Kansas City
Siding Company

Whether a new roof on a new home or replacing one on an existing home, a metal roof can be a great option.

There are beautiful style choices and they are fire resistant, energy efficient and have a proven performance lifetime of 50+ years.

Residential metal roofing has quadrupled its market share over the past decade and is one of the fastest-growing segments because of their lasting value.  While other roofs quickly diminish in value as they age, metal roofs provide definite advantages.  

Consider these benefits that are unique to metal roofs:

• Concealed fasteners for beauty and weather tightness
• Unique forming methods to provide intricately designed profiles
• A wide range of colors
  Lifetime or 40-Year Transferable Limited Warranty that is non-pro-rated
  Warranty transfers with no transfer fee
• hI-R Heat Barrier Finishes
  Manufacturers with 30+ years of experience
• Product lines with 40 – 50 years of use
• Optional PVDF powder coating that allows custom colors and blends
• Made from up to 99% quality recycled aluminum
• Proven flashing designs with “no-clog” valleys
• Available factory-formed custom flashings
• Weights as low as 0.45 pounds per square foot

Metal Roofs are the most environmentally friendly roofs available.  Besides being made from quality recycled aluminum, they have a minimal carbon footprint, unlike traditional shingles.  Special resin-based finishes reflect radiant heat and cut energy costs by up to 20%.  They reduce attic temperatures by up to 34% and provide an integral “dead” airspace that blocks heat transfer. A lower cooling load can extend air conditioner life. 

The low weight allows installation over most existing roofs and eliminates the need for landfill disposal of old roofing because of its long-life.  It also minimizes transportation cost. 
Aluminum products can be repainted but will not likely need to be replaced and the low weight usually extends the building’s life.  It is also 100% recyclable if it is ever replaced.  

The benefit offered by a metal roof allows homeowners to upgrade with a product of lasting value while other roofs quickly diminish in value as they age.  The lasting benefits are proven performance of 50+ years, beautiful styles to match any home, interlocking panels for maximum wind resistance, fire resistance, energy efficiency since it keeps homes cooler and low weight which preserves structural integrity and life.

The surface finish on a metal roof provides both durability and beauty. 
There are two basic types of paint used on metal roofs. The industry leader is polyvinylidenefluoride finishes, or PVDF for short.  These coatings are known for their fade and chalk resistance and provide the most lasting finish, especially if the region has high UV exposure. Due to strict quality control by the licensors of these coatings, you can expect similar performance from all PVDF products. No current finish out-performs the PVDF coatings. 

Some metal roofing manufactures now offer products that go beyond the PVDF finish which consists of a primer followed by the top coat. These enhanced finishes have additional layers of decorative print or clear coat. They have a much longer erosion rate due to the increased thickness and could be last a100 years before repainting is necessary.
The other common finish is polyester. Several versions of polyester coatings include super, siliconized and modified. These are less costly than PVDF finishes and have performance of 10 or more years before aging.  Super-polyesters and silicon-modified polyesters continue to improve, especially in UV durability.  Though they are not anywhere equal to the performance of PVDF coatings, they are a lower cost choice.

Choosing a color is a big part of any roofing decision because it impacts a home’s beauty and style.  Color also plays a role how long a roof will stay looking like new. PVDF coatings have superior chalk and fade resistance through the use of inorganic ceramic pigments.  The top grade polyester finishes use similar pigmentation but do not have the benefit of the PVDF resin for long term durability and UV resistance.

Lighter and more “muddy” colors, such as browns and grays, perform better than bright colors. Primary colors like red, blue, and yellow are considered “saturated” because they are formulated with a high percentage of one pigment. Other colors with several pigments are less prone to a color shift.

Metal roofing is environmentally friendly but they are also energy efficient, especially when a color is selected with heat-reflective pigments. These are often Energy Star listed.   Additional energy savings come from an air gap between the metal and the roof deck. This thermal break helps stop heat transfer into the home.

Another prime benefit of metal roofing is that metal roofs are far less likely to get mildew and algae over time compared to asphalt shingles. The PVDF finish tight molecular bond provides excellent dirt resistance. While a metal roof is unlikely to show dirt or mildew as quickly dirt accumulation and even eventual biological growth is inevitable.  Most metal roofs can be cleaned by light power wash or with certain biological agents designed to kill mildew. 

Should Granular or Stone Coating be considered for a Metal roof?

These coatings are sometimes used on steel roofs and are beautiful and come at a lower price point than PVDF finishes but performance-wise, the granules wash away over time and are also prone to mildew and biological growth similar to asphalt shingles.

What are the pros of having a Metal roof?

Longevity–Metal roofs can last 40-70 years, which is much longer than asphalt roofing materials that have an average life expectancy of 20 years.

Durable–Metal roofs can sustain wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour and will not corrode or crack and are be impact-resistant (depending on the metal used). They don’t need costly regular maintenance, though they need period inspections to make sure no repairs are needed.

Safety–Metal roofs are flame resistant and won’t ignite into flames with a lightning strike or a nearby wildfire.

Energy efficient–Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat and can reduce cooling costs by 10-25%.

What are the cons of having a Metal roof?

Affordability–Metal roofs can be more expensive than other roofing materials but the lifespan is longer. The additional expense makes sense if you plan to stay in your home a very long time.

Noise–Metal roofs can be noisy during a heavy rain or hailstorm. This can be resolved by adding more insulation during installation but increases the already high price.

Installation–Metal roofing requires specially trained installers.