A Homeowners Guide to Metal Roofing Panels

By Trevor Underwood, DECRA Metal Roofing. 

Metal roofing has quickly become one of the most popular roofing material choices for homeowners due to its durability and longevity.  

What important factors should homeowners know about metal roofing materials? 

Metal roofing has the strength to endure harsh weather and can withstand strong winds, making it one of the most preferred roofing materials available today. Metal is also a great option for those conscious of energy efficiency and sustainability.  

This guide will go over everything homeowners need to know about metal roofing — from the manufacturing process to the benefits and differences metal roofing offers compared to other options.  

How are metal roofing panels made? 

Metal roofing panels are typically manufactured using a roll-forming process. Metal sheets are fed through a series of rollers that shape and form the metal into the desired panel shape. 

Once stamped, the metal roofing panels are either painted or coated with a layer of stone granules to provide a wide variety of colors, textures and styles. 

The panels are designed to lock together when installed on a roof. The interlocking metal roofing panels are secured to the roof with multiple fastener points for an impenetrable, edge-to-edge attachment to the roof.  

What are the benefits of metal roofing panels?  

The strength of steel combined with the interlocking design of metal roofing panels result in one of the strongest types of roofing on the market. 

The main benefit of metal roofing panels is that they provide a weather-resistant barrier against the elements. 

For example, when it comes to resisting high winds, tornados or even hurricanes, the interlocking metal roofing panels are so strong that they have been approved for use in high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZs) of Florida. HVHZs have the strictest building code requirements in the nation, and metal roofing panels are one of the few types of roofing that meet those requirements. 

Take asphalt shingles, for example. High winds can easily remove flimsy shingles from the roof. Even if a small section of shingles is blown off the roof, the entire roof may still need to be replaced.   

Additionally, the interlocking panels create a water-tight and non-porous barrier, making them ideal for homes in regions with heavy rain, moisture and snow. 

Traditional roofing materials, like asphalt shingles and clay tiles, are porous. Porous roofs will absorb water, which can cause problems for homes that experience frequent rain or moisture. Worse, when the water absorbed by a porous roof freezes, it will expand. This can cause the shingles or tiles to crack, split, warp and deteriorate. 

A metal roof, on the other hand, is non-porous and impervious to both water and snow.  

How do metal roofing panels differ from traditional roofing materials? 

Metal roofing panels are the second most popular roofing material in the U.S. and gaining market share year-after-year due to their durability, longevity and a lengthy list of other benefits. 

Here’s how metal roofing panels differ from traditional roofing materials such as asphalt shingles and clay tiles. 

Metal roofing panels versus asphalt shingles 

Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in the US, mainly because they are the cheapest. However, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Asphalt shingles are notorious for their many shortcomings, particularly regarding longevity, energy efficiency and sustainability. 

Lifespan: Traditional asphalt shingles need to be replaced as frequently as every 12 years and, perhaps even sooner, in regions prone to hail, tornados, hurricanes and other harsh weather events. Conversely, on average, metal roofing panels last between 40 to 70 years. 

Energy efficiency: Asphalt shingles absorb heat like a sponge, radiating that heat into the home below, even after sunset, making them one of the worst-performing roofing materials for energy efficiency. Metal roofing panels reflect heat away from the building, making it one of the most energy-efficient roof materials on the market. Stone-coated metal roofing products have infrared pigments embedded in the stone coatings, increasing their natural solar reflectance and enhancing energy efficiency even further. 

Sustainability: Petroleum-based asphalt shingles are often too toxic to recycle and contribute more than ten million tons of waste annually to landfills. Metal roofing panels, on the other hand, are the market's most sustainable option thanks to their recycled material content and the fact that they are 100% recyclable when removed. 

Metal roofing panels versus clay tiles 

Specific architectural designs, like Mediterranean and Spanish styles, rely upon clay tile roofing as a critical design element. But unfortunately, clay tile roofing is one of the heaviest, most high-maintenance and fragile roofing materials available. 

On the other hand, metal roofing panels can withstand just about anything Mother Nature sends their way. 

Another drawback to clay tile roofing is that it places excessive weight on the home, adding to the roof load and increasing the construction materials needed to support it. Additionally, clay tiles absorb up to 15% of their weight in moisture, which adds weight stress to the supporting roof structure. 

Here's how much clay tile weighs compared to other roofing materials: 

As you can see, metal roofing panels are one of the lightest roofing materials on the market, while maintaining durability and longevity.  

See and feel the difference of DECRA Metal Roofing panels 

Stone-coated metal roofing panels combine the durability of industrial metal roofing with the aesthetics of traditional roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles and clay tiles. With stone-coated metal roofing panels, homeowners can enjoy the durability of metal roofing without sacrificing style.  

See and feel the DECRA difference by ordering a complimentary sample today. 

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

Find your local roofing contractor the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

Original article source: DECRA Metal Roofing