Materials: The Advantages of a Metal Roof
Metal Reigns in Roofing Style, Maintenance and Energy Efficiency
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Are you interested in making your house more energy efficient, adding a beautiful and striking major design element, and never having to replace your roof again? Consider a metal roof. While the cost of a metal roof is significantly higher than a shingled roof, it will likely last a lifetime and it is practically maintenance-free. The practical advantages of a metal roof are that it makes your home safer in harsh weather and can significantly cut down on your energy bills. Aesthetically, a metal roof is versatile in design to complement many architectural styles, from a century old farmhouse to a contemporary home.
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| Architect Pi Smith chose a metal roof for this Vermont lake house. Why did she choose metal? "They look great! Very crisp and architectural and much easier to get excited about than asphalt shingles. Other than copper and slate, both very expensive, enameled standing seam roofs have the best longevity. From a long-term maintenance standpoint this is a plus. Additionally, standing seam can be used on low-pitched roofs, where shingles would not be appropriate. We use this material very frequently on porches and dormers, which tend to have lower pitches. Finally, there are some nice color options."
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| However, there is a big drawback to using standing seam roofing for areas with harsh winter weather. "It sheds snow, leading to big piles of snow along eave sides and at valleys," Smith warns. "This needs to be taken into consideration when locating entries, walks, and plantings. When we do use standing seam for an entire house, such as this lake house in Vermont, we design to accommodate the snow issues and warn our clients!" |
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Architect Kenny Craft, who specializes in sustainable design, says "I am a big advocate for metal roofing. Because of the light color and reflectance, it helps to reduce heat build up in attics and finished rooms tucked into the roof. Metal roofing is also generally made from recycled content, and then, after its life, is itself recyclable."
Craft chose a corrugated metal roof here, because it has a long history of being used in Colorado and adds to the vernacular-inspired style of this new home.
Craft chose a corrugated metal roof here, because it has a long history of being used in Colorado and adds to the vernacular-inspired style of this new home.
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| Another attribute of metal roofing Craft appreciates is that, "it lends itself well to rain water harvesting. With its smooth clean surface, less filtering is required of water from a metal roof, compared to asphalt shingles which shed small particles, and possibly other chemicals." |
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| Craft is also a big fan of indigenous architecture. Regarding the aesthetics of a metal roof he says, "the metal roof has a distinctive and authentic look; it's a material that is what it is — a rarity in today's world of composite look-a-likes — including asphalt shingles. The silvery galvanized color adds a fresh, timeless yet contemporary character to a dominate element of the composition."
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This home in the Texas Hill Country has a very dramatic sloped roofline, which is enhanced by the metal roof.
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| Here's a closer look at the material and the way it is constructed. There isn't much of a snow issue in Texas. |
| While the initial outlay for a metal roof is more expensive than that of an asphalt shingled roof, a big percentage of the costs can be recouped, especially if you plan on staying in your house for a long time. While asphalt roofs will likely need replacing every 15-20 years, a metal roof can last a lifetime. |
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| A metal roof is also much more energy efficient than an asphalt roof. It can decrease your energy costs significantly, especially if you live in a hot climate. Roofs that reflect rather than absorb heat will keep your air conditioner from having to work so hard. In some areas, it can even help save on homeowners insurance, and can increase your resale value. |
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| There are some rough estimates on metal roof savings around the web. Here is a roof savings calculator. |
| Another reason to opt for metal? Country charm. This new, metal-roofed country home has modernized farmhouse style without losing the charm. |
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| The major element of this original 1940s cottage that was saved during a renovation was the metal roof.
For More Inspiration: Modern Design Meets Traditional Forms High Design for the Downspout Framing Design: Structural Expression in Steel |
Ideabook published on Aug. 8, 2011.
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metalroofing.com actually claims the noise factor is no longer true, depending on how it is installed:
"When installed with solid sheathing, a metal roof on your home will actually silence noise from rain, hail and bad weather, many times much better than other roofing materials."
Personally, I love the sound of rain on an old tin roof, but it's not for everyone!
Kitty, I'll keep an eye out for that style on Houzz. In the meantime, there are some close ups of the style your describe over here:
http://www.metalroofing.com/v2/content/metal-roofing/
We went with steel roofing in the clay tile look. It's granulated even and goes over an existing roof and adds R-value and sound deadening. They put a wooden grid down first, so the tiles sit a little above the old roof and can be installed in any weather. We went with over-size copper gutters because "all" the water comes off the roof. The roofers said we were the only ones in Wyoming to have this particular tile style. It also comes in a cedar shake style.
Part of the appeal of metal roofing - besides its longevity and performance - is the many options it offers in terms of color, material and style. You can get a beautiful metal roof in long panels, tiles, shakes, shingles, diamond shingles, even custom profiles, as well as a vast array of choices for the finish and material.
The benefits truly go on and on, and we invite any and all naysayers - or those who just haven't yet kicked the idea that metal roofing is equivalent to an old tin roof on a barn! - to browse our website (www.metalroofnet.com). We have a ton of beautiful photos and stacks of info about this fabulous, permanent and incredibly versatile roofing material.
Thanks for the great article, Becky!
...but even moreso nowadays are Solar shingles and panels - Think of how much oil we could stop importing if we all had a modest solar array on our homes to run our AC, lights and refrigerators!
Does anyone in rain country have experience with how today's metal roofs perform when it comes to loudness of rain off the roof?
I am supposing it is better than the old tin roof my grandparents had on their farmhouse in TN. But does anyone have experience with these new ones?
A couple things I have discovered... With the rising cost of asphalt shingles, I have found that metal is not that much more than a high quality architectural shingle. Also the rain noise issue is of no concern, a metal roof installed over solid decking is as quiet as any asphalt roof.
The primary roofing and siding material for the project was selected for its recycled content, durability and affordability, not to mention its stunning medium grey color. Zalmag is a galvanized metal made of 95% recycled material consisting of 11% aluminum, 3% magnesium and 86% zinc. These panels are 100% recyclable, have a service expectancy of at least a lifetime, and when compared to traditional galvanized coatings, Zalmag has a 10X plus corrosion
resistant factor.
The distinctive pattern is dictated by a manageable panel length and width to prevent excessive “oil canning” or wrinkling in the panels. The staggered pattern is the idea one for creating a good seal between panels. Finally, we used the required “standing seam” on the roof. However, on the vertical surface were there will be no pooling of water, we choose to use a flat seam for a more tailored look.
Nice article. Looking for metal roof colors myself.
We don't have the snow guards, and I wish we did. Makes for a big pile to shovel in the mornings...