Metal Roofing Pros and Cons

We often hear the question, what are the pros and cons of metal roofing? We've summarized a few of the more prominent pros and cons below.

As always, we're happy to look at your specific roofing needs, wants, and budget and provide you an expert opinion and quote on what would best suit your needs. Take advantage of our no obligation roofing quote and consultation and let us help you decide what would work best for you.

Pros of Metal Roofing

1. Durability

This is probably the biggest reason to opt for a metal roof. Metal roofs can last anywhere from 40-70 years and many manufacturers warranty the material for 30-50 years. If installed properly, they can also withstand very high winds.

If you're planning on being in your current home for a long time, a metal roof could be a good choice

2. Better For the Environment

Asphalt shingles are made from petroleum and need to be replaced every 15-20 years (depending on the quality). All those old shingles that get replaced on millions of homes every year end up accumulating in landfills.

Metal roofs have a much lower impact on the environment. They're often made with some recycled material to start with, and can be fully recycled at the end of their lifespan.

3. Energy Efficiency

Metal roofs are more reflective of solar heat, which can help you save on cooling costs during the hot summer months.

They can also be installed on top of an insulation layer which will help minimize heat loss in the wintertime and heat absorption in the summer.

4. Lots of Style Options

Today's metal roofs offer lots of colors, functionality, and style options making it easy to find a look that will complement and enhance your home.

5. Less Weight

Metal roofing is significantly lighter than many other roofing materials. If you're building a new home, by planning to install a steel roof, you may be able to save costs on supports and building design due to the reduced weight of the roof.

Due to it's low weight, it can often be installed directly on top of existing roofing material without having to remove it first.

6. Quick Install

A simple metal roof install can go quite quickly due to the size of each metal sheet compared to other roofing materials. This might be negated by more complex installs of additional insulation layers.

7. Great at Shedding Snow

A buildup of to much snow and ice can cause to much weight on the roof and potentially result in damage to your home.

Metal roofs allow snow to slide off much better than asphalt roofs. Darker colors can also warm up in the winter sun and facilitate even better self removal of snow and ice. Just make sure your roofer install proper preventive measures to avoid potential injuries from falling snow and ice.

8. No Moss or Fungus

Depending on conditions, asphalt shingles are prone develop moss and fungus as they get older. This can further damage the shingles and further minimize the lifespan of the roof.

Metal roofing is not usually affected by moss or fungus. This helps to keep your home looking beautiful and helps to increase the lifespan of your roof.

9. Much Better Resistance to Animal Damage

If raccoons or other animals are able to reach your roof, they are capable of ripping apart asphalt shingles and even plywood. This not only damages your roof, but could give the animals access to your home.

Metal roofs are significantly more resistant to animal damage.

Cons of Metal Roofing

1. Up Front Cost

Metal roofing material is typically significantly more expensive that asphalt shingles. Installation requires some specialized knowledge as well (DG Brown is both knowledgeable and experienced in installing metal roofs properly).

This cost may be recouped over the life of the roof as you would likely need to replace asphalt shingles a few times over the typical lifespan of 1 metal roof install.

2. Possible Deterioration of Appearance

Modern metal roofing material is designed with durability in mind. They withstand dents, peeling, and fading well. However, this doesn't make them impervious.

It's best to avoid walking on a metal roof as this can dent the material. Heavy hail and falling branches can also cause dents and other damage to a metal roof.

Make sure to choose the proper metal type for your needs as some materials are more durable than others. Choosing a reputable manufacturer with a solid guarantee will certainly go a long way to ensuring that your roof stays looking great for many years.

3. Noise

The noise generated by rain on a metal roof is quite a bit higher than many other roofing materials. For some, this noise is unpleasant. However, it can be minimized with proper installation and additional insulation layers as well (remember to factor this into your overall budget).

4. Renovation and Repair Issues

If a section of your metal roof is damaged, repair can be more involved and expensive than repairing some other roofing materials due to the size of the metal panels and the expertise required to install them.

Additionally, if you decide to renovate or build an addition on your home many years down the road and changes or additions are needed to your roof, it may be difficult to match your roofing material and color.