Consider investing in a metal roof! Home and business owners who need to invest in roof replacement should consider metal roofing options. Metal roofing stands out due to its affordability and durability. Steel is the most common type of metal roofing material. What many people forget is that the term metal roofing describes a wide variety of the roofing options, not just a steel roof. Other materials used include copper, zinc, and aluminum, among others. If you are considering installing a metal roof in your house but not sure which type of material to go for, below are the top three metal roofing options to consider. These are steel, zinc, and copper.
Steel is one of the most common roofing materials for residential and commercial buildings. The material itself is an alloy of iron and other metals. Steel is used in virtually every aspect of construction, mostly due to its availability. Steel is the most recyclable material in the planet, and that’s why it’s easily available. Steel roofing is the most affordable option when compared to zinc and copper roofing. There are three main types of steel roofing: weathering, galvalume, and galvanized steel. The differences between the three steel roofing options are minor. You can order steel roofing from American Building Components (ABC) for $4.50 – $7.00 per square foot of roof space.
Zinc is another great option when it comes to metal roofing. It’s strong, recyclable, and highly malleable. The metal’s natural properties, for instance, its ability to be manipulated and formed into many different shapes as well as its recyclability, makes it a favorite for commercial construction projects. Zinc is 100 percent recyclable – it’s definitely a green metal. Zinc can stay strong for over 100 years owing to its patina’s ability to heal scratches over time. Also, zinc has a low melting point, which makes it a cheaper option in construction compared to steel, copper, and other roofing metals. Zinc shingles cost around $5 to $6 per square foot. You can get good deals from the American Building Components (ABC) and several other online retailers.
Copper is the oldest roofing metal out of the three. It’s a wonderful green roof option — it’s 100 percent recyclable — that can last for well over 200 years. Due to its softness, copper makes a very quiet roofing option. Noise from hail or rain is minimal. But its softness is also a downside. In hail-prone regions, a copper roof can easily be damaged in stormy weather. Large hailstones will dent the roof and ruin its aesthetic appearance. However, copper roofing performs much better than other harder roofing options in hailstone weather. If the hails are too big, the harder metal will be punctured while the copper roof will only get a dent. You can get copper roofing shingles from Home Depot from as low as $8 per square foot.