Metal roofs have been around for a long time; roofing shingles made of copper are known to have been in use as far back as the third century BC, in Sri Lanka. In the United States, however, where asphalt shingles occupy a commanding 80% majority of the roofing market, metal roofs have long been associated with industrial or farm buildings, as opposed to residences. In the last 15 years or so, however, the demand for residential metal roofing has tripled in size to 12% of the market, a far cry from the 1% or so recorded back in 1989.

Despite the rising trend in metal roofing, however, there’s still a sort of stigma associated with metal roofs. Aesthetics have typically been one of the biggest and most common arguments against installing metal roofing. Where metal is durable and long-lasting, its “newness” is seen to detract from the look and feel of the house, whereas materials like wood, clay, and slate are seen as more traditional and thought to impart a certain character, and thus value, to the house.

The fact is, standing, looking around at the houses in your neighborhood, you could be looking at a metal roof right now and not know it.

PART I: STONE-COATED METAL? HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK?

PART I: STONE-COATED METAL? HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK?

Adding a coating of stone to a metal roof (sand, originally, as it was first done in the United Kingdom) was first conceived of as a way to help protect the metal from the effects of the environment. The coating of stone, however, helps to disguise the metal, and can make it appear to be any of the other common roofing materials.

Metal’s malleability – the ability to shape it into different forms – is one of the many reasons it makes such a versatile crafting material, since it can be fashioned into just about any shape desired. Far from being limited to galvanized sheeting, metal roofing can take the form of any other style of roofing, such as shingles or tiles. It is these metal tiles and shingles that are at the head of a roofing revolution in residential America.

At Arry’s Roofing, we are experts in metal roofing and can answer any question you may have.

PART II: WHY CHOOSE A METAL ROOF?

The ability of stone-coated metal to mimic the appearance and form of just about any other roofing material is not its only draw. Despite whatever else it may look like, it still retains all the other properties that make metal a superior choice of material for roofing. Shaping metal into shingles and tiles melds the properties of metal with the inherent advantages of that form of construction, as follows:

LONGEVITY – Metal roofs last a long time, far longer than most other roof types (other than slate). Asphalt shingles typically last 20 years; wood shingles and shakes, and clay or concrete tiles about 30 years. By spending on premium versions of the above, you can make them last about 50 years. Metal, on the other hand, typically lasts a minimum of 50 years, without needing special treatment. Where asphalt starts to deteriorate as soon as it’s exposed to normal weather, i.e., as soon as you install it, metal, on the other hand, will never decompose.

DURABILITY – Unlike most other roofing materials, such as asphalt, clay, and concrete, metal does not lose impact resistance as it ages. Long after you’ve had to replace other roof types due to damage over time, a metal roof will still give the same protective value as when it was first installed.

PART II: WHY CHOOSE A METAL ROOF?

STRENGTH – Distinct from the previous, metal roofing structures have performed well even in the most rigorous and demanding wind and uplift tests, and are capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. Wood tops out at 60 mph, while asphalt gives up the ghost at 70 mph.

FIRE RESISTANCE – Unlike most other roof types, metal roofs don’t burn. There is therefore no need to add a fire resistant coating or other such treatment to metal roofs. In the unlikely case that your house is struck by lightning, not only will the roof not burn, but it also serves to ground the lightning strike, dissipating the energy safely through the structure of the house.

For more information about metal roofing systems, call our experts at Arry’s Roofing.

PART III: THAT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?

Q: I hear a lot about stone-coated metal roofing, but is it right for me?

A: That really depends on you, but there are a lot of things, even beyond the advantages of fire resistance, durability, strength and longevity, to like about metal roofs. For one, they’re just about maintenance-free, requiring so little upkeep that it might as well be zero. Compare that to shingles, where you typically have to replace some after every storm. At most, you’ll need to check your metal roof for dents after a hail storm, but other than that, you will typically not need to do anything more.

Q: Are metal roofs expensive?

A: While metal roofs cost significantly more than asphalt – easily two or three times as much – over the lifetime of the roof you save on having to repeatedly repair it after every storm. Some estimates place the effective cost of a metal roof, factoring in the lack of a need for repair or replacement, at a mere third of the cost of an asphalt roof, over a 60-year period.

Metal roofs also typically require less in the way of insurance; the lack of a need for fire insurance can be significant. Some homeowners have reported saving up to 30% on their insurance premiums by switching to metal.

PART III: THAT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?

Q: But will it even work with my house? Will it match my home or my neighborhood?

A: Since metal can be formed into shingles and tiles, metal roofing will certainly work whatever style of roofing you might have on your home. Weight is not an issue – metal roofs are, on average, 50% lighter than a similar asphalt roof, and up to 75% lighter than similar concrete or slate roofs.

Stone-coated metal shingle or tile looks exactly like the asphalt or wood shingle or shake, or concrete or clay tile it’s patterned after. Stone-coated “Canyon Shakes” are virtually indistinguishable from actual wood shakes. “Barrel Vault” tiles looks just like concrete S-type tiles. Combining the more traditional look with the durability of metal can actually increase the value of your home by anywhere from 1 to 6 percent.

If you have further questions or if we can help you with your roof in any way, call us at Arry’s Roofing.

Arry’s Roofing Services, Inc.

401 East Spruce Street, Tarpon Springs,FL 34689

(727) 938-9565(727) 362-2230

ArrysRoofing.com