For decades, traditional asphalt composition shingles have been the default choice for home roofing. But in recent years, several stunning new metal roofing options have become available, and they have some pretty impressive benefits.
Stone Coated Steel Metal Roof Tiles
Stone coated steel roofs can look like traditional composition shingles, wood shakes, or even clay tile, giving you a wide variety of styles to pick from.
These lightweight metal roofs are made from shaped steel panels that are coated with a protective alloy and adhesive primer and topped with ceramic stone granules.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Standing seam metal roofing is made from panels of galvanized steel which lock together along raised seams, giving your home a clean, sophisticated look with bold vertical lines.
We’re installing more and more metal roofs in Dallas and across North Texas, as homeowners begin to see the benefits of metal roofing. So, what makes these new metal roofing options so popular?
1. Metal Roofing Lasts a Really, Really, Really Long Time
Asphalt is a petroleum product, so it begins to deteriorate from heat and weather damage from the moment it’s installed. That’s why a composition shingle roof typically has to be replaced every 10 to 20 years, especially when it’s your home’s first line of defense against Texas’ scorching heat and violent hail storms.
By contrast, there are so many ways asphalt shingles deteriorate over time: lifting, curling, blistering from heat, balding (aka losing granules), cracking, creasing, tearing, cupping, buckling, separating, splitting, and a whole lot more synonyms for decomposing.
But metal roofing has an expected lifespan of 40 to 70 years – or longer.
According to the Roofing Calculator, both stone coated steel and standing seam roofs are considered “lifetime” systems, meaning that as long as the roof is correctly installed, you should never have to replace it.
Unlike composition shingle that has to be replaced over and over, metal roofing will never decompose. Galvanized steel doesn’t rot or crack, and will continue to protect your home for decades.
2. Metal Roofing Laughs at Mother Nature
Metal roofing lasts practically forever because it can stand up to all kinds of weather extremes.
In fact, stone coated steel is so durable that it was discovered during a world war! As buildings were demolished during the London Blitz in World War II, British citizens scrambled to rebuild, often with sheets of corrugated metal. Unfortunately, the shiny metal could easily be spotted during nighttime bombing raids, so it was coated with a protective emulsion. After the war, they discovered that the coating had bonded with the steel so well that it couldn’t be removed — and a new roofing material was born.
If steel roofing can make it through a war, let’s see how it holds up against Mother Nature:
Hail Resistant
Metal roofing is certified to UL Class 4 impact resistance, the highest rating, which can also give you a discount on your homeowners’ insurance. While that doesn’t mean a metal roof will never, ever be dented by hail, it does mean they’ll take a lot less structural damage than traditional roofing, and be far more effective at protecting your home.
Wind Resistant
Metal roofing is wind resistant up to 120 mph. That’s equal to an EF2 tornado or a Category 3 hurricane! In fact, steel roofing is often recommended in coastal and storm-prone areas because it’s so wind-resistant and durable.
Mold, Mildew, and Algae Resistant
Mold and mildew are both fungi, with mold typically being surface-level and easier to remove, while mildew usually indicates a much bigger problem. Both kinds of metal roofing are resistant to mold and mildew: standing seam metal roofs contain zinc, an anti-fungal, and stone-coated steel tiles have an anti-fungal in the adhesive binder. Plus, both surfaces are smoother than composition shingles, giving both fungi and algae (a moss-like plant) fewer nooks and crannies to start growing.
Heat Resistant
Metal roofing is able to handle scorching Texas summers without cracking, shrinking, or peeling like composition roofs do.
In summary, as the fine folks at metalroofing.com put it:
Unlike asphalt or other roofing styles, a properly installed metal roof can handle just about anything Mother Nature can throw at it. Metal roofing can protect your home against extreme temperatures, high winds, hail, marine air and even fire — all with minimal maintenance.
3. Metal Roofing is Good for Your Wallet (In the Long Run)
You probably think that metal roofing is expensive — and at first, that’s true. Having a metal roof installed will typically cost 2 to 3 times more than getting a composition roof, due to the cost of materials and the need for skilled installers who know what they’re doing.
But in the long run, metal roofing is often incredibly cost-effective:
- Metal roofing boosts your home’s curb appeal and makes it attractive to potential buyers
- It increases your home’s resale value anywhere from 1% to 6%
- A metal roof can help you save money on energy bills, reducing cooling costs anywhere from 10-25% (according to State Farm) or even up to 40% (according to the Metal Roofing Alliance)
- You can save money on insurance premiums thanks to the Class 4 impact resistance rating
- A metal roof is essentially maintenance-free, saving you both time and money
But most importantly, a metal roof pays for itself over time because it lasts for so long. During the lifespan of your amazingly durable metal roof, you’d need to re-roof with asphalt shingles 2, 3, or even 4 times. So if you can afford the up-front costs, a metal roof is usually a very good investment!
4. Metal Roofing Keeps Your Home Safe
In addition to being so weatherproof, metal roofing has some great safety benefits.
First, metal roofing is a lightweight roofing solution, on average about 50% lighter than shingles, which maintains your home’s structural integrity. And if you’re hoping for the style of clay tile or slate, which are much heavier, you can get that same look with lightweight stone coated steel.
Additionally, metal roofing is fire resistant. Traditional composition roofing is flammable because it’s made with asphalt, a petroleum product. But metal doesn’t catch fire, so metal roofing products have a Class A fire rating, which can make a huge difference in case of accident or if you life in an area prone to wildfires.
5. Metal Roofing Makes the Planet Happy
If you’re interested in being more environmentally friendly, then metal roofing is a great choice:
- Metal roofing is typically made of 25-60% recycled material
- Metal roofing is 100% recyclable at the end of its (long) life
- Metal roofing doesn’t contribute to the almost 20 billion pounds of torn-off composition roofing we send to landfills each year in the United States
- Metal roofing contains no petroleum products and does not increase our dependence on fossil fuels
6. Metal Roofing is Really Beautiful
Take a look at some of the installations we’ve done below, or browse our gallery for even more inspiration.
And when you’re ready to talk about the best metal roof for your home, just give us a call!