SLOWLY GAINING IN POPULARITY
Metal roofing has grown in popularity in recent years, albeit slowly, as technology continues to advance. It’s becoming more accessible as an option due to its properties, but remains more costly than more traditional choices. Clay, concrete and asphalt tiles still dominate the roofing in the country. This is easily seen almost everywhere you drive. The question then, is, is metal roofing worth it? Is the extra outlay justified? Is metal the future roofing material of choice? There are certainly some advantages to metal roofs over traditional tiled roofs which we’ll explore here. Look for reliable roofers in Nottingham when it comes to advice on your roof. We can always help with questions and concerns you have about your roof!
LIFESPAN
If your tiles last 20 years before a full replacement is needed, they’ve done very well. While this number varies hugely depending on location, direction, workmanship and pure chance, most tiled roofs still have a decent lifespan. While it might sound nice, a 50 year warranty for a metal roof isn’t necessarily a deciding factor. The average homeowner spends approximately 13 years in a house before moving on. Some specialists in cases offer “lifetime guarantees” knowing this statistic, because a guarantee doesn’t extend to the next owners. That said, metal roofs do have an incredible lifespan. Given that they’re constructed with fewer parts, that is, large single sheets instead of many hundreds of individual tiles, they can’t be dislodged or have individual tiles fail.
LESS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS
Metal roofs are incredibly strong. Technology nowadays means large metal sheets can be produced virtually free of any defects, meaning an even thickness and a very low chance of any type of failure, at least not for a very long time. Individual tiles interlock, sitting over each other, which is where water can enter into cracks and cause damage.
On the flipside, once a metal roof fails, the whole thing is likely to need replacing, rather than individual tiles. Given the lifespan, however, metal may well be better value over its lifespan, not needing fixes and with almost no risk of leaking. Whether a flat roof or sloped roof, metal all but guarantees complete protection.
RESISTING THE ELEMENTS
Metal resists precipitation incredibly well. This is particularly useful in countries like the UK where rainfall can be persistent and heavy over the winter. Combine this with lots of wind and low but fluctuating temperatures and you have a recipe for lots of damaged roofs. Roofs are subject to a huge amount of stress as a result of the weather and British winters are certainly a test!
Metal also has high thermal emissivity, meaning it reflects heat very well. In the winter this helps keep you warm by keeping the available heat from escaping. Conversely, heavy sun in summer is reflected well, stopping the house from getting too warm. This means practicality is excellent.
DESIGNS AND MATERIALS
The designs available have increased massively, meaning you don’t have to expect a “metallic” look and can get something that decently approximates traditional tiles. The increase in colours allows for a more authentic finish. In fact, it’s worth having a look on google images for examples of metal roofs. If you didn’t know they were metal, we’d bet that many wouldn’t think they were metal at all!
Metal roofs can be produced from stainless steel, aluminium, copper, zinc and their alloys. Each one has slightly different properties in terms of durability, weight and designs available.
COST
Cost is the biggest issue with metal roofing, and the main reason why it hasn’t gained popularity as fast as its quality might suggest. It’s simply more expensive to produce than concrete and clay which are both very cheap. A metal roof might cost double that of a tiled roof. As a homeowner you have to decide if it’s worth it for you. Are you expecting to be in the same home for a very long time? You might not be able to answer this question, because things change. Take your time to decide if it’s worth it for you.
Needless to say, metal is a wonderfully versatile material and will help keep you dry and warm without you having to worry about it failing. We anticipate that metal will continue to slowly gain traction in the coming decades, though this largely depends on whether costs can be reduced. This remains to be seen, of course, and something new could come along altogether! If you have any questions about your roof then feel free to give us a call.
