Roofing Beauty vs Durability: Metal Offers Both

There are two questions you need to answer before purchasing a new roof for your house. Those questions are: “how long do I need it to last?” and “how long do I want it to look good?”. Why are these questions are important? After just five years, an average asphalt roof is already half-way through its useful life and is often beyond its decorative life -- showing evidnce of fading, granule loss, and ugly mold streaks.

If a shorter lifespan for a new roof is acceptable, then a standard asphalt roof is an adequate choice. Be aware though, that even “40 Year” and “Lifetime” asphalt shingles are lasting only about 10 to 12 years. Shingle manufacturers have been making changes in the composition of asphalt shingles that have made them far less durable than in the past. It takes only a few minutes of internet research to find valuable information about diminishing asphalt roofing lifespans on websites like FailedRoofClaims.com.

If you are considering other roofing materials like slate, cedar shake or tile, you will see an increase in useable life over asphalt shingles, but you may add unnecessary weight and expense to your roof, without gaining the benefits offered by lighter, longer lasting materials.

Metal roofing has become increasingly popular over the past ten years, as newer styles and designs have become available. Homeowners now have the choice of beautiful and decorative looks that mimic the appearance of cedar shake, slate or tile, while offering an essentially permanent lifespan. Gone are the days when “barn metal” was the only choice in residential metal roofing.

Metal is a good choice if you are looking for a permanent solution to the ten year cycle of roofing and re-roofing your home. Metal roofing offers many benefits including permanence, increased home comfort, increased home value and peace of mind.

As metal roofs have gained acceptance as an alternative to asphalt roofing, more residential metal roofing products are being offered than ever before. You can now choose from steel, stone-coat, agricultural and aluminum metal roofing options. Plus, you can now buy metal roofing materials from a local big box store. The result? The potential for more confusion and an increasing focus on price rather than on quality.

Again, metal is a choice that offers many long term roofing benefits, but, its important to understand the many differences among metal roofing products. For instance, the phrase “metal roof” may be used to describe a steel roof that is prone to rust in places where it has been cut or folded. So called “stone-coat” roofs are metal with a coating that resembles the texture of asphalt shingles. However, many “stone-coat” roofs are sold with repair kits designed to cover-up coating loss, so expect to put in some maintenance time.

Agricultural metal roofing panels are now being advertised at a low price in comparison to asphalt shingles. Since “ag-panels” are not designed for residential use, they can fade and rust in just a few years time. In addition, because these panels are installed by screwing directly through the panel to fasten them to the roof decking, leaks can quickly develop around the screw holes - and the average ag-panel roof requires thousands of screw holes.

Decorative residential aluminum panels, like those offered by American Metal Roofs of Michigan have higher up-front costs, but offer more benefits than the other types of metal available. The most important of those benefits may be that aluminum doesn’t rust. That means that an aluminum roof is essentially permanent. Combine that with fade free paint coatings, hidden fasteners, home energy savings, increased home value and unmatched comfort and beauty and decorative aluminum roofs may be your least-costly option in the long run.

No matter what kind of roofing product you are considering for your home, make sure you talk with trusted roofing experts before making your selection. Short- term savings can quickly turn into long-term headaches and added expense. Get the facts, before you decide.