Longevity of Metal Roofs

If you own a home, have you thought about improvements you could make to increase comfort, reduce energy consumption, and raise the home’s resale value? A metal roof offers tremendous value, and most metal roofs will outlast traditional asphalt shingle roofs by a significant margin. Metal roofs offer design versatility, practicality, and fantastic return on investment compared to typical asphalt shingle roofs.

A new metal roof for your home can last several times longer than a standard asphalt shingle roof, require a fraction of the maintenance, and result in other long-term savings you probably didn’t expect. If you’re debating on upgrading to a metal roof for your home, consider the longevity of metal roofs and their added benefits.

How Long Do Metal Roofs Last?

With professional installation by experienced roofers, a metal roof can last 75 years or more with favorable conditions and proper upkeep. By comparison, the most well-built asphalt shingle roofs will only last 20 to 25 years at best. Eventually, an asphalt shingle roof will start losing shingle granules and then eventually whole shingles that will expose the underlayment, leaving it vulnerable to water damage. The roof will likely require shingle replacement at least a few times before the whole roof reaches the end of its lifespan.

Metal roofs only require occasional repairs after very severe storms or as a result of poor maintenance. If you take time to conduct regular surface inspections and keep the metal roof free of debris and dirt accumulation, your metal roof may never need any replacement panels for its entire lifespan.

Weather and Your Metal Roof

Mountainous climates can have very cold winters and hot, humid summers, so residents see a full range of weather throughout any given year. Metal roofs can stand up to the worst weather much better than asphalt shingle roofs.

During heavy snowfall, metal roofs won’t hold as much snow thanks to their smooth surfaces. Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, have rough, textured surfaces that are ideal for snow and ice crystals to accumulate. If the snow accumulation lingers for too long, melting in the sun and refreezing at night, this can cause expansion between the shingles and break or dislodge them. Additionally, large accumulations of ice and snow on a shingled roof are very dangerous; they can dislodge very suddenly and fall on people standing below, causing severe injuries in some cases.

Metal roofs are perfect for snow shedding, typically only allowing small amounts of snow to accumulate along seams or the valleys of the roof. However, metal roofs are great thermal conductors and absorb a great deal of heat from sunlight, which hastens snow melting and keeps the metal roof free of snow and ice accumulation.

Maintenance for Metal Roofs

Any homeowner who invests in a new metal roof will be delighted to discover the minimal maintenance requirements for most metal roofs. While variables like tree coverage, sun exposure, and house layout may pose more challenges for some homeowners more than others, homeowners will find metal roof maintenance easily manageable:

● Surface inspections. An annual or semiannual inspection of your metal roof will help you catch small problems before they become major issues.

● Cleaning. A hose can easily clean away leaves and other small particles. For more severe messes, you can use mild cleaning agents to remove mud, dirt, dust, corrosion, and rust. Metal primer and sealant can protect damaged areas after cleaning.

● Cleaning gutters and drains. Make sure your gutters can move rainfall off the roof and into your downspouts. If gutters or drains back up or accumulate too much debris, water will pool and could spill out on to the metal roof or find its way into the underlayment or behind the siding of the home.

● Preventing metal-to-metal contact. Some metals and other substances like concrete and brick can cause corrosion on some types of metal roofs. If you notice any type of metal debris or fragments on your roof during an inspection, remove them immediately and clean the area to prevent corrosive reactions.

● Preventing scratches. Make sure anyone performing any type of maintenance on or near a metal roof uses care to prevent scuffing, scratching, and other physical damage. Even small scratches can break the sealing over a section of metal roof and lead to corrosion.

Warranty Coverage

Metal roofs are growing increasingly popular, and metal roofing material manufacturers offer a wide variety of metals, color options, and placement styles to meet many homeowners’ needs. Many homeowners want to invest in new roofs that will outlast traditional asphalt shingle roofs, and manufacturers back up their products with various types of warranties. Many metal roofing material manufacturers offer limited lifetime material warranties, guaranteeing replacement of any metal roofing materials that fail to meet industry standards or fail unexpectedly.

Warranty coverage also offers additional value to homeowners in the form of added home resale value. Most metal roofing material warranties are transferable, so if you sell your home, the roof’s warranty transfers to the new owner. This can inspire confidence in a buyer; metal roofs are well-known for their longevity. A potential buyer will likely feel enticed by the reliability of the metal roof supported by lifetime warranty coverage.

Return on Investment

Some homeowners may hesitate when it comes to the initial price of installing a metal roof. It’s true that a brand-new metal roof can cost as much as three times the installation price of a typical asphalt shingle roof, but the value is much greater when you consider the low cost of maintenance and standard lifespan of a metal roof. While a standard shingled roof may only be 1/3 of the price of a metal roof, it will only last 1/3 as long at best.

Metal roofs offer even more return on the initial investment in the form of lower energy bills, greater interior comfort, increased home resale value, and helping homeowners avoid the typical costs of roof repair and maintenance. Ultimately, a metal roof will cost more initially, but the price is more than worth it once you notice the savings your metal roof offers. Choose a trustworthy, experienced roofing contractor with a proven track record of successful metal roof installations and start brainstorming ideas for a new metal roof for your home.