5 Ways Harrisburg Homeowners Can Save Money With a Metal Roof
Jul 07, 2019Harrisburg, PA homeowners can find many clever ways to save money on their monthly utility bills, but many overlook how much of a role the roof plays in a home’s energy efficiency. If you’re looking for ways to save money on your monthly utility costs in the Harrisburg area, an upgrade to a new metal roof could be an ideal investment that pays for itself faster than you might expect, saving you money in many different ways.
Consider the following possible ways to save money by installing a new metal roof on your Harrisburg home. With many colors, materials, and styles to choose from, you can create a beautiful exterior design with unbeatable value and many functional benefits, saving you a significant amount of money over time.
Harrisburg Homeowners Will Save in Utility Bills Each Month
Metal roofs are fantastic thermal conductors, meaning they absorb and store heat better than other types of roofing material like asphalt shingles. While this may sound like it could make a home unbearable during the summer, the opposite is true. Metal roofs help retain direct sunlight’s heat without allowing it to pass through the underlayment and into the home. During the cold weather, the metal roof warmed by the sun acts as a buffer that prevents cold air from entering the home.
The insulating qualities of a metal roof help prevent a home’s heating and cooling system from overworking. The harder these systems need to work to maintain optimal temperatures, the more likely they are to deteriorate in efficiency or break down entirely. When the heating and cooling system works properly, it uses less power to keep the home a comfortable temperature. Less energy consumption means lower monthly energy bills.
Some homeowners take metal roof installation a step further and install solar panels with their new roofs. Many power companies in the Harrisburg area will offer energy credits to homeowners with solar power if they configure their systems to channel excess solar power back into the local grid. Instead of paying a monthly electric bill, you might start seeing credit checks from the power company instead. While solar panels can attach to any type of roof, they are ideal for metal roofs that can keep them secure for longer while avoiding the most common issues with asphalt shingled roofs with solar panels like tearing, leaking, and dislodging panels.
Harrisburg Homeowners Will Enjoy Lower Insurance Premiums With a Metal Roof
Metal roofs are much safer than typical asphalt shingle roofs. Coated metals can withstand much more physical damage than shingled roofs, have much better rain and snow shedding properties, and can withstand very heavy winds much better than traditional roofing materials. Home insurance companies offer premium rates based on a policyholder’s risk.
A homeowner who owns an older home with an older roof will have a greater risk of filing a claim, so the premium rate for insuring this home would be much higher than a low-risk home with a modernized metal roof. Since a metal roof is more likely to withstand damage that would devastate a typical asphalt shingle roof, insurance companies are likely to offer more attractive premium rates for homes with metal roofs. Homeowner’s insurance is a necessity for any Harrisburg area homeowner, and they can save quite a bit of money on their monthly premium rates by upgrading to a metal roof.
Harrisburg Homeowners Won’t Have to Replace Their Metal Roof for Many Decades
The average lifespan of a typical asphalt shingle roof is 20 to 30 years, but most of these roofs require periodic maintenance to fix physical damage, missing shingles, or other issues. By comparison, a professionally installed metal roof can last for 75 to 100 years, and metal roof owners do not have nearly as many regular maintenance issues as homeowners with asphalt shingle roofs.
A storm that tears through a neighborhood may completely destroy one home’s asphalt shingle roof while leaving the neighbor’s metal roof virtually unscathed. Metal roofs can withstand tremendous punishment from the elements with minimal upkeep.
Metal Roofs Require Less Maintenance
If you have owned a home with an asphalt shingle roof, you may have encountered gutters and drains clogged with shingle granules and fragments, missing shingles laying in the lawn around your home after a storm, or discoloration or moss growth on patches of the roof. Asphalt shingles are quite durable, but they are nowhere near as damage resistant as metal roofing materials. Most homeowners in the Harrisburg area who make the switch to metal roofs find maintenance easy. Regular visual inspections, spot cleaning, and speedy removal of leaves, sticks, and other debris can keep a metal roof looking and functioning its best for many years.
Installing a Metal Roof Can Boost a Harrisburg Home’s Property Value and Buyer Appeal
Homeowners who invest in metal roofs for their homes typically plan to stay in their homes for many years to reap the savings benefits. However, unexpected things happen all the time, and some homeowners may decide to sell their homes after installing metal roofs. The investment can pay off tremendously in the form of a higher listing price and increased curb appeal.
Potential homebuyers always ask about a home’s potential maintenance needs and recent history. If a home’s roof is in disrepair or it hasn’t been replaced in 15 years or more, the buyer should expect to need to replace the roof in a few years. This can be a turnoff for many buyers, whereas a metal roof inspires buyer confidence. A slightly higher asking price might be well worth it if the buyer knows he or she will likely never need to replace the roof.
Financial Savings with a New Metal Roof in Harrisburg
Harrisburg homeowners have lots of potential to save money by investing in new metal roofs for their homes. While a metal roof installation comes at a higher initial cost than asphalt shingle roof installation, the payoff is well worth it in the long run when you consider the potential savings from lower energy bills, fewer maintenance costs, boosted property value, and lower homeowner’s insurance premiums. Metal roofs are also incredibly versatile when it comes to design. Harrisburg homeowners can not only save money, but also make their homes more beautiful, comfortable, and energy efficient with new metal roofs.