Metal roofing has become increasingly popular in the residential roofing industry over the last 10 years. Current trends even show that metal roofing could pass asphalt shingles as the most popular at some point.
This isn’t by accident or because people’s tastes have changed. It’s all because of the benefits metal roofing offers.
But do these benefits mean metal roofing is right for you? Let’s figure that out.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners find the perfect roofing material for their upcoming roof replacement. Now we’ll help you determine if it's right for you by breaking down the 5 benefits of metal roofing.
Just know that this article is geared towards a steel standing seam metal roof, the recommended type of metal roof for residential roofing.
The first benefit of metal roofing is that it’s versatile and can be installed in plenty of places on your roof. The versatility of metal is a big reason why metal roofing is becoming more and more popular in residential roofing.
Because of this, homeowners like to add metal roofing to accent areas on their asphalt roof or other roofing material to add a clean look. These areas include front porches, side porches, back porches, bay windows, etc.
This does a lot for your home’s overall look, but it’ll still be an investment. While it won’t cost as much as a full metal roof system, metal roofing is still expensive enough that it won’t fit a lot of budgets.
But if you have the budget for metal roofing, it’s well worth the investment.
The next (and probably the biggest) benefit of metal roofing is its lifespan. You’ll get 30 years out of standing seam metal roofing as long as it’s installed properly and your attic is adequately ventilated.
You could even stretch this up to 50 years under ideal conditions. But you won’t get anywhere this lifespan if the painted finish on the metal panels is scratched or damaged during installation.
Exposing the fresh steel to dew or moisture in the air leads to rusting and shortens the lifespan of metal roofing. That’s why you must hire a local roofing contractor with a strong history of installing metal roofing to ensure they take all the precautions to protect the painted finish.
As I just said, the painted finish on your metal roofing panels must be protected during installation. This painted finish is actually the next benefit of metal roofing, specifically steel standing seam metal roofing.
Kynar 500 is a painted finish all major steel manufacturers apply to the steel panels of a standing seam metal roof. Its main job is to protect the metal from the elements and keep the color from fading as it ages.
The protection Kynar 500 provides on the metal roofing panels is great, but the warranty is also a huge benefit. It comes with a 30-year paint warranty after the standing seam metal roof is installed.
Even though the warranty expires after 30 years, the painted finish doesn’t necessarily disappear. But once you hit the 30-year mark, I recommend budgeting for a metal roof replacement to ensure you're financially prepared.
Every roof needs maintenance throughout its life, but how much and how often depends on the type of roofing material. The great thing about metal roofing is that it doesn’t require as much maintenance as the other material options.
In fact, standing seam metal roofing is virtually maintenance-free. The only major maintenance required after installation is checking around penetrations, like vent pipes, gas pipes, etc.
Cleaning an older metal roof is also maintenance, but that’s a personal choice. But even though it doesn’t require as much maintenance as other materials, I still recommend getting a standing seam metal roof checked out every year or two.
This allows your roofing contractor to catch potential problems and clear sitting debris that could cause damage. Maintenance is also a big reason why a standing seam metal roof is the recommended type of metal roof for residential roofing over a screw-down panel.
The last benefit on our list is the high curb appeal metal roofing offers. A standing seam metal roof system is proven to have a higher curb appeal than the commonly used 3-tab or architectural asphalt shingles.
A full standing seam metal roof system over a home drastically increases the curb appeal, but this isn’t an option for most people because of the cost. This is where homeowners take advantage of metal roofing’s versatility.
Your home gets a big boost to its curb appeal no matter where you decide to add metal roofing. But you shouldn’t stretch your budget just to increase your home’s curb appeal with metal roofing.
Now you know the 5 benefits of metal roofing to help determine if it’s the right roofing material for you. In my opinion, these benefits make investing in a standing seam metal roof system well worth it.
However, metal roofing has disadvantages that are deal breakers for some homeowners. The last thing you want to experience is buyer’s remorse, especially with a big investment like a roof.
That’s why you need to know the disadvantages of metal roofing to truly determine if it’s the right roofing material for you. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more information about the good than the bad.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing believes in being transparent and honest so you can make the right decision for your specific situation. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the negatives of a metal roof system.
Check out What are the Disadvantages of a Metal Roof to continue learning if a metal roof is right for your upcoming roof replacement.