Corrugated metal roofing carries a wide array of advantages, but there also disadvantages you should be aware of as well. Here we discuss the pros & cons from a non biased, hype free viewpoint.
Firstly, Metal roofs refer to roofing systems made of either copper, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, and zinc alloys. Their properties vary largely in terms of price, appearance and durability. Let us have a look at the various type and their basic properties.
Corrugated Metal Roofing Materials
- Steel is the most common metal roofing material available. In comparison to aluminum, steel roofing is heavier and sturdier. Because of their durable coating and finish, steel roofs do not rust or corrode.
- Stainless Steel: There is no fear of rust or corrosion in stainless steel. These metal roofing systems are usually available in Terne coating that gives them a natural matte-gray finish. However, it is a very expensive roofing solution and recommended for extremely harsh environments only.
- Aluminum corrugated roofing is most commonly used on residential roofs. Even if they are not coated, they do not rust, but for better appearance, they are generally coated or painted. Aluminum roofing is extremely lightweight and relatively inexpensive as well. However, since aluminum is a precious resource, it is usually not recommended to use it for roofing purpose.
- Copper metal roofing can be very expensive, but offers numerous features. For example, they do not easily rust or corrode. They are also very easy to install.
- Alloy roofing systems are also a pricey solution. But are known for their durability, and strength.
Advantages Of Corrugated Metal Roofing
Following are some of the factors that give corrugated metal roofing systems an edge over other conventional roofing materials.
- They are highly durable and easily last 20 to 50 years.
- Corrugated metal roofing has high resistance to rot, insects, mildew, and fire.
- They can easily shed snow and withstand high winds and heavy rains.
- Compared to tile roofing, metal roofs are lightweight, usually 50 to 150 pounds per square.
- The installation is easy and fast. In particular, the single metal shingles or sheets are relatively much easier to install, but it is a time-consuming process.
- Since metal roofing materials are non-combustible, they are highly resistant to fire. They carry a Class A fire rating, which is the highest category of resistance.
- Metals are low in insulation R-value and thus they are more energy efficient. You can further increase the energy efficiency by creating a dead-air space between the metal and roof deck.
- The ability to have a minimal roof pitch makes these roofing systems less prone to leaking damages.
Disadvantages Of Corrugated Metal Roofing
However, despite so many advantages, there are disadvantages associated with corrugated metal roofing systems as well. Following are some of the common concerns:
- The initial cost of installing metal roofs is very high. It may cost you somewhere around $150 to $600 per square. However, the high cost might be worth it because it minimizes the requirement for maintenance or repair work. They last much longer than other roofing materials. Probably, you wont even need to replace your roof again in your lifetime so it is likely to be a one-time investment.
- Corrugated metal roofs are noisy. You may not like the noise of rain falling on the roof. However, with a little modification in roof construction, you can substantially reduce and even completely eliminate the noise. For example, a common way is to use materials that have structural acoustic barriers.
- Some metal roofing materials are quite prone to denting. Denting may appear when large hailstones fall on it. However, some corrugated metal roofing systems come with a guarantee for no denting.
- Walking on these metal roof types may also cause wear and tear. With time, its finishes can chalk, scratch, fade, chip, or peel. An easy solution is to eliminate the need of walking by installing the roofs from the top down.
So as you can see, corrugated metal roofing is a good choice of roofing material when used for the right application. It is long term cost effective, looks good and has an acceptable lifespan when used in most environments. It is easy to see why it is such a popular choice of roofing material among home buyers today.