofs require much less maintenance than other types of roofing. While other roofing materials break, crumble, and discolor, metal roof installations require much less maintenance, though it is a good idea to have them checked about once a year to ensure that there aren't any problems, to clean, or to do paint touch-ups if desired.
Though the upfront cost of installing a metal roof can be higher, the lower frequency of maintenance can result in saving money over time, making installing a metal roof a worthwhile investment.
Their Resistance
Metal is a particularly durable material that can survive a large variety of hazards and will protect the rest of the building. Metal's longevity and low maintenance can be attributed to its durability.
Lightning and Fire
A common misconception about metal roofing is that they are more likely to attract lightning because metal is a good conductor of electricity, but lightning usually seeks a high object that is directly grounded to the earth, and a metal roof is not directly grounded, so it is much less likely for a metal roof to be struck by lightning than many people think.
However, even if the roof is struck by lightning or there is a fire, a metal roof won't catch fire as metal roof materials are non-combustible, electrically conductive, and often have a Class A fire rating. However, if the metal roofing materials are layered above another material that is less fire-resistant, the fire rating of the roof may be lowered.
Mold and Rot
Metal is also resistant to rot, mildew, mold, fungus, algae, and insects, which avoids many of the drawbacks of other types of roofing materials, making metal an incredibly beneficial material for a roof. The panels can also receive rust-proof coatings, making them resistant to rust as well.
Natural Disaster
Some metal roofs can sustain wind gusts of up to 140 miles per hour! In comparison, 3-tab asphalt shingles can be damaged or even blown off the roof by wind gusts of 70+ miles per hour. Metal roofs are so resistant that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends metal roofs in areas that are prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes.
Other Potential Damage
Metal roofs are corrosion and crack resistant, and certain metals are impact-resistant, making them remarkably resistant to a variety of potential problems and situations. Metal roofing can be dented, but there are also various metal roofing options available that are dent-proof and can withstand hail storms.
Another thing to consider is the strength of metal, as wild animals can break through asphalt shingles and plywood to get inside a building. They are unable to break through metal roof panels. Metal roofs are able to withstand a wide variety of problems for a long period of time, making them a wonderful roofing material choice that will last for many years.
Their Recyclability
Metal roofs, unlike many other roofing materials, are made of partially recycled materials. Often 25 - 95% of a metal roof is made of recycled materials, making metal roofing a very sustainable choice. Steel roofing can even be recycled several times without losing its strength.
In comparison, traditional asphalt shingles are a product of petroleum and can contain hundreds of gallons of crude oil, which increases our dependency on fossil fuels and results in almost 20 billion pounds of old asphalt shingles being sent to U.S. landfills each year.
Additionally, at the end of their long lifespan, metal roof panels are 100% recyclable instead of going to a landfill, making a metal roof an incredibly sustainable roofing choice.
Their Energy Efficiency
Metal has a relatively high thermal conductivity constant k, which means that they are more conductive than insulative. However, during the day, metal reflects heat and solar energy, which reduces the building's midday radiant heat gain instead of absorbing it, which can reduce cooling costs by 10 - 25%.
Metal's high thermal emissivity, or its ability to absorb and release heat, means that it can reflect most of the sun's heat during the day and the heat it does absorb is quickly released during the night, keeping your spaces cool.
Improving Efficiency
Additionally, coating metal in white paint, or a similarly light color, can reduce the building's energy consumption by 18 - 26%, making the building even more energy efficient.
Heat flows from warmer to cooler until the temperature is equal, which means that in cooler weather, heat will flow from heated spaces in the building to unheated spaces in the building and to the outdoors. In warmer weather, heat flows from outside and the un-cooled areas of the building to the cooled areas of the building. Both of these processes can result in uncomfortable temperatures as well as higher heating and cooling costs for the building, but installing a metal roof can reduce heating and cooling costs for a building.
A material's R-value speaks to its insulative abilities as lower R-values have less insulating effectiveness than higher R-values. Although metal tends to have a low insulation R-value, a metal roof can be installed in combination with rigid-foam or other types of insulation which have higher R-values to increase the roof's insulating effectiveness.
A highly reflective metal roof coated with highly emissive paint can re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation, which vastly reduces the building's energy consumption. Additionally, solar energy panels can often be installed on metal roofs without the need to penetrate the roof system.
Installing a metal roof is an excellent choice to reduce heating and cooling costs, which makes them very energy efficient as well as a valuable and worthwhile investment.
Their Light Weight
Compared to other roofing mediums, metal is considered lightweight. While tile can weigh 750 pounds per 100 square feet, metal roofing usually weighs between 50 and 150 pounds per 100 square feet, depending on the type of metal and the style used. Galvanized steel, copper, aluminum, tin, and zinc are types of metal that are the most commonly used in metal roofing. Copper is the most durable metal and can last for hundreds of years.
This reduced weight in roofing materials can result in the need for less structural support inside the building, making the interior space more flexible as the need for load-bearing walls and roof support members may be lessened.
Or, if the metal roofing is being used in a re-roofing project, it can often be installed over the asphalt shingles, saving the old asphalt shingles from being sent to the landfill without overburdening the structural support systems or requiring additional structural support.
A Few Bonus Benefits
Renovations with metal roofing can increase the building's resale value, as homes with metal roofing have, on average, a 6% resale value gain over homes with asphalt roofs. In Texas, metal roofs can also lower homeowner's insurance by up to 35%!
Given the durability, recyclability, energy efficiency, and resistance of metal roofs and their lower weight, metal roofing is well worth the investment and an excellent roofing material choice that will protect your building for many years.
If you have more questions about metal roofing, please contact Hill Country Metal Roofing Supply today 512-676-5838. We roll metal roof panels, which allows for minor last-minute changes and eliminates the monetary and environmental cost of additional packaging and materials for shipping. This also eliminates the cost of shipping, the damage from loading and unloading materials several times, and the need to have costly equipment on site to unload the materials.
Get A Free Quote Today!
Their Long Lifespan
One important benefit of having a metal roof is its long, durable lifespan. Once properly installed, a metal roof can last 40 - 70 years, while zinc or copper roofs can last over 100 years! In comparison, a more traditional asphalt roof generally will last 12 - 20 years before it needs to be replaced.
Though a metal roof can cost twice as much in its first year than asphalt shingles, the cost is negated and, over 60 years, which is roughly the metal roof's lifespan, it will cost about one third the cost of an asphalt shingle roof, which will require more maintenance. The longevity of a metal roof will reduce the number of times the roof will need to be replaced, which can save money as well as the hassle of replacing the building's roofing. The longer you keep the building, the more you will save!
Their Low Maintenance
In addition to metal roofing's long lifespan, metal roofs require much less maintenance than other types of roofing. While other roofing materials break, crumble, and discolor, metal roof installations require much less maintenance, though it is a good idea to have them checked about once a year to ensure that there aren't any problems, to clean, or to do paint touch-ups if desired.
Though the upfront cost of installing a metal roof can be higher, the lower frequency of maintenance can result in saving money over time, making installing a metal roof a worthwhile investment.
Their Resistance
Metal is a particularly durable material that can survive a large variety of hazards and will protect the rest of the building. Metal's longevity and low maintenance can be attributed to its durability.
Lightning and Fire
A common misconception about metal roofing is that they are more likely to attract lightning because metal is a good conductor of electricity, but lightning usually seeks a high object that is directly grounded to the earth, and a metal roof is not directly grounded, so it is much less likely for a metal roof to be struck by lightning than many people think.
However, even if the roof is struck by lightning or there is a fire, a metal roof won't catch fire as metal roof materials are non-combustible, electrically conductive, and often have a Class A fire rating. However, if the metal roofing materials are layered above another material that is less fire-resistant, the fire rating of the roof may be lowered.
Mold and Rot
Metal is also resistant to rot, mildew, mold, fungus, algae, and insects, which avoids many of the drawbacks of other types of roofing materials, making metal an incredibly beneficial material for a roof. The panels can also receive rust-proof coatings, making them resistant to rust as well.
Natural Disaster
Some metal roofs can sustain wind gusts of up to 140 miles per hour! In comparison, 3-tab asphalt shingles can be damaged or even blown off the roof by wind gusts of 70+ miles per hour. Metal roofs are so resistant that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends metal roofs in areas that are prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes.
Other Potential Damage
Metal roofs are corrosion and crack resistant, and certain metals are impact-resistant, making them remarkably resistant to a variety of potential problems and situations. Metal roofing can be dented, but there are also various metal roofing options available that are dent-proof and can withstand hail storms.
Another thing to consider is the strength of metal, as wild animals can break through asphalt shingles and plywood to get inside a building. They are unable to break through metal roof panels. Metal roofs are able to withstand a wide variety of problems for a long period of time, making them a wonderful roofing material choice that will last for many years.
Their Recyclability
Metal roofs, unlike many other roofing materials, are made of partially recycled materials. Often 25 - 95% of a metal roof is made of recycled materials, making metal roofing a very sustainable choice. Steel roofing can even be recycled several times without losing its strength.
In comparison, traditional asphalt shingles are a product of petroleum and can contain hundreds of gallons of crude oil, which increases our dependency on fossil fuels and results in almost 20 billion pounds of old asphalt shingles being sent to U.S. landfills each year.
Additionally, at the end of their long lifespan, metal roof panels are 100% recyclable instead of going to a landfill, making a metal roof an incredibly sustainable roofing choice.
Their Energy Efficiency
Metal has a relatively high thermal conductivity constant k, which means that they are more conductive than insulative. However, during the day, metal reflects heat and solar energy, which reduces the building's midday radiant heat gain instead of absorbing it, which can reduce cooling costs by 10 - 25%.
Metal's high thermal emissivity, or its ability to absorb and release heat, means that it can reflect most of the sun's heat during the day and the heat it does absorb is quickly released during the night, keeping your spaces cool.
Improving Efficiency
Additionally, coating metal in white paint, or a similarly light color, can reduce the building's energy consumption by 18 - 26%, making the building even more energy efficient.
Heat flows from warmer to cooler until the temperature is equal, which means that in cooler weather, heat will flow from heated spaces in the building to unheated spaces in the building and to the outdoors. In warmer weather, heat flows from outside and the un-cooled areas of the building to the cooled areas of the building. Both of these processes can result in uncomfortable temperatures as well as higher heating and cooling costs for the building, but installing a metal roof can reduce heating and cooling costs for a building.
A material's R-value speaks to its insulative abilities as lower R-values have less insulating effectiveness than higher R-values. Although metal tends to have a low insulation R-value, a metal roof can be installed in combination with rigid-foam or other types of insulation which have higher R-values to increase the roof's insulating effectiveness.
A highly reflective metal roof coated with highly emissive paint can re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation, which vastly reduces the building's energy consumption. Additionally, solar energy panels can often be installed on metal roofs without the need to penetrate the roof system.
Installing a metal roof is an excellent choice to reduce heating and cooling costs, which makes them very energy efficient as well as a valuable and worthwhile investment.
Their Light Weight
Compared to other roofing mediums, metal is considered lightweight. While tile can weigh 750 pounds per 100 square feet, metal roofing usually weighs between 50 and 150 pounds per 100 square feet, depending on the type of metal and the style used. Galvanized steel, copper, aluminum, tin, and zinc are types of metal that are the most commonly used in metal roofing. Copper is the most durable metal and can last for hundreds of years.
This reduced weight in roofing materials can result in the need for less structural support inside the building, making the interior space more flexible as the need for load-bearing walls and roof support members may be lessened.
Or, if the metal roofing is being used in a re-roofing project, it can often be installed over the asphalt shingles, saving the old asphalt shingles from being sent to the landfill without overburdening the structural support systems or requiring additional structural support.
A Few Bonus Benefits
Renovations with metal roofing can increase the building's resale value, as homes with metal roofing have, on average, a 6% resale value gain over homes with asphalt roofs. In Texas, metal roofs can also lower homeowner's insurance by up to 35%!
Given the durability, recyclability, energy efficiency, and resistance of metal roofs and their lower weight, metal roofing is well worth the investment and an excellent roofing material choice that will protect your building for many years.
If you have more questions about metal roofing, please contact Hill Country Metal Roofing Supply today 512-676-5838. We roll metal roof panels, which allows for minor last-minute changes and eliminates the monetary and environmental cost of additional packaging and materials for shipping. This also eliminates the cost of shipping, the damage from loading and unloading materials several times, and the need to have costly equipment on site to unload the materials.
Buying top quality roofing materials is just as important as great customer service and product knowledge.
Choosing to install a metal roof is an excellent decision for numerous reasons, including the fact that it will last much longer than a traditional roof, is more energy-efficient, and is better for the environment. However, there are some accessories that are highly recommended for your metal roof that will help make it more effective. These nine metal roof accessories will not only greatly enhance your roof's effectiveness, but will also increase its durability as well.
Why should you choose experienced metal roof installers when you can save money doing it yourself?
How heavy is a metal roof? You might be surprised to learn that it is one of the lightest options. Metal roofs are lighter than asphalt shingles, clay & concrete tiles. The weight of 26-gauge metal roofing is approximately just under one pound per square foot. The weight of 24-gauge metal roofing is about 1.15 pounds. The lower the gauge of the metal, the thicker and heavier the material will be.
Metal roofs are the best option for many property styles. Strong and beautiful they stand up to Texas Weather like locals!
It may be the last roof you will ever need to buy.
Metal can take a little longer but how much longer?
Metal roofing materials can be a great option for people looking to stay cooler, a roof to last longer, and an environmentally-friendly option.
Metal roofing is the roofing of the future .
Your 1-Stop-Shop for Metal Roofing Materials, Accessories & Custom Accessories