Metal Roofs Don’t Look the Same, Choose a Style Best for Your House

Many homeowners choose to replace their old and outdated asphalt shingle roofs with more modern roofing materials, particularly metal roofs. Unfortunately, several misconceptions about metal roofs deter some homeowners from taking advantage of all the benefits they offer.

One of the biggest concerns many have about metal roofs is the aesthetic appeal. The standard metal roof is a standing vertical seam construction, which may not appeal to homeowners who own homes with more traditional architecture. Luckily, there are many more ways to customize a metal roof than you might expect. It’s possible to create both traditional and contemporary home exterior aesthetics with a new metal roof.

Dimensional Shingle Metal Roof

If you are replacing a typical asphalt shingle roof with a metal roof, it’s natural to be concerned about such a major change in your home’s appearance. If you want to take advantage of all the benefits metal roofs have to offer but are stuck on the traditional aesthetic of asphalt shingles, don’t worry. It’s possible to have a metal roof installed that mimics the exact look and feel of asphalt shingles, and you can choose a metal and finish that suits your home’s exterior colors to create a fully cohesive look.

Dimension shingle metal roof installation is generally no more involved than conventional metal roof installation; most metal roofs install using the same basic mechanical principles. However, some dimensional shingles will be more expensive than others depending on complexity, finish, and overall quality.

Metal Tiles and Shakes

Some types of homes look incredible with traditional Spanish tile for roofing. It’s possible to recreate the same visual effect with none of the performance drawbacks of actual clay tiles. Metal Spanish tiles interlock similarly to other metal roofing panels. It’s also possible to recreate the appearance of Roman tile, Villa tile, country manor shakes, slate tiles, and wooden shakes using metal roofing material.

Choose a professional metal roof installation team that can provide you with all the different options that would work best with your home’s architecture. It’s also possible to create many different tiles, slate tiles, and wooden shake aesthetics by choosing different metals in different colors. For example, you could have a Spanish tile-style roof in a color other than traditional brick red.

Slate, shake, and tile options can look fantastic on many different kinds of homes, but not on every home, particularly very angular, contemporary homes. If you own a more modern-styled home, it may be best to stick with the precise appearance of a standing seam metal roof instead.

Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Depending on the type of home you own, there could be several styles of metal roof that would look great with your home’s exterior. The industry standard for metal roof installation is standing vertical seam construction. This is what is most often seen on commercial structures with metal roofs. Standing seams lay vertically along a roof’s surface, interlocking with one another to form a very tight seal. The aesthetic this creates typically works best with more contemporary architecture with well-defined angles and edges. However, making a standing seam metal roof blend seamlessly with more traditional architecture when you choose the right metal and finish.

Materials and Finishes

While you evaluate the different types of metal roofing you could install on your home, it’s also important to consider what type of metal would work best for your home, both in terms of aesthetics and performance. Some of the most commonly used metals for roofing include copper, tin, zinc, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and many others.

All metals have different properties and hold up better in different environments. For example, copper is not a great choice in coastal areas because of the way copper changes colors when exposed to moisture. Ask your metal roof installation team for their recommendations when it comes to material, and bear in mind that if you have a color preference, it may limit your pool of metal options for your roof.

The color you choose for your roof can also influence your future energy efficiency. For example, if you live in a colder climate that generally receives lots of snow in the winter, choose a darker metal for your roof. This will mean better solar absorption and faster melting of snow and ice. If you live in a warmer area, a lighter colored metal roof will reflect sunlight better, helping to keep your home cool by creating a buffer around it that prevents the exterior heat from warming the inside.

Benefits of Choosing the Right Metal Roof Style

A new metal roof will cost more than a typical asphalt shingle roof for the initial installation. However, the result is a roof with a vastly longer lifespan, greater durability, and much lower overall cost of ownership. However, it is important that you do not rush your decision for a new metal roof. A professionally installed metal roof could last as long as 100 years, so it’s essential to ensure the aesthetic you choose matches your home’s overall exterior design.

Many modern roofing contractors offer advanced 3D imaging services using real photography of your home in various levels of lighting, so you will know exactly how your new roof will look before committing to the installation. Imaging services like these are invaluable when you are uncertain about your design options and don’t want to make a decision that you’ll later regret.

When it comes to performance, any style of metal roof will substantially outperform a conventional asphalt shingle roof by wide margins in virtually all levels of comparison. Metal roofs last longer, require less maintenance, improve energy efficiency, and significantly boost property value. Your roofer can advise you as to the performance differences between different metals and different styles of metal roof, but ultimately they will likely offer comparable levels of performance. This leaves your aesthetic vision as the determining factor when you’re ready to have a new metal roof installed.

If you are ready to upgrade your home with a new metal roof, make sure you choose a metal roofing installation team with a solid professional record. One of the most important parts of having a new metal roof installed is to ensure professional installation so you can get maximum value from your investment.