Texas gets more than its fair share of weather. It can be downright frustrating at times, as your home and belongings fade or even dilapidate with rain, snow, and hail damage. That explains why so many people in Central Texas are now making the switch to metal roofing.
If you have ever seen a production of Fiddler on the Roof you might remember Tevye the Dairyman, the lead character. He sang If I were Rich Man and imagined all the trappings of wealth including a great big house “with a real tin roof and a real wood floor below.” That real tin roof has evolved into the kind of high quality metal roof installations that Masada Roofing provides in the Austin area.
Nowadays you don’t have to be wealthy to have a metal roof on your house. But it is the smart investment to make. The perks of installing a metal roof are numerous:
Good for the Environment
For one thing, metal roofs are environmentally responsible, containing a large percentage of recycled material, and are 100% recyclable themselves. If that’s not enough, metal roofs, particularly in cool colors such as white, can significantly reduce the heat island effect that occurs around big cities.
Because we have big black or gray parking lots, roads, dark buildings, and even darker roofs, combined with far fewer grassy areas, trees, and so on, temperatures in cities are higher than in the surrounding landscape. Bright roofs reflect the heat back into space and, in their own small way, contribute to Global Cooling.
Saving Money
In practical, economic terms, a 2008 study by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory pointed out that not only do metal roofs have better insulating properties than other conventional materials, they can actually offer a 40% reduction in energy costs in the summer and up to a 15% reduction in energy costs in the cold weather. That is a huge benefit, especially for our unbearably hot Texas summers.
Structurally Sound
When properly installed, metal roofing is virtually windproof. Metal roofs can last for more than 100 years so even if they cost three times as much (they don’t), it would eliminate several replacement cycles for asphalt shingles with materials and labor. There really is no downside.
Better yet, although highly resistant to hail, if they are damaged, they are much easier and faster to replace. Asphalt shingles, because of their design, can make it very hard to spot damage from the ground. If you don’t have an inspection after a severe hailstorm, it could be months before your living room ceiling starts to sag with accumulated moisture, and by then it’s too late.
More importantly, especially for mature buildings, is that metal roofing is so much lighter than most other forms. Each “square” of asphalt shingles (10’ × 10’) weighs at least 150 lbs for 3-tab, but up to 400 lbs/square for architectural shingles. This is why most jurisdictions, and most roofers, will not allow or install more than three layers of shingles on a house—it’s simply too much weight.
Ten squares of premium architectural shingles would weigh as much as your family car. That is why they’re seldom found in more than one layer. Even the lightweight three-tab shingles would weigh 1,500 pounds, and three layers of them would outweigh your family vehicle by a quarter ton.
Since metal roofing is so much lighter, it takes a great deal of strain off of an older house. And it is a permanent solution that you only have to deal with once per lifetime!
There is nothing wrong with asphalt shingles—far from it—they last much longer now, are made from superior materials, and are better than they have ever been in history. The reason for interest in metal roofs nowadays is because they save energy, save the environment, are hail, wind, mildew, and algae resistant, they look great, and they are a once-and-done product.
If you are considering installing metal roofing on your home, contact Masada Roofing for a free estimate and consultation. We would be happy to answer any of your questions, and make the process as smooth and painless as possible. We want you to be comfortable with your decision, and most importantly, comfortable in your home with your new roof.