Things to Consider Before Buying a Metal Roof [Infographic]

Infographics, Roofing

Most homes in West Virginia cover their roofs with asphalt shingles from a Roofing Company in Charleston, WV. For more than a century, shingle roofs have been popular for its low-cost and effectiveness in all environmental conditions. However, as time passes, other materials like metal have been considered by more and more homeowners.

Metal roofing had grown popular in recent years due to its appearance, value, durability, and environmentally-friendly qualities. Choosing a metal roof can undoubtedly provide years of low- maintenance protection and liven up the curb appeal of your home.

Is a Metal Roof Right for You?

Almost any home can benefit from a metal roof, but it’s smart to examine your options first before buying a new roof. A new roof is a massive investment that shouldn’t be taken lightly. While metal roofs are fantastic, like any roofing material, odds are there’s another type of roof that would be more suitable for your project.

It is incredibly crucial to choose the right roofing material. Making sure so can save you a lot of headaches and financial burden down the line. When it comes to considering a metal roof, there’s a list of some crucial essential factors that aid you in making the optimal decision.

Geographic location and Climate

Your home’s geographic location can be a valuable piece of information when it comes to choosing a roof. Since climates and weather patterns vary in different areas, you need to ensure your roof system is ready to face the specific weather conditions in those locations. The material you use for your roof affects how your roof system will perform under severe weather.

Homes in areas prone to weather extremes such as snowstorms, hurricanes, hailstorms, torrential rains, and extreme temperatures should opt for metal roofing. This material does not get affected by weather as much as wood or shingle roofs.

Metal roof has specific benefits such as low weight and interlocking panels, making it very lasting in severe weather areas.

However, some types of metal roofs aren’t automatically compatible with your roof. Some types of metal roofs don’t perform well in coastal areas. The mixture of moisture, salt, and oxygen can lead to corrosion and a shorter lifespan for certain metal types.

Roof Slope

The slope of the roof or roof pitch can determine the roofing materials that will suit your home. Most roof materials have a recommended pitch range. Typically, metal roofs work well on a roof of 3/12 or higher pitch. Lower pitch roofs still have great metal options, but they’re more limited.

A metal roof that is not appropriated and recommended by its manufacturer should never be installed. Incompatibility can void a warranty and cause extensive water damage that can potentially cost thousands of dollars to remedy.

Budget

Metal roofs are more expensive compared to ordinary roofing materials. Not only is the material itself high-priced, but the installation labor is also costlier than other types of roofing. This is because metal roofing installation requires specialized knowledge, training, tools, and equipment.

However, metal roofs make up for it with its long life span. When properly installed, a metal roof will never need a replacement in your lifetime,

Properly installed, a standing seam metal roof will never need replacement, saving you money while adding value to your residential structure. If you don’t see yourself living in the same house for a long time, a metal roof might be too expensive.

What to Look for If You Decide on a Metal Roof

After weighing in your options, you should be confident that a metal roof is right for you. However, you shouldn’t choose the first metal roof that you find. Here are some essential features that will help you find a great product that will give you the results you want.

  • PVDF coating

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) coatings are commonly used coatings used in metal roofs today. Metal roofs with coatings based on PVDF resin technology offer the best resistance to streaking and staining for weathering, durability, and fade-resistance. Additionally, PVDF comes in various hues and shade that retains for a long time.

  • Self-cleaning valleys

Many metal roofs are installed with a closed valley system. Closed valley systems refer to the hidden waterways that channel water off the roof. However, plenty of debris such as leaves, branches, pine needles, seed pods travels down your roof.

Closed valley systems can’t remove all of the debris that ends up in any valleys your roof may have. This can block the water path and lead to leaks. Self-cleaning valleys take away those concerns. Open or “self-cleaning” valleys carry rainwater and any roof debris off the roof to avoid clogs and eventual leaks.

  • Certified products

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) formed a quality certification program that recognizes the quality levels produced by metal roofing manufacturers.

Since the marketplace offers a wide variety of products, the Metal Roofing Certification program considers raw materials, coatings, manufacturing methods, and field tracking of products to ensure the quality levels of your metal roof.

Homeowners should look for products that are certified. This will not only give you the confidence that they were made with an eye on industry-accepted quality. Choosing a product that is not at this quality level can make the homeowner’s investment prone to the base metal’s poor performance.

  • Special flashings

Special care is required for some areas of the roof. Unlike with temporary roofing materials, don’t depend upon sealants for those areas in your metal roofing. Features such as dead valleys, skylights, chimneys, flared gables, and other elements that require special care needs to be handled by your contractor.

  • Warranties

Make sure to pay attention to the warranties you will be receiving and where they come from. You should be offered two written warranties upon completing your metal roof installation. One is a product warranty covering the integrity and performance of the product and its materials. At the same time, the other should be a warranty covering the installation workmanship.

Product warranty typically comes from the manufacturer or supplier of your metal roof. Meanwhile, the contractor who installed the metal roof will offer the Workmanship warranty. These warranties vary in terms of length, coverage, and transferability. Look for long-term warranties to have a good safety measure on your side is in case any areas fail or are defective.

The standard product warranty for those types of installations is from 40 or more years in length. However, companies that specialize in residential roofing materials can provide long term warranties that homeowners usually seek.

  • Ventilation

When planning a roof replacement, make sure not to overlook the ventilation. Reroofing is the perfect time to increase the ventilation in your attic. Installing proper attic ventilation will help protect your metal roof and save you on energy costs.

Adequate ventilation can keep your home cooler during the summer and prevent ice dam formation in the winter. As a result, your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to reach your desired temperature.

Ridge vents are turning out to be a popular option for metal roofs for its effectiveness in achieving proper attic ventilation. This system offers an excellent means of introducing fresh air and conducting warm and moist air out of the attic when coupled with soffit vents placed on the underside of the roof.

Fahey Roofing Contractors has the experienced and skilled contractors you need to help you with any necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. We serve various areas in West Virginia and Ohio. Visit our website today at www.faheyroofingcontractors.com or contact us at (304) 826-1323 for West Virginia or (740) 523-0380 for Ohio to learn more.

 

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