Metal Roofs FAQ

A metal roof is a roofing system made from interlinking metal pieces or tiles. Metal roofs provide homes added protection during extreme weather events and are tremendously durable year-round in all climates.

Metal roofs have become known as an attractive solution that help reduce the carbon footprint of homeowners thanks to the recycled material present in the construct and the energy efficiency that ensues after installation leading to cost savings for homeowners over the long run.

Metal roofs have a lifespan that tends to last 2-3 times longer than conventional roofs.

Attractive, versatile and available in a variety of designs, textures and colours, metal roofs have been proven to complement any style architecture.  Metal roofing is available in traditional, vertical seam profiles, or may be manufactured to resemble wood shake, slate, shingles or clay tiles.

Metal roofs are extremely durable, able to withstand a wide array of potential hazards:

• Resistant to cracking, shrinking and eroding
• Able to withstand all variety of climate and weather conditions, including winds of up to 110 mph, heavy snow, hail and wildfires

Metal roofs have a lifespan of anywhere from 40 to 60 years or more giving them a lower lifecycle cost in comparison to conventional roofing.  And they can be installed directly over most roofs thereby reducing the amount of roofing material waste disposed of in landfills, which is estimated around 20 billion pounds each year.

Made from 30-60% recycled materials, metal roofing is considered energy efficient & eco-friendly and may save homeowners anywhere up to 40% annually in energy costs, depending on geographic location.  Should you reside in a warmer region, many metal roofs utilize reflective pigment technology which serves to deflect heat keeping the residence cool and lowering energy consumption during the summer months.

A metal roof may potentially increase the overall value of a home, in some cases up to $1.45 per square foot, and insurance companies are known to grant discounts of up to 35% to homeowners with metal roofs.

Metal roofs are virtually maintenance free and long lasting.

Residential metal roofs have long-term warranties of up to 50 years.

Roofing material made from stainless steel, zinc or copper rarely require maintenance over their lifetime.  Any required maintenance is generally due to errors in design or installation.

When installed correctly, these materials should be considered lifetime products and have been used across North America for more than half a century.

A metal roofing grade of AG or Utility will require a recoating once the factory finish wears off or else corrosion will occur. Acrylic or polyester based paint is often used; however, it is preferable to apply a roof coating.

Roof coating, a monolithic roofing membrane, has elastic properties that allow it to stretch and return to original form without damage.  This is vital in withstanding the thermal cycle that occurs in metal roofs, particularly those that must withstand Canadian climates.

The roof coating becomes the topmost layer of protection for your roof absorbing all impact of infrared and ultraviolet sunlight, precipitation and any physical damage that may occur.  Your roof remains intact and leak-free.

Metal roofs are virtually maintenance free and long lasting.

Residential metal roofs have long-term warranties of up to 50 years.

Roofing material made from stainless steel, zinc or copper rarely require maintenance over their lifetime.  Any required maintenance is generally due to errors in design or installation.

When installed correctly, these materials should be considered lifetime products and have been used across North America for more than half a century.

A metal roofing grade of AG or Utility will require a recoating once the factory finish wears off or else corrosion will occur. Acrylic or polyester based paint is often used; however, it is preferable to apply a roof coating.

Roof coating, a monolithic roofing membrane, has elastic properties that allow it to stretch and return to original form without damage.  This is vital in withstanding the thermal cycle that occurs in metal roofs, particularly those that must withstand Canadian climates.

The roof coating becomes the topmost layer of protection for your roof absorbing all impact of infrared and ultraviolet sunlight, precipitation and any physical damage that may occur.  Your roof remains intact and leak-free.

As metal roofing is considered a premium home product, you can expect installation of a new metal roof to cost approximately 2-3 times that of an asphalt roof. Metal roofing however, is comparable in price to tile or cedar shake roofing. If you currently have a slate roof, you can expect your metal roof to cost less. Though more expensive at the onset, the advantage of metal roofing is the long-lasting durability backed by Rare Manufacturing’s 50 year warranty. Your new metal roof will add resale value to your home, cut down your energy bills and provide you the peace of mind knowing chances are low you’ll have to re-roof again.

You can expect a metal roof to last at least 2 to 3 times longer than most conventional roofing. A metal roof can last 40 to 60 years or more.

The average lifespan of an asphalt roof is 12 to 20 years. This lifespan can be cut short depending on the pitch of your roof and climate. An asphalt roof begins to deteriorate as soon as it is exposed to normal weather as it’s made of oil impregnated paper or fiberglass. A metal roof is impervious to decomposition.

Other roofing materials such as wood shingle, shake or tile experience varying degrees of weather-related breakdown. Wood shingle often requires replacement before 20 years and concrete roofing tiles may crack and warp during the freeze/thaw cycles of northern climates.

Metal roofing well outlasts all of the above roofing material. Metal roofs retain their attractiveness and effortlessly endure decade after decade.

Metal roofing is designed to withstand decades of abuse from extreme weather to fluctuating temperatures.

Metal roofs have a wind rating that allows them to withstand wind gusts of up to 140 mph. Thanks to the interlocking panel design and the high quality materials used, metal roofs have wind and uplift resistance that is above and beyond new building code requirement.

Metal roofs have been the premium choice for homeowners living in locations that experience heavy snow. The roof sheds snow quickly, protecting the structural integrity of the roof, and it eliminated ice damming

In locations that see heavy snow, metal roofing has been the choice of homeowners for years. It sheds snow fast, which protects the structural integrity of the roof. And it can eliminate ice damming at the in the eavestroughs ensuring water does not collect under the roof and leak into your home.

Metal roofing also protects homes in areas prone to wildfires, withstanding burning embers that may land on your roof.

Not only is metal roofing fantastic for your home, it’s great for the environment.

The minimum requirement of recycled steel that must be present within metal roofing is 28%, though most roofs are comprised of 30-60% recycled materials.

The National Association of Homebuilders Research Center has recorded approximately 20 billion pounds of roofing waste (primarily asphalt shingling) is dumped to sit in U.S. landfills every year.

If you loaded the amount of roofing waste disposed each year into tractor trailers lined up end-to-end, the line would stretch from New York City to Los Angeles and back again, then to Chicago.

That’s an immense amount of wasted material.

As metal roofs can be installed over most existing roofs, disposal of material waste is significantly reduced, and you avoid costly tear-off expenses.

Metal roofs are also known to increase overall home energy efficiency up to 40% annually.  That’s great for the environment and your wallet.

When installed properly, metal roofing is no louder than conventional roofing such as asphalt shingles and is, in fact, very often quieter.

Metal roofs “float” above the roofing desk creating a sealed air space between the metal roof and the roofing desk. This extra space acts as a sound barrier.

The underlay coating also provides additional noise reduction properties.

The likelihood of lightning striking your home is not increased when your home has a metal roof. In fact, if lightning were to hit your residence, a metal roof would disperse the energy safely throughout the structure and discharging it into the ground

Because metal roofing is non-flammable or combustible, the odds of a fire igniting from a lightning strike or similar event are reduced significantly.

Metal roofing is considered low-risk roofing option for areas with severe weather conditions including lightning.

Many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating granted by the insurance commissions in the hail belt regions of the U.S.

Metal roofs are highly resistant to hail damage, much more so than asphalt or fiberglass shingles.

Because of the durability and resistant of metal roofing, some insurance companies offer reduced rates for housing with metal roofs.

You may walk safely on any metal roof without concern for damage. However, we do recommend you speak with us before you do so.

Our experts will provide you the details of how to safely manoeuver around your roof based on its style and pitch.

Metal roofs are able to quickly shed snow and ice accumulation.

If you reside in a climate in which snow accumulates in high volume, snow may slide off the roof in large proportions. The good news is we now install snow guards with our metal roofs that break up the snow and ice protect your home from snowfall and potential minor damages that may result from cold weather precipitation.

We take special care to ease the worries of all clients who have concerns in this area.