Green Concept Home

Metal Roofing

September 1, 2009

After considering various roofing options, we have decided to go with a metal roof.  Why?  Here are some of the key reasons:

1) Metal roofing is long-lasting: It will not rot, crack, chip or erode.  Most manufacturers will guarantee 40+ years on the metal roof (material/paint).  If installed properly, metal roof also requires little maintenance.  Most metal roof installers provide a 10 to 15-year workmanship/installation warranty (with a few providing a transferrable lifetime warranty).  Remember, the roof is only as good as how well it is installed, so always look for a reputable roofing company (it is also wise to double-check how long the company has been around since its warranty will not mean anything if it closes down). 

2) Metal roofing is energy-efficient: Many manufacturers now carry ENERGY STAR rated metal roofing.  These are roofing systems that include special resin-based coatings such as Kynar 500 and Hylar 5000.  The coatings are highly reflective (with a minimum solar reflectance of 25% and up to 71% on lighter colors).  This means your house will be cooler in the summers (as the roof reflects most of the heat) and warmer in the winters (as the roof acts as a radiant heat barrier to retain heat inside the structure).  Some manufacturers claim that their metal roofs can reduce energy costs by up to 20%. 

3) Metal roofing is environmentally-friendly: Steel is 100% recyclable and is the most recycled metal on earth.  It can be reused indefinitely without compromising its quality, durability or strength.  Many manufacturers now provide metal roofing made from 25 to 30%+ recyclable materials.  We are also able to find a few manufacturers that produce their metal roof locally (within 200 miles).  This means smaller carbon footprint, lower smog levels and fewer fossil fuel consumption and emissions in the world. 

4) Metal roofing is strong: Metal roofing has the greatest strength per pound of any roofing material.  Despite its light weight, metal roofing can handle heavy snow loads and extreme wind conditions (in excess of 140 mph). 

5) Metal roofing is light weight: Metal roofing is 1/2 to 1/3 the weight of typical composition roofs and 1/10 to 1/8 the weight of cement, tile or slate roofs.  It requires the same minimal structural requirements as standard composition roofing.

6) Metal roofing is non-combustible: Metal roofing does not burn or support combustion. 

7) Metal roofing is quiet: In modern applications over sheeting, insulation, attic air spaces and vapor barriers, rain or hail hitting metal roofing is as quiet inside the house as asphalt, cedar shake, tile or slate roofing.

If you are going for green certifications such as “LEED for Homes” and “Built Green”, metal roofing will help you to score a few points towards your certification.

Metal roofing may have slightly higher upfront costs than other types of roofing, however, considering the above factors (especially the longer life span and the environmental factors), we think it is still well worth it!

Filed under: green features