Metal roofs have a lot of advantages compared to tiles, asphalt shingles, or concrete roofs. We take a look at the main metal roof types you can choose for your own project, based on their properties.
Why Choose Metal for Your Roof?
Here is a list of the main benefits metal roofing has, compared to other types of roofing:
- It’s lightweight.
- Durability, especially when the roof was properly installed by a roofing contractor with experience and high-quality materials were used
- It’s fire-resistant, which is a great advantage in climates like Australia’s when there is a high incidence of wildfires.
- Energy efficiency: metal roofing is cost-effective, drastically reducing your electricity bill by reflecting sunlight and keeping your home from overheating.
- It’s quick to install.
- Comes in a huge variety of metal roof materials, styles, and colours, so you can easily match it to your home’s style.
Materials for Metal Roofing
The most common type of metal roof is steel. It’s affordable, durable, and easy to install. Its disadvantage, compared to aluminum, is that it’s heavier, but it still doesn’t compare to the bigger weight of asphalt or concrete roofing.
Often steel or aluminum roofs are treated with galvanised coating, like alloys made of aluminum and zinc for long-term durability. This is the most common type of roofing sold in the United States, Australia, the UK, and all over the world.
Aluminum is also a good choice for roofs, because of its reduced weight and resistance to corrosion. Some clients turn it down because of the huge costs of extracting and processing aluminum, but this material compensates by being 100% recyclable.
Copper roofing, stainless steel, and alloy are less common choices, because of their higher price per square foot and installation, but look and perform amazingly on high-end constructions.
Styles of Metal Roofing
- Exposed Versus Hidden Fasteners
These two differentiated styles are defined by the screws which hold the metal sheets to the building. The fixing screws are exposed or not. With hidden fasteners the screws are underneath the metal sheets, and held in place by metal clips. While this style is more pleasant to the eye than the one with exposed fasteners, it also takes more time to install.
- Mechanically Seamed Roofing Panels
Mechanically seamed roofing is most commonly installed on commercial roofing projects. Metal roofing panels are crimped and folded together to form a water-tight seam.
- Standing Seam Metal Roofs
Standing seam metal roofs are the most recognisable ones. The panels have self-sealing, interlocking edges, making them easy to install and very efficient.
- Corrugated Metal Roofing
Best fit for auxiliary constructions like barns and porches. Corrugated metal roofing is sheets that overlap, then fixed to the roof structure by screws.
- Metal Shingles
Because some homes have a certain architectural style that wouldn’t look good with normal-looking metal roofs, the market offers many options that imitate shingles. Thus giving them a classic look but not losing the efficiency of the metal roof.
If you have decided on a metal roof, contact City2Surf Roofing. We can help choose the best material, style, and colour for your home or business. Give us a call today on 1300 296 842.
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