There’s no doubt that you’ve heard of metal roofs and all their wonderful benefits. Like all other roofing materials, metal roofs are available in a variety of colors and styles. You have metal shingles, metal shakes, metal slates, and more. Each metal roofing type seeks to emulate a certain material without succumbing to any of its weaknesses. For example, a metal shake roof is designed to look and feel like wood, while remaining impervious to rot, curb, and mildew. Let’s get started and familiarize ourselves with some of the most common and efficient types of metal roofs and what they can do for your home.

Metal Shingle vs. Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are definitely a roofing material with a history, and perhaps one of the most common roofs you’ll see around the neighborhood. It’s very likely your next door neighbor has an asphalt shingle roof. But when you compare asphalt shingles with metal shingles, the differences can become staggering. While metal shingles share similar designs as asphalt shingles, they often last longer, can withstand more pressure and are easily customizable. Unlike asphalt shingles, metal shingles do not decay, rot, crack, chip, or discolor. They are energy efficient and will reflect incoming solar heat to give your AC a generous break.

Will the Real Metal Roof Please Stand Up?

Metal roofs are extremely versatile because they have been thoughtfully engineered to meet various needs. A Standing Seam Metal roof is an extremely popular roofing choice that can complement your low-pitch roof. Whereas shingles can loosen, hinder water runoff, and suffer damage over time, standing seam metal roofs are equipped with vertical panels to easily redirect water and other natural debris away from your roof and foundation. As a result, standing seam metal roofing has become a popular choice for both residential and commercial buildings.

Historic Metal Roofing

Buying the right roof is important for contemporary homes, but even more so for historic homes. Historic homes are any building that meets the age and historical significance requirement. Because historic homes are important in preserving the American heritage, keeping them in great conditions is of utmost importance.

However, finding the right type of roof for historic homes can be difficult. The ideal roofing material needs to be one that can professionally imitate the style and aesthetics of the original roof, while demonstrating exceptional durability to preserve the integrity of the structure. Because metal roofs are impervious to severe climate conditions, they can last beyond 50 years with minimal upkeep. Additionally, metal’s malleable and non-combustible features also enable it to be bent and intelligently engineered to emulate the texture and design of a historic roof. Some historic buildings that have been restored using metal roofing include the Tweed Courthouse in New York City, The Massachusetts State House, and other notable buildings across both Europe and America.

Witty Styles for Contemporary Roofing

Metal roofs can be used not only for historic homes, but also contemporary homes. Metal can be adjusted to create a curved roofing style that can dramatically enhance the curb appeal of commercial and residential buildings such as homes, warehouses, libraries, music halls, and so forth. If you are a homeowner who wants to be exceptionally witty, you can always talk to your local roofing contractor to see how to integrate curved metal roofing or any other roofing style into your architectural design.