9 Types of Metal Roofs. Over the years, the roofing industry has seen improvements in cost, quality, and performance. With affordability and increased longevity growing to be a bigger concern over the past decade, metal roofs have become one of the most popular roofing options for both architects and homeowners. Metal roofs not only provide an appealing look for your home or office exterior, but they also replace hot asphalt shingles or roof tiles with cooler metal that does not generate heat or trap humidity inside your house.
Are you wondering whether metal roofing is best for your home? Metal roofing is a broad term that covers a wide variety of different colors, sizes, styles, and materials. Ranking the best types of metal roofing isn’t as simple as looking at their price and then adding up the costs for all the notes you want to install on them. There are many factors to consider — cost of materials and installation, weather-resistant properties, longevity and more. Both roofers and installers have their own ideas about what makes a good roof — so keep reading to learn more about the benefits of each, so you know which one would be best for your next roof replacement.
1. Standing Seam
A standing seam metal roof offers a great number of fantastic benefits that many roofing materials do not. Standing seam metal roofs are highly customizable to match each homeowner’s specific preferences and can be installed in less time than many other options. They are also very low-maintenance and weatherproof, so if you live in a region with harsh or unpredictable weather conditions, then standing seam metal roofs may be suitable for your home.
2. Shake-Inspired
Roofing shakes, also known as wooden shingles, are a popular roofing style used on homes throughout the United States. While it may hold a traditional look, composite shakes are made of a synthetic material that is both easy to install and low-maintenance. These shingles have an embossed design, which helps them stand out from other roofing products.
Luckily, homeowners can now achieve the traditional look of wooden shakes with the added benefits of metal roofing thanks to shake-inspired metal roofing panels. Remodelers can now recreate the look of traditional wood roofing with metal roof panels. Like authentic roofing shakes, shake-inspired metal roof panels offer the traditional appeal of wooden shakes, but unlike their wooden predecessors, they are lightweight. This makes them easy to install and reduces the time needed for installation. Although this style of metal roofing isn’t as watertight as standing seam metal roofing, a properly and professionally installed metal shake roof can help protect your home for decades.
3. Tile-Inspired
Another popular roofing style, especially in warmer climates, is tile roofing. While tile roofing used to be composed solely of natural materials like clay or concrete, there are now metal roof options inspired by the design of tile roofing that is far more durable and easier to maintain.
While any metal roofing option is going to be more expensive than traditional asphalt shingle roofing, tile-inspired metal roofing tends to be fairly cost-effective compared to some other types of metal roofs for homes.
Tile-inspired metal roofing is known for its resistance, even when put up against wind, fire, rain, and hail. Tile-inspired metal roofing is popular for its durability. Tile-inspired metal roofing has a tile-like design that gives it watertight properties, so while many roofs will leak during heavy rainfall, tile-inspired metal roofing will not. Metal tile-inspired roofs are made for outdoors; therefore, even in extremely harsh environments, they can last longer than the average roof making it one of the most economically friendly roofing options on the market.
4. Slate-Inspired
A slate roof tile is an excellent choice for a functional and beautiful roof covering, integrating superior durability with stunning visual appeal. Each tile is made of natural stone and since
natural stone is a costly material, traditional slate roofs often come at a high price point compared to other roofing materials.
Slate tends to be very heavy, which can put a lot of stress on a roof and require reinforced rafters to extend the roof’s lifespan. This makes the installation process more difficult and more expensive compared to its counterparts. But with the slate-inspired metal roofing, homeowners can now achieve the luxurious appearance of natural slate roofing without the added weight and strain on their home’s structure.
5. Corrugated
Flexibility and versatility are what corrugated metal roofing is all about. Made from hot-dipped galvanized steel that’s been cold-rolled to create a corrugated pattern on the panels, galvanized steel roofing provides excellent resistance to the weather, including hail, sleet, snow, and the sun’s harmful UV rays. It’s also lighter than most metal roofing products, making it easier to transport and quicker to install.
Corrugated metal roofing offers building-integrated heating and cooling solutions and is suitable for a wide variety of commercial structures. Supporting several types of insulation, these radiant barrier panels help keep buildings cooler during the summer and warmer in the winter.
6. Zinc
If you live in the United States, then you might not be familiar with the material zinc as a durable metal roof option. Not a lot of roofs are made with zinc in the United States, though a great many European residential roofs use this material. Zinc is a highly expensive metal roof material, but that’s for good reason since it can last up to a century.
Zinc is a green roofing material that’s gaining popularity around the world for good reason – it’s a naturally occurring, fire-resistant, highly durable choice for residential roofs and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance after the installation as it also naturally prevents the growth of mold, fungus, and mildew. If you’re looking for a highly durable material option and are willing to invest, zinc is a great option.
7. Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most popular metal roofing choices, and for good reason. It’s extremely lightweight, making it much easier to install faster and safer than heavier metals. This also makes aluminum easy to transport and relocate from place to place. Aluminum naturally resists rust and corrosion, which means your roof can last a long time if it’s properly maintained. Aluminum also offers excellent resistance against fire, making it an excellent choice for a roof in an area that lies prone to wildfires or is subjected to high amounts of weather-induced wear and tear. Aside from these well-known benefits, aluminum is very flexible and versatile and matches well with different home designs and homeowner preferences.
8. Copper
Copper is an amazing roofing option if you are looking for the longest-lasting material you can install onto your roof. Copper roofs are one of the most sought-after options for long-lasting roofing and look great on almost any style home, large or small.
Copper has a big con to its long list of pros: it is the most expensive roofing option—rivaled only by zinc, which has a similar price point—but you will get what you pay for. A copper roof will be resistant to fire, hail damage, mildew, pets, and many other common culprits of damages. Copper is also lightweight, so it won’t put a lot of stress on the structure of your home.
9. Galvanized Steel
A galvanized steel roof (which is often simply referred to as a galvanized roof) is a steel roof that’s been coated in a protective layer of zinc. Essentially, the base metal of steel is hot-dipped into zinc—either for a thick or a thin coat, depending on the homeowner’s preference—to help protect the steel roof against rust while also improving its appearance.
With a galvanized steel roof, you get an affordable and relatively maintenance-free design that will guard against rust; in addition, you’ll get a finish that looks clean, though it will certainly also always look different from one roof to the next due to the naturally rough surface of the metal.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Ever considered a metal roof, but we’re wondering whether it was worth it?
If you’re considering a metal roof for your home, the pros at Watkins Construction & Roofing are well-equipped to make the selection process easy. Our metal roofs have earned a Class 4 distinction in impact resistance and a Class A fire rating, making them more durable than wood, asphalt, or slate shingle roofs.
Watkins Construction & Roofing is one of the premier providers for all your roofing needs, and we offer a wide variety of high-quality materials. Our metal roofs are engineered to compete with any other roof on the market.
Get a home that’s as durable and striking as you are when you choose a metal roof by Watkins Construction & Roofing. Call 601-966-8233 or visit us online today to get a quote, schedule a complimentary, in-home consultation, or find answers to any of your roofing questions.