A Metal Roof: What Is It? Types, Definitions, and Uses

There are metal roofs everywhere, whether you see them or not. Normally, you wouldn’t think to check a house’s roof, but if you drive down any street in any city, you’ll probably see a structure or house with a metal roof of some sort.

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However, how well-versed are you in metal roofing? Did you know that it’s a decades-long, low-maintenance roofing option? Or that there are several forms, designs, and appearances to pick from, including stamped metal roofing or standing seam roofing?

Because we at Sheffield Metals understand how crucial it is to select the ideal roofing type for your requirements, we believe that outlining the fundamentals of metal roofing will help you make a more informed choice.

Metal Roof Advantages and Benefits

Metal roofing is preferred over other materials like concrete, asphalt shingles, or tiles for several reasons. We recognize that metal roofing isn’t always the ideal option for every customer, even while it could be the finest option for some building or house owners. Examining some of the most popular reasons individuals choose to get metal roofing is the best approach to determine if it’s a suitable fit for you.

Lifespan

Compared to other roofing materials, metal is especially designed to survive for decades. In actuality, a lot of customers choose to buy a metal roof because it will be the only roof they ever need to install on their house or place of business. The majority of metal roofs endure for more than 50 years without showing any severe indications of corrosion or deterioration, depending on the type of metal employed.

Sturdiness

Metal is by far the strongest and most resilient material when contrasted with other materials such as glass, concrete, plastic, or wood. Metal roofing, when placed correctly, is made to endure:

blustery winds

Wetness and rain

Snow

Salutations

exposure to UV

mildew, mold, algae, etc.

Animals, including rodents

In addition, metal roof materials are frequently noncombustible and Class A fire-rated, which indicates the maximum level of fire protection. One of the main causes of metal roofing’s widespread popularity is its demonstrated resilience to typical roofing dangers.

Upkeep

A metal roof often requires very little maintenance, particularly if it was done properly. Approximately once a year and following severe storms, general maintenance would involve checking for leaves, branches, and other debris that can become lodged in the gutters and on the roof. There are techniques to clean your metal roof if rain does not remove grime or other stains. Additionally, compared to an exposed fastener metal roof, a concealed fastener roof would often require less maintenance.

Environmentally Friendly

Metal roofing is ecologically good for several reasons. First of all, the majority of metal is highly recyclable, therefore any scrap metal, outdated panels, or even excess produced junk may be recycled and utilized in new goods. Both pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content are available for these metal materials:

Pre-consumer recycled materials: Manufacturing-stage scrap that has been stored for later use.

Post-consumer recycled materials are surplus materials that have previously been owned by a customer and have been recycled for future use.

Second, aluminum is one of numerous metal roofing materials that are composed of previously recycled metal. Actually, materials that have been recycled in the past make up around 95% of all aluminum roofing.

Reduced Long-Term Cost

It’s true that the initial cost of metal roofs is more than that of asphalt shingles or tiles. But as was previously noted, asphalt shingles only endure 15 to 20 years, but metal lasts decades, even 60 years in certain situations. At least three asphalt shingle roofs can be easily outlasted by a single metal roof.

These two images provide a 60-year cost comparison between metal roofing (one total) and mid-range shingle roofing (three total). One architectural shingle roof in this situation would cost around $8,700+, whereas a 24-gauge steel standing seam roof with a PVDF paint system would cost approximately $17,400+. The metal roof is a more cost-effective option since, even if the shingle roof lasted 20 years, you would have to pay for it around three times and a metal roof roughly once over a 60-year period.

Guarantees

The range of warranty choices offered by metal suppliers and manufacturers is one of the nicest things about having a metal roof. The two most popular ones are paint warranties, which cover certain degrees of deterioration of the paint layer covering the metal substrate, and weathertight guarantees, which cover leaks in the roofing system. Depending on your location, the type of roofing material used, the panel shape you choose, and the paint system on the coil, warranties might differ significantly. Before making a purchase, make sure to read the warranty paperwork carefully and ask any concerns you may have.

Typical Metal Roofing Uses and Applications

It’s commonly believed that metal roofing is exclusively utilized on large commercial or industrial buildings. Metal roofing has many uses, including residences, architectural buildings, and agricultural structures, even though it is a fantastic choice for these applications. The next time you’re in your city or town, let’s talk about some typical applications and structures to search for.

Business Buildings

The increased wind and water resistance of metal roofing is one of the main reasons it is frequently used in commercial applications, particularly in regions where hurricanes or other tropical weather are a worry. Metal roofing provides building and company owners the assurance that their roof is meant to survive and not require ongoing maintenance, even if the facility is not in a tropical area.

Typical applications include of:

Accommodations

Medical facilities

Universities and educational institutions

Churches

Government structures

Military installations

Dining establishments

Shops

Workplaces

Home Improvement Projects

As more homeowners come to understand that metal roofing can save them money over time, the residential market is expanding. Many homeowners believe that their roof is too small to support a metal roof, but we are here to inform you that roof size is irrelevant. Even something as modest as a mailbox or shed may have metal roofing installed.

Additionally, metal has become more popular as a roof component, accent, or awning. Before a contractor installs two different roofing materials together, be sure to speak with the manufacturer since they can respond.

Projects involving architecture

Metal roofing may be molded and cut into a wide variety of forms, sizes, and lengths since it starts as a coil or sheet of metal. This variety, in addition to its durability, color diversity, and eco-friendliness, offers architects several advantages when it comes to employing metal to design visually appealing structures.

Uses in Structure

Have you ever been in an industrial structure, such as a factory or warehouse, and looked up to see the roof from inside? This is an excellent illustration of structural metal roofing, which involves the installation of metal panels directly linked to the frame or purlins (extra support beams added to the roof frame) or over open framing or over long-span constructions.

Buildings Used for Agriculture

Similar to structural purposes, metal roofing is frequently used on barns and other agricultural structures. Traditional agricultural constructions have a lap seam profile, also known as an exposed fastener profile, in which the ends of the panels overlap and are held together by exposed fasteners or sealant.