Frequently Asked Questions

How much longer will a metal roof last compared to regular roofing?
Studies have shown that the average metal roof will last 2-3 times longer than an asphalt or wood shingle roof.

Isn’t a metal roof noisy?
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about metal roofing. For residential applications, when metal roofing is installed over solid sheathing, noise is controlled from rain, hail and bad weather just as well as any other roofing material. Further, attic space and insulation serve as additional sound barriers. Research has proven that metal is not any noisier than traditional roofing products.

Isn’t metal roofing expensive?
In the short term, a metal roof costs about 2 times more than an asphalt roof. But in the long run, it will last 2 to 3 times longer than an asphalt or wood shingle roof. Over the life of your home, metal roofing is probably the most economical roofing material, because it can be the last roof you need to install. Not only that, metal roofs are excellent insulators. Not only will your metal roof keep your house comfortable regardless of the weather outside, but it can actually lower your air conditioning and heating bills.

Is a metal roof heavy?
No. A metal roof is an average of 50% lighter than an asphalt roof, and 75 % lighter than concrete tile, fiber cement shakes and slates.

Do I need to remove any existing roofing material?
No, if you have one layer of shingles. One of the benefits of metal roofing is that it is lightweight, which allows it to be installed over existing roofing material. However, the answer to this question ultimately depends upon your local building code requirements and the condition of your current roof’s substructure.

Does a metal roof attract lightning?
Lightning is attracted to the highest point, not necessarily metal. A metal roof has no greater chance of being hit by lightning than any other type of roof. However, if your roof would be struck by lightning, a metal roof can help your home from catching fire because it can dissipate the electrical charge. More importantly, it is noncombustible.

Is a metal roof hot?
Metal roofing reflects 70% of the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them like asphalt shingles. When the sun goes down, the metal roof cools much quicker than asphalt thereby saving energy costs, even at nighttime. Additional energy savings can also be obtained by using our reflective insulation under the metal roof. It consists of two compact layers of polyethylene air bubbles pockets sandwiched between reflective aluminum foil. It reflects heat rays outside in summer and keeps them inside in winter.

Is walking over a metal roof likely to cause any damage?
Not if you walk between the ribs when the roof is dry. One big benefit to metal roofing in terms of walkability is that it retains its impact resistance as it ages. After other roofing materials age a few years, they can be damaged by walking on them, but that is not the case with metal roofing. It will resist foot traffic, hail, etc. the same in 30 years or more as it does when it is new.

Won’t metal rust or its paint fade?
We offer our premium line of metal panels with a Galvalume coating or a variety of colors with a 30-year limited warranty. The Ceram-A-Star 950 color system from Akzo Nobel is applied over a steel substrate with a Galvalume coating. Results from long-term testing conclude that Galvalume is two to four times more resistant to corrosion than galvanized coatings.

Is metal roofing good for the environment?
According to the National Association of Homebuilders Research Center, 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into the American landfills every year. If one loaded those in 40,000 pound trailers and lined them up end-to-end, they would line from New York to Los Angeles, back to New York and on to Chicago. What a way to treat our land. The recycled content of the steel in metal roof is about 56% from production to installation to reuse-far superior to asphalt. And a metal roof can often be installed over your current roof, without tearing off what’s already there.