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Metal Roofing Pros vs Cons


Installing a roof on a new home can seem daunting. Even replacing an existing home’s roof seems challenging if you don’t know what kinds of roofing options you have available to you. While shingle and asphalt roofs are common, there are other types of roofs — like metal roofs — that have their own merits.

Metal roofs tend to best serve property owners who are looking for long-lasting and durable roofs. Of course, there’s more than one type of metal roof, too!

When you opt for a metal roof, your options for materials can include:

  • Galvanized steel
  • Galvalume steel
  • Weathered steel
  • Aluminum
  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Tin

Different styles include:

  • Standing seam
  • Nail Strip
  • AG Panel or Multi-Rib
  • 5V

Even with all of those choices available to you, are metal roofs worth the cost of installation? There are benefits and drawbacks to installing these types of roofs above your home or business.

Let the team at Carolina Home Specialists help you to explore your options with our handy guide to metal roofs.

Installing a New Roof:  What to Expect

The process of installing a new roof, metal or otherwise, takes time and care. Luckily, Carolina Home Specialists can take on all of the difficult work for you. Once you determine what kind of roof you want to have installed above your home, you can kick up your feet and watch your property transform.

When we’re installing a new roof, our team will:

  1. Peel back and remove old roofing materials
  2. Evaluate the bones of the old roof to determine its structural integrity
  3. Install protective measures, including tarps, to prevent water and weather damage as we work
  4. Install a drip edge around your home
  5. Build up your roof’s underlayment
  6. Lay down metal sheets, shingles, or the material of your choice
  7. Clean up loose debris
  8. Assess the roof for completion

The amount of time spent installing a new roof will vary based on the size of your property. For a personalized estimate, discuss your project’s details with our team in Greensboro, NC.

The Benefits of a Metal Roof

Metal roofs wouldn’t be as popular as they are if they didn’t come with certain benefits. Some of the best reasons to install a metal roof include:

A Long Lifespan

If you’re looking to limit the amount of money you spend on roof maintenance over the years, then talk to our team in Greensboro, NC, about installing a metal roof. On average, metal roofs tend to retain their durability for between 40 and 70 years. Comparatively, shingled roofs tend to show signs of wear after their first decade of use.

Durability

Shingles tend to respond to variable weather in different ways. You may end up replacing a shingled roof far more frequently than you would with a metal roof.

Metal roofs hold up under intense weather conditions, resisting wind gusts to better protect your home. Under some circumstances, you may even have the option to invest in impact-resistant metals, ensuring that hail, falling trees, and other forces have a minimal impact on the integrity of your home.

Metal Roofs Lower Your Electric Bills

While metal roofs aren’t going to provide you with the same energy benefits as your average solar panel, they’ll still reduce your monthly energy bills.

The metal sheets that are used for roofing tend to limit the amount of heat that gets into your home. Instead of absorbing UV light, like shingles would, metal sheets reflect that light out towards your property. Come summer, you’ll enjoy lower indoor temperatures, as well as lower energy bills.

Metal Roofs Are Environmentally-Friendly

Most manufacturers who make the panels for a metal roof create them from recycled materials. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, metal roofs can limit your consumption of single-use materials.

The Downsides of a Metal Roof

There’s no such thing as a perfect roof. Metal roofs have some downsides that may make them less appealing for new property owners. These include:

The Cost of Installation

The durability and longevity of metal roofs make them valuable investments. They are, however, just that — investments. These roofs can cost significantly more than asphalt and shingle roofs.

If you plan to keep your property for a considerable amount of time, that cost may seem negligible. If you’re looking to flip the home that you’re working on, though, you may want to consider installing a roof with different materials.

Above-Average Noise Levels

While the average metal roof will protect your home from troubling weather conditions, it will also be the first to let you know when it’s started to hail. While improved decking can limit the amount of noise that a metal roof makes, you’ll still be acutely aware of any hail, heavy rain, or falling debris outside of your home.

Metal roofs aren’t just noisy during storms, though. As the weather warms and cools, your metal roof will expand and contract. While this change in size takes place on a molecular level, your metal roof may still creak or otherwise make noise as it shifts above your home.

Find the Premier Greensboro, NC, Roofers Near Me

If you’re in the market for a new roof, you’re in luck. Carolina Home Specialists can help you to determine whether a metal roof is right for your home. Reach out today to get a free quote on your upcoming installation!

Reliable Home Improvement Services

Metal Roofing Pros vs Cons

Carolina Home Specialists is a premier exterior home improvement service company serving the Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Chapel Hill communities in North Carolina. We also serve many surrounding communities.

If you’re in the Triad area and need a design consultant, please consider reaching out to our local roofing, windows, siding, gutters, decking, and fencing installation specialists. We’d love to help!

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