Metal roof myth-busting

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn more about four common metal roofing myths and whether they are true or not. 

In this episode of the AskARoofer Podcast, Megan Ellsworth and Lauren White investigated some of the common myths surrounding metal roofs to find out if they are a good option for homeowners. Helping with their investigation was Renee Ramey of the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), who brought along MRA’s Residential Metal Roofing Buyer’s Guide. Renee explained why this guide was created, sharing, “It was born out of a lot of discussions with homeowners that I had early on in my tenure with the MRA and the number of questions and just the amount of misinformation and unknown information out there about the roofing process in general, but specifically about metal roofing's role in that area.” With the guide in hand, Megan, Lauren and Renee dove into some of the common myths about metal roofing. 

1 – I don’t want my house to look like a barn 

Metal roofing might’ve been limited in looks decades ago, but today it can actually look like any other roofing material! The aesthetic options for homeowners are incredibly vast. Renee explained, “From an aesthetic perspective there are times even I cannot tell the difference just at a glance as to what is a shingle roof versus a metal roof or what's a tile roof, an actual metal tile roof versus a concrete tile roof.” 

2 – Rain and other storms will be loud and more dangerous 

When you think of a metal roof you might think of a shed in the backyard or a barn where it was just metal above your head. In this scenario, metal can be loud, but when it is properly installed on a roof there is insulation and layers that mean it’s not going to be any louder than other materials when it rains. As for danger, Renee shared, “People ask if lightning strikes it more often. It doesn’t and, in fact, if it does it's actually a better roof to have because it will dissipate the lightning strike over the area of the roof and not in one location.” 

3 – It will make my house uncomfortable 

Another concern for homeowners is that metal roofs will have a negative impact on the interior environment of the home, like making it hotter inside in the summer. Renee explained, “This is a myth. If you get the right metal roofing installed, we have cool colors and things that actually perform better than asphalt or other materials as far as retaining heat or emitting heat back out.” 

4 – It's too expensive 

This is one of the biggest obstacles for homeowners looking at metal roofing. And these are more expensive than traditional materials — up front. Overall, metal roofs have better longevity and durability than asphalt or other materials. Further, they require less maintenance as other options. This means that you might pay more up front, but they are more cost-effective in the long run. Renee gave an example, “In my experience, the metal roofing with 40 to 50-year warranties are the quality of product that you want to put up on your home... As for asphalt, I've spoken with a lot of homeowners who are so disappointed because they put on a lifetime asphalt roof and they're sitting at 16, 17 years and now it has to be replaced and obviously it's not covered anymore even though it said lifetime.” The cherry on top is that all of these benefits mean that houses with metal roofs often have higher property values, making a metal roof a great long-term investment.  

Read the transcript or Listen to the full episode for more about metal roofing and why it might be a good option for your home!