Is a Metal Roof Right for Your Home?

It's Not Like the Old Silver Roofing of the Past

Years ago, it wasn't unusual to see metal roofs installed on barns, commercial buildings, and, of course, on houses. The "Standing Seam" type of metal roof was commonly used. This type of roof was comprised of metal sheets that were joined together. Each sheet had a lip on one edge and an upside down "U" on the opposite edge. The lip and the "U" were overlapped to form a durable, waterproof seal.

As the years passed, shingles and other materials became more popular on roofs than using sheets of metal. They were easier to install, plus, shingles were available in a wider variety of colors and styles.

Trends come and go, and metal roofs are making their way back on the American home scene.
Metal sheets have caught up with shingles. They are now available in many colors and styles too. In fact, if you prefer the look of shingles on your house, you can buy metal roofing that looks just like shingles or shakes!

The metal roofing of today has caught up with shingles in looks, but it has actually surpassed the former in the "durability" category. A metal roof can last up to fifty years or more. Metal roofs of today have weatherproof screws with plastic washers under the heads. These weatherproof screws have replaced the nails that were once used.

Since a metal roof can last for five decades or more, you could realistically install only one roof on your home! Compare that to a shingle roof which lasts about twenty years on the average.

Besides being more durable, a metal roof is virtually maintenance free. This type of covering resists wind, rain, snow, hail, and ice. Snow and ice will slide right off without building up! Besides not having the weight of snow and ice stressing your roof, you won't have to worry about snow and ice sliding off of it too, and maybe hitting someone below! Also, snow and ice won't slide off your metal roof and build up around the foundation of your house. Once they melt, they can leak into your basement or crawl space and cause you problems.