Across the United States, homeowners are recognizing the superiority of metal roofs. In fact, metal roofing is the fastest growing segment of the roofing industry! With tons of choices when it comes to your metal roof – from standing seam to corrugated profiles to more traditional profiles like clay and slate tile or wood shake look-alikes – it’s easy to see why metal roofs are becoming the top choice for homes and businesses. And because metal roofing comes with big cost savings on maintenance, repair or replacement, and even insurance premiums, more and more households are making the switch to the better roofing choice. Metal roofs are more than just a great financial decision – they are much more environmentally friendly than asphalt roofs. Read on to learn more about how metal roofs reduce environmental impact!
Metal roofs are energy efficient
Most metal roofs exceed EnergyStar ratings for solar reflectivity and energy savings right off the production line. Depending on your paint color and coating choices, you can even achieve a solar reflectivity rating of up to 95%! That reflective quality of metal roofs means that less heat from the sun is absorbed into your home, reducing energy use and the impact on the environment. When you compare that to asphalt roofs (which have a reflectivity rating between 5% and 25%), the cost-saving and environment-friendly choice is clear!
In addition to keeping your home cooler and reducing your energy use, metal roofs remain aesthetically pleasing much longer than asphalt roofs. Resin-based finishes and coatings for your metal roof will help it retain its color and resist chalking for years to come. So not only do metal roofs protect your home from the sun, they are protected against damage, fading, and chalking from UV rays – often for the life of your roof!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – with Metal Roofs!
Asphalt shingles invariably end up in the landfill – and stay there for 300 years or more! In fact, over 11 million tons of roofing shingles end up in a landfill every year. A number that big bears repeating: more than 22,000,000,000 – twenty two billion – pounds of asphalt roofing goes to the landfill every single year. While some say that asphalt shingles can be recycled, the truth is that asphalt shingle roofs create a staggering level of waste.
Contrast that waste with the metal roofing manufacturing process. Most metal roofs are made up almost entirely of recycled material. In fact, metal roofs can contain up to 95% recycled content – and they’re 100% recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Choosing a metal roof means that you’re keeping nearly 2.5 tons of waste out of the landfill at the end of your roof’s life cycle and you’re roofing your house with sustainable, recycled, and recyclable materials.
Metal Roofs Last Longer
The life cycle of your roof can make a big difference to your budget and the environment. Other roofing types require more maintenance over their lifetimes and are shorter-lived than metal roofs. Asphalt roofs, for example, typically last between 15 and 20 years and can require significant repair and maintenance throughout that time. Those repairs send asphalt to the landfill and can be costly. Metal roofs, on the other hand, require very little maintenance and are highly durable. That means you’ll be seeing fewer repair or maintenance bills. And because metal roofing material is 100% recyclable, you’ll be sending nothing to the landfill.
Metal roofs last, on average, 40 to 70 years. That’s a big range, but choosing premium metal roofing like copper, corten steel, zinc, or coated aluminum and protect it with Kynar or other coatings to reach the longest roof life possible. At those rates, your roof will last at least twice as long (and possibly as much as four times as long) as traditional asphalt roofing. Those cost and waste savings add up over time to make metal roofs the best choice with regards to cost and environmental impact.
Get Your Metal Roof from the Pros
At Metal Roof Pros, we are the metal roof experts! We can help you choose the best metal roofing for your home or business. We can install a metal roof that fits your budget and meets the needs of your family or business – without creating long-lasting, harmful effects on the environment. Call us today for a free inspection and quote!