Dayton Homeowners: 7 Myths About Metal Roofs

Many Dayton, Ohio homeowners want to find ways to improve their homes, but, unfortunately, misinformation often deters Dayton homeowners from investigating metal roofs. If you own a home in the Dayton area, read the following common myths surrounding metal roofs and the real facts behind them so you can better understand the incredible value of upgrading to a new metal roof.

“Metal Roofs Are Not Aesthetically Pleasing”

Some homeowners may prefer the traditional look of asphalt shingles or rustic cedar shake tiles, but you can replicate these designs and much more with a metal roof. Standing seam metal roofs with vertical seams have a somewhat industrial, modern look that may not appeal to every homeowner. However, metal roofs are available in many different materials, colors, and textures. Stone-coated metal roof tiles can create the appearance of traditional shingles with much greater durability, reliability, and longevity.

An experienced metal roof installer can help you determine the best roof panel style, color, and texture for your home. Metal roofs can also mimic the appearance of some of the most popular roofing styles in the Dayton area with stone coated wood shake style metal tiles or dimensional shingles. The possibilities for customization are endless.

“Metal Roofs Are Loud”

It’s natural to assume a metal roof would be louder during heavy storms, but most homeowners are pleased to discover that a metal roof is no noisier than a standard asphalt shingle roof during severe weather. When people assume that metal roofs are noisy, they generally imagine grossly outdated sheet metal roofs over barns and tool sheds.

Modern metal roofs feature very durable sheathing between the metal panels of the roof surface and the home’s roofing structure. This effectively creates a noise barrier from rain, hail, and other heavy storms, often providing better noise reduction than typical asphalt shingle roofs.

“Metal Roofs Attract Lightning”

Many Americans know that most metals conduct electricity very well, and large metal objects are attractive targets for lightning strikes. Contrary to popular belief, a metal roof will not attract more lightning strikes to your home. In reality, a metal roof can actually make a direct lightning strike less dangerous by dispersing the electrical discharge through the surface of the roof without combusting. Concrete or asphalt shingle roofs may catch fire while a metal roof will not. Thanks to the added safety a metal roof provides to a home, some Dayton homeowners who upgrade to metal roofs can also save money on their homeowner’s insurance premiums.

“Metal Roofs Will Become Severely Damaged in an Ohio Hailstorm”

The Dayton area can see severe hailstorms throughout the year, and many people mistakenly believe that hailstones will damage a metal roof similar to how they can leave pockmarks on vinyl siding or even car body panels. The truth is that metal roofs withstand physical impacts from hail much better than any other type of roofing material. Modern metal roofing materials must undergo extensive durability and impact resistance testing. They can withstand severe punishment and, unlike other roofing materials, will not lose their impact resistance over time.

“Metal Roofs Aren’t Energy Efficient”

Some people mistakenly believe metal roofs absorb heat more than other roofing materials, so they make a home less energy efficient by altering the temperature. This is not true; a metal roof is a fantastic addition for any homeowner looking to make his or her property more energy efficient. Metal roofs are excellent thermal conductors and the sheathing beneath prevents external heat from affecting the interior temperature. They also have high solar reflectivity, bouncing a lot of direct sunlight away from a home. During colder weather, the insulating properties of a metal roof create a buffer to prevent cold air from entering the home’s interior.

“Metal Roofs Are Too Expensive”

While it’s true that a metal roof will cost more to install initially than a typical asphalt shingle roof, the long-term savings more than make up the difference. Metal roofs require far less routine maintenance and can last three to four times longer than an asphalt shingle roof. You may spend one third of the price on an asphalt shingle roof, but you would likely need to replace that roof three times during one lifespan of a metal roof.

Metal roofs also pay for themselves in other surprising ways, too. Thanks to the metal roof’s energy efficiency, the home’s heating and cooling system doesn’t need to work as hard, resulting in lower monthly utility bills. A metal roof also increases the safety of a home, potentially qualifying the homeowner for a premium rate discount on homeowner’s insurance.

“Metal Roofs Will Rust”

Metal roofs are incredibly durable and feature advanced construction to prevent rusting, corrosion, fading, and discoloration. Modern metal roofing materials will not rust or corrode as long as nothing scratches through the top coating. If this happens, repairing the scratch before it leads to corrosion is a relatively simple job. Some roofing materials may rust if they suffer significant damage to the coating, but this is a relatively simple fix: use a gentle cleaner to scrub away the rust and rinse the area with clean water. Apply metal primer to the exposed area and then sealant to protect it from further damage. Contact your roofing contractor and arrange for a repaint job and refinishing if necessary.

Discover the Truth About Metal Roofs for Your Dayton Home

Metal roofs are more durable, reliable, and weather-resistant than typical asphalt shingle roofs. They can withstand more punishment for longer and do not lose their impact resistance over time. They offer homeowners in the Dayton area tremendous value with increased energy efficiency and very low maintenance requirements.

Metal roofs offer substantial advantages over typical asphalt shingle roofs and other traditional roofing materials. Many of the myths circulating about metal roofs have little to no substance behind them, and all the apparent drawbacks of metal roofs are easily offset by the tremendous long-term value they offer. If your Dayton home needs a new roof, a new metal roof can be a fantastic investment that offers significant savings and practical benefits with peace of mind that an asphalt shingle roof can’t match.