Given our current economic climate, many business owners, real estate developers, as well as private homeowners, look for a long-lasting, environmentally friendly, attractive, and cost effective roofing solution.
Although the roofing market is flooded with an endless variety of materials and technical innovations, the basic materials are still the most sought after. Some of the most common roofing materials include clay tiles, fiberglass and asphalt tiles, rock or slate, wood shingles and metal.
While some of these materials can provide a fair and acceptable solution for most needs, they usually don’t fill all the specific requirements imposed by the majority of clients.
For instance, clay roof tiles are attractive, elegant, relatively easy to install, but they are generally very expensive and, although they have a long lifespan, they can easily crack or even shatter during violent hail storms. Similarly, fiberglass and asphalt tiles are very cheap and easy to install, but they must be replaced every 20 to 25 years.
The only roofing material that fills every requirement, be it a long lifespan, a low price or an effortless installation, is metal. This roofing material can be fashioned in many shapes, designs, patterns, and it can be painted in any color. Metal roofing systems can be applied to every type of building, from small single-family homes and shops, to churches, malls, and large scale warehouses.
Here are some of the proven benefits of metal roofing systems:
1. Metal roofing is extremely affordable, eco-friendly and requires little maintenance work
Affordability is one of the main advantages of metal roofing. This type of roofing material has both a low initial cost, roughly half the cost of clay tiles – depending on various options and factors, and low ongoing maintenance costs.
Similarly, the repair costs are low, mainly because the metal roof system allows an easy replacement procedure for damaged panels or tiles. Essentially, a good metal roofing system is far cheaper over the life cycle of the building, and it will require minimal maintenance work.
Also, in case of large scale projects, the metal panels can be designed to allow easy replication, further reducing construction costs. The panels come with an insulation layer already included, which ensure lower construction times and a better overall thermal efficiency.
When it comes to the environmental aspect, metal roof tiles are ideal building materials in case LEED accreditation is required. Because metal roof panels reflect the sun’s energy, rather than absorb it, they are NWACC enabled, being considered a green building material.
2. Metal roofs are durable and resistant
Metal roofs have a very long lifespan and can successfully withstand common weather patterns, including hail storms, powerful windstorms, as well as extended periods of excessive heat. Usually, metal roofs require little maintenance work, which is typically done during early spring or autumn, and thanks to new technological innovations, they have a rust-free warranty for a minimum ten-year period.
The long lifespan of metal roofs makes them ideal for large and monumental buildings, including stadiums, churches, theaters and exhibition centers. For instance, there are buildings in Europe, mainly churches or Industrial Revolution factories, which have metal roofs that are over 150 years old and are still in top condition.
The various alloys, including zinc, copper, aluminum or steel, used in the metal roof tile production processes ensure the anti-corrosive properties of the roof system.
3. Metal roofs are easy to install and can be adapted to any architectural design
Metal roof panels, tiles, shingles or sheets come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, guaranteeing an easy installation procedure. There are a variety of installation methods and accessories available, including bolts, nuts, special adhesives, as well as the popular click installation, which requires no additional specialized tools.
Thanks to the versatility of the metal sheets and the endless variety of textures, shapes and colors available, this roofing system is ideal for any roof, regardless of its architectural design: gambrel, mansard, gabled, cross-gabled, hipped, saltbox, curved, double-curved or spire roofs.
Flaviu Mircea is a home improvement blogger who writes about a number of topics related to home care and generally keeping a house in top condition. For those looking for a qualified roofer to help with an install, he highly recommends turning to reroofusa.com. You can learn more about Flaviu on Google+.