While metal roofing has become the number one choice for Hawaiian homeowners and business establishments in the recent years, there are still erroneous, preconceived notions about metal roofs that prevent many more customers from reaping its great benefits.
We understand where these customers are coming from though. For so long, according to experts (who can be seen in baroofers.com site) in our office in Des Moines, IA, metal roofing was mainly attributed as the roofing material for cowsheds, barns, and other industrial-type buildings. What most people don’t realize is that metal roofing is ideal for any structure especially for single family homes in tropical settings like here in Hawaii (we’ll get to that in a minute).
Here, we examine each myth and discuss why these points are merely misconceptions. Let us prove to you that an aluminum roof or a copper roof, indeed, is the best choice.
Myth #1: Metal Roofs Cost A Fortune
This myth is not quite a fallacy. Before your jaw drops, let us clarify. It’s true, metal roofs are costly upon your first outlay of cash. As the years go by, however, you start to realize that your initial investment was truly worth it because unlike spending for cheaper roofing materials like asphalt shingles or wood shingles, metal roofs are the least costly to maintain and repair.
Information straight from the source stated that the true lifetime cost of a metal roof is a lot lesser than other roofing materials because its durability and longer life span doesn’t need you to keep replacing it over the years. Your purchase and installation costs will stretch a long way, saving you not just money, but time and effort, within the extended life of your metal roof. Florida painting companies can help you to avail painting services at very low cost.
Another aspect of cost that many homeowners in Hawaii do not realize is that the cost of shipping heavy asphalt shingles from the mainland to Oahu, Maui, the Big Island or Kauai versus the cost of shipping lightweight aluminum roofing materials means that the cost difference is a lot lower in Hawaii than it would be in the mainland states.
Myth #2: Metal Roofs Can Attract Lightning More Than Other Roof Types
This scary-sounding myth has already been debunked by over a dozen experts, but we will debunk this answer to help you ease your mind. First up, according to the Metal Construction Association, “a properly grounded metal roof, in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 780, will actually conduct the energy from a lightning strike over the broader area of the roof reducing the amount of heat transferred to the building and reducing the potential damage due to fire.”
While it’s reassuring that metal roofs aren’t a common magnet for lightning strikes, we want to reiterate that the Metal Construction Association highlighted that a “properly grounded metal roof” is the best way to protect your home from sudden lightning flashes. That’s why when it comes to installing your metal roof, always ensure to hire the services of professional local roofing contractors like Atlanta Concrete Contractors who will properly fit your metal roof with the right parts and methods to keep your home fully protected from lightning strikes.
Myth #3: Metal Roofs Are Too Noisy When It Rains
We’re aware that much older buildings with tin roofs attached to them may have displayed this level of noise during rainstorms, but bear in mind that these buildings have been put up decades ago with outdated installation processes. And tin is much noisier than aluminum. These days, leaps in technology have made construction and installation methods much quieter, thus, improving the effectiveness of metal roofs as a heavy-duty protector of homes and other buildings.
Like with Myth #2 above, what’s fundamental is in how your metal roof is installed. In the hands of the best roofer, your metal roof will be padded with a sound-proofing material like a solid sheathing for the roof deck. Another great thing about metal roofs is that it can be installed right above your old roofing material, be it asphalt shingles or concrete roof tiles, which in this case, provides another padded layer to lower noise from rain and hailstorms.
Myth #4: Metal Roofs Can Easily Bend Or Be Dented From Inclement Weather
This cannot be further from the truth. Metal roofs are actually the most solid protective barrier you have for your home. Because metal roofs are non-porous, they fare a thousand times better over typical roofing materials like tiles, cedar shake, and asphalt shingles, which are all porous that moss, mildew, and fungus love to grow on.
When weather conditions can turn from bad to worse, you can be confident knowing your metal roof will keep you safe throughout. If people want carpet cleaning services, they can check out here. The non-porous feature of metal roofing gives your home the following advantages:
- It is insect-repellent as they don’t find it an ideal surface to nest on
- Water will not be able to back up on your roof during heavy rains
- Hurricane-force winds will not blow your well-fastened metal roof off
- As the heat of the day drops so does the heat of your aluminum roof, which unlike asphalt shingles, does not radiate heat for hours after the sun sets
For us Hawaiians, these properties can be extremely beneficial especially with the harsh tropical climate we live in.
Myth #5: Metal Roofing Will Rust After A Few Years
Here’s another example of what the developments in technology have brought about in the construction industry – metal roofs that can withstand oxidation throughout its lifetime. Top manufacturers bond their products with a special, galvanized metal roof coating, made with highly-developed alloys that can eliminate rusting on a metal surface.
One great example of this is the Alunar® Coating System used by our brand partner, Interlock® Roofing. A valuable component in the Alunar® Coating System is its Teflon™ Surface Protector, which helps in the excellent protection of your metal roof from acid rain, salinity, humidity, and other corrosive elements. If you live in Oahu, then there’s nothing more reassuring than this.
Myth #6: Metal Roofs Will Make My House Hotter In The Summer
Quite the opposite. Metal roofs are actually the most energy-efficient solution for your home. As we mentioned in our previous blog, Aluminum roofs have cooling properties that enable them to reflect sunlight and heat away from your building, which lowers your home’s temperatures.
And as your home’s temperature drops, that means you also tend to use air conditioning a lot less, thereby helping you save up on your energy bills. You can rest assured that no matter how hot it is outside during the summer, your home will stay cooler, all thanks to your metal roof.
As you can see, all the great benefits provided by a metal roof far outweigh its costs, which is no surprise why more and more homeowners are going metal for their roofing needs. If you’d like to find out more, talk to us, Honolulu’s leading roofing specialists, for we can definitely guide you in choosing the right metal roofing solution so you will have lifetime permanent roofing and peace of mind.