It’s easy to remember the shovels, the walkway salt, and a few pairs of extra-warm mittens when prepping ahead for winter’s wrath. However, there’s one aspect of your home you really need to be aware of before the cold winds blow: your roof. Having a weak or poorly made roof can cause you loads of problems, from cave-ins and leaks to astronomical heating bills. However, installing a metal roof can save you from these winter woes, and actually save you big bucks all year long. Below, we’ve listed the top 3 ways a metal roof can help your house from a whole host of issues.

1) Tough in Severe Weather

Simply put, metal roofs can handle the most severe weather with ease. The slick surface allows snow to slide off, and getting a roof in a dark color can help any remaining piles melt away. The roofing panels also interlock in such a way that they are impervious to leaks and breaches, and they won’t lift up and fly away during high winds. Another bonus? Metal roofs won’t ignite, so you won’t have to worry about summer lightning strikes either.

2) Energy-Efficient

Metal roofs are better at retaining heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, as it has better thermal emittance and solar reflectivity than wood or asphalt shingles. So, what does that mean? Your home will stay at a more stable temperature and you won’t have to fiddle with the thermostat as much — or pay as much for your energy bills each month.

3) Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly

Although metal roofs are generally more expensive than wood or asphalt shingles, you truly get what you pay for. Metal doesn’t rust, corrode, warp, or degrade over time, which wood and asphalt shingles are prone to do. The lifespan of a metal roof is also 50 years or more and needs little to no maintenance, whereas traditional shingles will only last about 15 years and requires costly intermittent maintenance throughout its lifespan. Finally, metal roofs are made from recycled material and can be reused again after their lifespan is up, whereas wood and asphalt ends up in landfills — not good for mother nature. So, while the initial investment may be high, the money you save on your energy bills and maintenance more than pays for the metal roof over time.

Although wood and asphalt shingles still rein supreme over most homes, more and more people are choosing to switch to metal roofs for the myriad benefits they provide. This conversion can be particularly important if you experience rough winters in your area — a metal roof can literally be a lifesaver (and money saver!) for its extreme durability during even the most severe weather.