The environmental benefits of steel / metal roofing:
More and more people are realizing the importance of going green. Steel and metal roofs are quickly becoming a leading choice for homeowners looking for energy-efficient roofing options. Durable, long-lasting and lightweight, steel roofs also provide environmental benefits.
Not only are steel roofs 100 percent recyclable, they are often made from recycled materials, unlike traditional roofing. Because metal roofs are so lightweight compared to other roofing materials, when a new steel roof is installed, it can be placed over the existing roof. This can provide the double advantage of insulation and eliminates the need to remove the old roof, minimizing waste taking up limited space in our landfills.
Metal roofs are included on the U.S. EPA’s Energy Star Roof Products Program because of their environmental benefits.
Metal roofing can reflect up to 70 percent of solar rays. High reflectivity allows the roof as well as the rest of the building to stay cooler. Cooler roofs translate directly to savings for homeowners. A study performed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that reflective roofs save up to 40 percent in heating and cooling energy costs.
Reducing energy consumption means less fossil fuel is required to power the heating and cooling needs of homeowners, and that fewer greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.
According to Oak Ridge National Laboratory research, “Metal roofing retains solar reflectance over time better than other roofing products because it resists the growth of organic matter and sheds dirt more readily than other roofing materials”.
It was also found that metal roofs “maintain their energy efficiency better over time than any of the other roofing systems studied.” Metal and steel roofs are some of the most durable material available, making it also one of the longest lasting. Over its life, a steel roof continues to save energy – and money – paying for itself in as little as nine years.
Steel roofing is the sustainable option. A traditional built-up roof often must be replaced every nine to seventeen years, whereas a steel roof can last 30 years or longer. The waste from other roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles or concrete, has nowhere else to go but the dump. There are millions of tons of roofing waste generated every year that ends up in the landfills, and this waste can be drastically reduced, if homeowners begin installing longer lasting cool metal roofs.
Note: Aluminum roofs can last over 100 years, as they are not subjected to rusting, which can dramatically shorten the lifespan of a steel roof. However, modern steel metal roofing uses high-grade galvanized steel (G-90 steel or Galvalume), which is much more resistant to corrosion and rust. Also the high quality Kynar 500 metal roofing paint provides additional protection for steel metal roofing panels. G-90 and Galvalume coated metal roofs can last as long as 50 years or more. Only the low grade / gauge steel roofing (26 ga) with acrylic paint are expected to last 20-30 years before they begin to rust. These panels are usually used in less expensive exposed fastener corrugated steel roofing.
Popular metal roofing styles:
Standing Seam Metal Roofing – vertical panels with concealed fasteners, made using steel, aluminum, zinc, copper and other metals. Architectural standing seam roofs offer an aesthetically pleasing look combined with lifetime roof performance, resistance to ice dams and reduced heating costs.
Metal Roofing Shingles provide lifetime roof performance combined with many styles – these can look like natural slate, cedar shakes and shingles, concrete tiles, etc. Metal shingles come in smaller form factor, and therefore can be made from thinner metal, while maintaining structural strength and rigidity of bigger standing seam panels. Thinner material allows metal shingles to be less expensive than standing seam roofing, and they are also easier to install, reducing the overall installation cost of metal roofing.
About the Author:
Cassie Webster is a blogger who contributes regularly for a variety of businesses/websites, including Capital Steel & Wire. Some additional information / comments were added to the article by LAMetalRoof.com editors.
This installation guide is based on FABRAL nailing-strip standing seam metal roof, with 1″ ribs. Before you take steps to order materials and install the roof, we recommend that you thoroughly read this article and also check out other guides linked within, such as the roof deck preparation guide and roofing panels measuring guide.
When installing a standing seam metal roof, it is recommended that all asphalt shingles be removed from the roof to prevent / avoid the “telegraphing effect” where horizontally installed shingles punch through vertical metal roofing panels, creating ugly dents which cannot be fixed / removed. Also, since most standing seam metal roofs installed are steel, the granular surface of asphalt shingles will rub against underside of metal roofing panels and will scratch through the paint and galvanizing layer, which will cause metal panels to rust. Read the roof preparation guide to learn about roof tear-off, wood repair and installing roofing underlayment.
Another important thing to keep in mind is the metal roof itself. When ordering metal roofing materials, it is important to correctly measure the length of your panels, so that you don’t end up with panels that are too short and are unusable.
In a nutshell, measure the vertical run from the eave of the roof, all the way up to the ridge line, and order your panel at least 2 inches LONGER than the length of your gable / roof run. These two extra inches will be used for drip-edge hem. Not that typical standing seam metal roofing drip edge extends 1 inch beyond the eave, and then you need to make a reverse hem to lock the panel into the eave starter. There, go your two inches. You can use this standing seam metal roof panels calculator to estimate the number of panels you will need for your roof and the length of each panel. Note, that this calculator currently works of gable roofs ONLY. If you have a hip roof, DO NOT use the numbers from that calculator to order metal roof panels for HIP roofs.
Steel or aluminum?
In my opinion, aluminum is a much better choice of metal than steel, when it comes to standing seam metal roofs. Aluminum will not rust, and is the safest option to install in coastal areas. While most architectural steel standing seam roofs are made with high quality galvanized metal (usually Galvalume or G-90 steel), there is still that chance that you may place a few deep scratches onto the panels and it will eventually rust. While aluminum is more expensive than steel, I think the price difference is well worth it. Learn more about metal roofing prices for steel and aluminum standing seam roofs, as well as other types of metal roofing materials.
Metal Roof Installation Video:
Before you begin installing a standing seam metal roof, watch the video above a few times so that you have a very clear picture of what is involved in the metal roof installation process, and if you are able to tackle this big project.
Note to homeowners and first-time installers of standing seam metal roofing
For do-it-yourself homeowners, we recommend installing standing seam metal roofs ONLY on simple gable roofs, with minimum roof penetrations. If you have chimneys, skylights, dormers and/or valleys on your roof, we recommend you leave this task to professional metal roofing contractors, as the chance to improperly install roof flashing and other details is too high, and the cost of roof repair / installation of new roof will far outweigh the savings you will get by installing a metal roof yourself.
Modern advances of coating steel sheets with a layer of zinc and aluminum, make corrugated metal roofs a viable economical alternative to conventional roofs, and premium metal roofs. Corrugated metal roofing systems available today offer high degree of corrosion resistance, energy efficiency, and economical sustainability. Many corrugated steel roofing sheets contain over 30% of recycled steel post consumer content, which qualifies it for LEED credit awarded by green building council.
There are also high quality paint finishes available for corrugated metal roofs. High quality Kynar paint finishes applied over corrugated metal roofs will make this type of metal roofing system ultra cool. Energy savings of over 30% can be attained with the use of ultra cool metal roofing systems.
Corrugated metal roofs are usually made out of G-24, or G-26, galvanized steel sheet roofing panels with exposed fasteners. Corrugated steel roofs are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, green and most importantly affordable. Made out of a relatively thin sheet metal, corrugated metal roofs costs less than metal shingles, and standing-seam metal roofs. They can be a practical alternative solution for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and sometimes residential buildings.
Corrugated metal roofs are comprised out of corrugated sheet roofing panels that are 32 to 36 inches wide. The panels are connected in a side by side overlapping fashion. To attain water-tightness, the caulk has to be used at the points of overlap in between the metal panels. Corrugated steel panels are secured in place by exposed fasteners. The disadvantage of using exposed fasteners is that the water may leak through if the fasteners become loose. To keep corrugated metal roofing watertight, the exposed fasteners have to be re-tightened every 10 years. Therefore, this is not a maintenance free roof.
The main advantage of a corrugated metal roofing system is that it is relatively cheap compared to the price of metal shingles and standing-seam roofs. You can cover a large roof area with corrugated metal roofing.
As with most metal roofs, there are premium material choices available for corrugated roofs. For instance, you can get aluminum corrugated sheet roofing panels, which will last longer than steel. There are also stainless steel corrugated panels available to you. Of course, this will cost slightly more, but the higher price may be justified by the fact that you will have a longer lasting roof.
Although, corrugated sheet roofing systems are primarily used for agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses, they can also be used for some residential homes. If you are planning to save money on the installation of a new metal roof, then consider installing a corrugated metal roofing system made out of galvalume steel, or aluminum. Be sure to select a system coated with a premium cool roof rated color finish to ensure a long lasting and reliable service of your new roof.
As a last word of advice, I would like to remind you that corrugated metal roofing systems are very competitively priced, and the cost of labor to install it will be your biggest expense. Therefore, it makes a lot of financial sense for you to pick a longer lasting corrugated metal roofing system for your home, garage, or shed. Be sure to choose galvalume steel or aluminum in favor of a less expensive galvanized steel. Also, be sure to select a system that has a premium paint finish.
