Why Metal Roof

For many reasons, a metal roof is the perfect choice of construction for property owners, builders and architects. Read below to find out why.

Durability

Have you seen images of a hurricane devastated coastline? Typically, homes with metal roofs will have fared far better than others. Metal roofing is known for its ability to withstand the elements year-after-year in just about every climate. When manufactured to building code specifications, a metal roof will typically outperform the competition in severe weather, including hurricanes, excessive hot and cold temperatures, as well as wind, sand, hail, snow, and heavy rains. There are many metal roofing systems that have been tested and proven to perform in winds in excess of 140 mph. By design, the interlocking system of panels from which metal roofs are made resist wind uplift, reducing the risk of water intrusion.

Lightweight and Fast Installation

On average, a 24 gauge galvalume steel roofing square (100 sf) weighs just around 96 lbs., which is about 1/10th the weight of cement tile roofs. For new construction, this means that fewer trusses are required, which in turn drives down the overall cost of the building significantly. It also doesn’t weigh down and put unnecessary stress on a structure, which reduces frame damage and preserves the integrity of the building. A lighter roof also means that a smaller crew can handle and transport the metal up onto the roof during the installation process.

Removable & Recyclable

A metal roof can be removed as quickly as it can be installed, and 100% of the metal components of a roof are fully recyclable. The metal doesn’t end up in a landfill. It is transported to metal recycling facilities that chop it up and resell it to the mills, which in turn melt it down and make it into metal rolls that can be made into metal roofs again and again.

Energy Efficiency & Coating Choice

Measuring the energy efficiency of a roof was never a consideration until metal roofing demonstrated that it should be. Now it has become a critical part of our fight against climate change and global warming. A roof’s qualities relates directly to the amount of energy required to heat or cool the building under it. The less energy is used, the less we are dependent on fossil fuels, which in turn leads to stabilizing climate change. In this, with all its other benefits, a metal roof stands alone.

There are three primary terms that measure a metal roof’s energy efficiency: Solar Reflectance (SR), Emissivity, and Solar Reflectance Index (SRI).

  • Solar Reflectance is the ability of a material to reflect solar energy from its surface back into the atmosphere. The SR value is a number from 0 to 1.0. A value of 0 indicates that the material absorbs all solar energy and a value of 1.0 indicates total reflectance.
  • Emissivity or Thermal Emittance refers to the relative ability of the surface of a roof to radiate absorbed heat quickly to return it to its normal temperature. The higher the thermal emittance value, the more heat the roofing material emits back into the atmosphere.
  • Solar Reflectance Index incorporates both solar reflectance and thermal emissivity in a single value. SRI measures the roof’s ability to reject solar heat, defined such that a standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and a standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. The higher the SRI, the better the roofing material’s ability to reduce heat transfer into the building.

If the thermal efficiency of a metal roof is your primary focus, then consider roofs with White or light colored coatings as they offer the highest SRI, some as high as 82.

Fire Resistant

When properly installed, a metal roof is Class A fire-rated and noncombustible, making it the most resistant to catching fire. This is especially important in areas prone to wildfires. Unlike shingle roofs, neither hot ashes nor embers are likely to cause a fire on a metal roof.

Increased Property Value & Lower Insurance

A building with a metal roof lasts longer and has a higher property value. Installed correctly, a metal roof also adds the curb appeal needed to sell it fast. Since metal roofs result in less damage, almost all insurance companies offer significant discounts for homes with metal roofs.

Low Maintenance

The level of upkeep needed to maintain a metal roof is generally minimal, with nothing more than a fresh water rinse on an annual or as-needed schedule. A cleaning and maintenance guide for Sherwin-Williams Fluropolymer coatings is available for download from this site.