Metal Roof Shingles

When installing a roof on your home you will have many materials to choose from. Metal roofing shingles are long lasting, environmentally friendly, fire retardant and low maintenance. The design and color choices for you metal roof is also extensive. Metal shingles can be made to appear like Spanish tile, wood shakes, clay tiles, slates or Victorian metal tiles.

Metal has long been popular for a roofing material. In the 1700’s popular choices for roofing were copper, zinc and lead. Today’s metal roofing shingles are mostly made of steel and aluminum. They are considered environmentally friendly as much of the material used to make the roofing comes from recycled metal. A roof that is made of metal shingles is up to 50 percent lighter than an asphalt shingle roof. Metal roofs can be so much lighter than other materials that on occasion they are installed over an existing roof, saving the need remove and landfill the old roof.

Metal roofing absorbs far less heat than asphalt shingles as well. New materials are being used to coat the shingles to reflect even more of the heat away from the house. In warmer climates this can lead to substantial savings in cooling the house. Another area for potential savings when metal roofs are installed is a reduction in your home owners insurance due to the roofs fire retardant properties. Metal roofing is also an excellent choice if the area you are living in is subject to high winds. It is also resistant to mildew, insects and rot.

The principal downside to installing a metal roof is the cost. The materials for a metal shingle roof cost significantly more than other choices, up to 3 times more. Though metal roofing will cost must more initially they also will last up to two times as long as other roofing types. Another important factor to consider is that installing a metal roof is not a task for even a talented do-it-yourselfer, only a skilled professional should attempt this job.

There are other disadvantages to consider. Some find the roofs are loud during rain or hail storms. This can be tempered with a solid backing added during installation. Metal roofing is considered maintenance free; however some find that over time the look can dull or even become dented. Metal roofs can be painted if the homeowner desires. They will need to contact a professional who will then use special paints to do so.