Because asphalt shingles are among the most readily available, reasonably priced, and adaptable roofing materials, the majority of American homeowners opt for them. Slate and clay roofing tiles are the most durable, but their cost puts them above more affordable materials like metal or wood. Among the priciest kinds of functional roofing options are solar shingles and green roofs.
One of the best and most beneficial ways to invest in a property is to replace an aging roof. Select the kind of roof that best fits your house, the weather, and your budget. If you intend to install a new roof, make sure you use the best roofing contractor.
Brickfront Properties and Construction installs all types of roofing, including metal roofing, copper roofing, and wood roofing (such as cedar, redwood, and pine).
Today, we will focus on metal roof panels, different types of metal roof materials, its many benefits and cons.
Metal Roofing Panels
The most popular options when selecting a roof are metal roof panels and shingles. Compared to shingles, metal roofing systems provide several advantages, such as:
- Durability: When properly installed, high winds, weather, and the ability to keep rodents and other animals out are all elements of metal roofing. It is also common for metal roof panels to be manufactured with a Class A fire rating and non-flammability.
- Warranties: Given the abundance of warranties offered to customers by manufacturers, suppliers, and installers, metal roofing systems are a cost-effective investment.
- Eco-Friendly: Scraps that might otherwise wind up in landfills can be recycled into new metal panels using anything from manufactured excess scraps to tear-off metal.
- Longevity: Compared to any other roofing material available on the market, metal roofing is designed to last longer. Many customers pick metal panels because metal roofing can withstand corrosion and degradation for up to 60 years, depending on the substrate material.
Types Of Metal Roof Materials
When the word “metal roof” is used, it usually refers to a steel roof. Steel panels aren’t the only kind of metal roofing, though. Although they are less frequent, they nonetheless offer all the advantages of metal as a roofing material. See below for additional information on the many kinds of metal roofing.
Steel Roofing
The most used material for metal roofing panels is steel. Galvalume or galvanized steel are two terms used to describe steel roofing. Galvalume is a coating that is made up of 55% aluminum, 43.4% zinc, and 1.6% silicone. This composition gives it a stronger finish than galvanized steel, which is coated only with zinc.
The steel roof category offers a variety of panel possibilities. The least expensive kind of metal roofing system is corrugated metal, which is almost half the price of standing seam roofing. Nonetheless, a standing seam panel is frequently chosen over a corrugated metal roof due to its sleek, modern design and optimum weathertightness against the elements when compared to an exposed fastener panel.
Copper Roofing
Due to its longer lifespan and higher cost, a copper roof is considered a premium metal roofing material.
Copper is utilized on public buildings and is more frequently found on home metal roofing in Europe than in the US because of its long lifespan.
Due to its longer lifespan and higher cost, a copper roof is considered a premium metal roofing material.
Copper is utilized on public buildings and is more frequently found on home metal roofing in Europe than in the US because of its long lifespan.
Patina, which forms over time and shields the copper from rust, gives copper roofing its distinctive appearance. The copper color will turn green-blue from a shiny penny due to the patina.
Aluminum Roofing
Of all the metal roofing materials, aluminum has the highest strength-to-weight ratio and is the most lightweight. Because it is corrosion-resistant and won’t rust in a salty air environment, aluminum is a roofing material that works well in coastal areas.
Stainless Steel Roofing
10.5% of the durable stainless steel is composed of chromium. Although stainless steel is so expensive—it costs about the same as copper or zinc—it isn’t a popular roofing material.
Zinc Roofing
Zinc and copper are comparable metal roof materials in terms of price and lifespan. Although zinc roofing is extremely durable and can endure for hundreds of years, it is not a popular roof panel choice in the United States because it is expensive for roof suppliers to carry and difficult for roofing contractors to locate.
Over time, zinc roofing patinas and becomes blue-gray. The patina coating keeps the zinc from rusting, zinc roofing is a suitable roofing material for homes that are close to or on the coast.
Tin Roofing
Tin roofing was first utilized centuries ago, and because it was lightweight and simple to work with, it quickly gained popularity as a roofing material. Tin roofs are not installed anymore. A “tin roof” is typically used to describe galvanized steel or aluminum, which can simulate the look of tin.
Quality roof materials are well selected by Brickfront Properties and Construction to suit your building, and weather, and offer low maintenance costs.
Metal Roofing Styles
Below are a few roofing styles for your building:
Standing Seam Metal Roof
Standing seam metal roofs come in sheets that are 12″ (30 cm), 14″, 16″, or 18″ inches wide and can be as long as or occasionally longer than 30 feet (9.1 meters). Usually, the standing seam is 1.5″ or 1.75″. Although they require more money upfront for installation and materials, they are less expensive in the long run—after more than 50 years—than asphalt shingles. Because of the exposed fasteners on that roof, they require less maintenance than corrugated metal roofs.
- Mechanically Seamed: Mechanically seamed roofs can be single-lock or double-lock seamed, which can be folded under once for joint seam sealing or twice for additional weather protection. Seams are joined together using a roof seamer. Though it costs more than the other two, this kind is the most weather-resistant.
- Snap Locked with Clips: More thermal expansion is permitted by snap-locked metal roofs with metal clips attached to the roof than by fastener-strip standing seam metal roofs. This option is slightly more expensive than the fastener strip snap-locked standing seam roof, and both the clips and the fasteners are concealed beneath the metal roof sheets.
- Snap Locked with Fastener Strip: The standing seam sheet is attached to the roof on one side with snap locks, which hide the fasteners; on the other side, screws are used to secure the sheet to the roof, which the next sheet also covers. Each fastener slot includes some space to move past the screw to account for thermal expansion, therefore the fastener screws shouldn’t be pushed in too firmly to prevent the sheet from expanding and contracting with temperature changes. The drawback of this approach is the possibility of fastener heads falling off if they are put incorrectly or if they deteriorate due to climatic variations.
Corrugated Metal Roof
Prefabricated sheets of metal that have been bent and wrinkled to increase rigidity are called corrugated metal roofs.
The cost of installation of a corrugated metal roof is comparable to that of an asphalt shingle roof. More maintenance is necessary to ensure that the fasteners, which are screwed through the metal and into the roof, stay in place. With the right care, corrugated metal roofs can endure 30 to 45 years.
Thin Film Solar on Metal Roofs
Thin film solar panels are now more affordable to install on metal roofs than standard monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels thanks to their rising efficiencies. There are no holes needed to be installed because the thin film panels are flexible and flow along standing seam metal roofs. They adhere to the metal roof with adhesive. At the top of the roof, beneath the ridge cap, are the connection cables.
While thin-film solar panels have a shorter payback period than regular solar panels, they endure 10–20 years.
Pros and Cons
There are advantages and disadvantages of metal roofing:
Pros
- Can mimic slate, asphalt, or wood
- Durable
- High wind resistance due to interlocking panels
- Lightweight
- Low-maintenance
- Recyclable
- Variety of colors
Cons
- Soundproofing is necessary to lower noise.
- May develop ripples or warp if installed incorrectly.
- Need skilled labor for installation and maintenance.
Best Option for Metal Roofing Systems
As homeowners in Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, are you looking to fix, repair, or hire a construction firm for your roof installation? Brickfront Properties and Construction can get it done!
Although metal roofing is available in many colors, we can paint your desired style.
Brickfront also offers solutions to your depleting roof with zero hassle.
We install all styles with professional advice based on your building. Do you prefer an alternative to metal roofing? We have got you!