Metal Roofs are Back in Fashion

If you’re planning to build a house, you’ll probably start at the bottom and work your way up. However, what happens when you get to the top? What are you going to put up there to enclose your home and offer you protection from the elements?

Sure, you could go for the classic asphalt shingles, but do you really want your house to look like everyone else’s? Are you looking forward to repairing that roof every decade or so? If not, perhaps you should consider metal roofing.

Metal Roof Popularity On The Rise

Metal roofs are becoming a hot item. According to a survey by the National Roofing Contractors Association, metal roofs appeared in 30 percent of the new home construction market in 2007. This represented a 23 percent jump from 2004, while the ever-popular fiberglass-asphalt shingles were down 50 percent.

Why A Metal Roof?

Metal roofs are more durable than other types of roofing. They last twice as long as traditional roofing materials and offer a level of fire protection that asphalt and wood cannot. They are resistant to elements such as heavy rain and high winds and are environmentally friendly. Metal roofing can also be energy efficient. The right metallic coating will not only make your metal roof more attractive and durable, but it can reflect heat, which will keep your home cooler in the summer, saving you on air conditioning bills.

Down Sides To Metal Roofing

It’s true that a metal roof will probably cost you a bit more than the asphalt version. However, the metal industry insists that the long-term savings of a metal roof makes up the difference. Between the potential for insurance breaks due to its fire resistance and the energy savings (including a possible energy tax credit) metal proponents feel that in the long term, metal is the economically better bet.