When it comes to the roof on your home there are many available options that you can use. And each one of these options will also have different styles, designs, and even the quality of the roofing materials will be different. The two major types of roofing in Ann Arbor Michigan used is asphalt shingle roofing and metal roofing. While asphalt shingle roofing is by far the most popular there are many home owners that are now getting a new roof using metal roofing. There are some pros and cons for each roofing material which we’ll cover below.
What Type of Materials Should You Use for Roofing in Ann Arbor Michigan?
Metal roofs are quickly becoming the ideal covering for buildings of all kinds. As homeowners tire of all the issues that comes with shingles, and the cost that comes with materials like slate, metal is providing an option that is both durable and cost effective. If you are still on the fence as to whether or not metal roofs are right for your home, you should consider all the benefits and disadvantages that comes with them.
What Is Metal Roofing?
Metal roof coverings are solid sheets that are placed on either side of your roof’s pitch. For a standard roof you will need two pieces of metal sheeting, that will be cut to size to perfectly cover your roof.
What Are Your Options?
There are five different material options you can choose from for your roofing cover. The first and most commonly used material is aluminum. This material is the most lightweight and affordable option, and is also resistant to salt water damage. Tin was commonly used in the past, but is now very rarely seen. Steel has three different versions: galvalume, galvanized, and corten weathering steel. Zinc is also long lasting and resistant to corrosion, but also has the lowest melting point of all the metals on this list. Copper is the last option. Copper is beautiful, extremely long lasting, has a low melting temperature, and is the most expensive option.
What Are the Benefits?
There are a lot of benefits to metal sheet coverings for your roof.
Durability
The solid metal sheets are far more durable than other roofing materials, thus lasting much longer. On average, metal roofs will last between 40 and 70 years before needing to be replaced. It can also better withstand impacts, strong winds, and moisture.
Energy Efficiency
Metal will naturally reflect UV rays rather than absorb them like shingles or slate. That means the amount of heat absorbed is minimal, making it easier to regulate the temperature in your home all year long.
Environmentally Friendly
Metal roofing can be anywhere from 25 percent to 95 percent recycled content and are almost completely recyclable. That means there is very little need to make new materials, helping to promote reusing materials and helping the environment.
Maintenance
Unlike shingles, metal sheeting does not require much maintenance. Simply spraying them with water will be enough to remove any debris. Being solid pieces, you also don’t need to worry about sections weakening or blowing off.
Safety
Metal is not a flammable material, meaning that there is no risk of it catching fire from chimneys, wildfires, firework debris or lightning strikes.
What Are the Disadvantages?
While there are a lot of advantages to choosing metal roofing, there are disadvantages as well. Even though metal roofing is cost efficient in the long term, the upfront cost is much higher than other options like shingles. Metal is also much noisier than other roof covering materials, particularly during heavy rain and hailstorms. You also need to make sure an experienced professional will be doing the installation to provide you with the optimal performance. Otherwise you can end up with lots of problems, including issues with expanding and contracting of the metal.
Talk with a Roofing Contractor
It’s always best to talk with your roofing contractor about your roofing. No matter what type of roofing materials you want installed on your home’s roof it’s always best to use a fully licensed and qualified roofing contractor. You’ll also need to consider the price difference in the materials you want to use for the roof. At Ann Arbor Remodeling Contractor they can install a shingle or metal roof on your home quickly and affordably. Call them today at 734-619-1271 to get a free quote on both these roofing materials and more details about the project.
