Metal Roofing and Your Cell Signal

Metal roofing comes with a lot of benefits. Home and business owners love their improved energy efficiency, low maintenance, and durability. However, reflective surfaces can cause any potential cell signal disruptions in the area to get worse. Problems will arise with cell phone reception when a metal roof amplifies disruptions from nearby utility towers. It’s almost as if an accidental shield is created. The result can be a diminished cell signal and weakened radio frequency. Most people don’t notice an effect, but for those that do, there are choices available.

Blocked Radio Frequency Signals

If you currently have a weak or unreliable signal, a metal roof can make the problem worse. If there is already existing interference from nearby towers or airports, the problem may become worse with a metal roof. It is also possible that if you are located far away from cell towers, signal strength can decrease due to the metal roof. These instances are very rare, and unless your current cell phone is terrible, it should not dissuade you from installing a metal roof.

Other Roofing Materials that Interfere

If your cell signal is already weak, there are other roofing materials that can also cause interference. Thick wood and sometimes roofing shingles can make a poor signal worse. The best place for cell phone reception is always outdoors, but it’s simply not feasible to use your phone only outside. Your best bet to fix this issue is to fix your cell signal, first, without worrying about why the interference is occurring.

Options

There are two main options to improve the cell signal in your home. The first option is installing a repeater system. These systems come with an antenna, signal amplifier, and broadcaster. The antenna will be placed outside to receive the best signal, then amplified into your home for a strong frequency. The second option to improve the signal is with the purchase of a cell phone signal booster. This system must be plugged into your phone. If you don’t plug your phone into a booster port, the signal will still be weak. Both options are fairly inexpensive and will save a lot of time and frustration on your part.

It’s Not Always the Fault of a Metal Roof

It’s important to remember that a weak cell signal is not always caused or worsened by a metal roof. Many factors typically contribute to the problem. If you are seriously considering a metal roof, don’t let a weak cell signal scare you off. Problems with phones and metal roofs are very rare.