Many Sarasota area businesses have asked about the option of metal roofing for their commercial buildings. While this article is meant to answer those questions, the same pros and cons of the properties of this roofing material can also be applied to your home roofing decision.
In South Florida, the most popular residential roofing options are clay tile and shingle, while many commercial properties opt for tile, concrete or metal. If you are looking to build a new commercial building or to re-roof your current facility, metal is a strong choice.
Why is Metal Roofing a Great Choice?
- When it comes to durability and resilience, metal roofs are tough to beat. They typically last for 50-60 years or more, and many manufacturers are willing to provide a full lifetime guarantee on their metal roofing materials and products. This is important for a business facility which can house significant resource and investment below the roof.
- Metal roofing systems need less maintenance than any other roofing materials. It is very uncommon for a metal roof to require maintenance (unlike tile or shingle roofs which often lose material). Although a metal roof may cost your business twice as much to install than a simple asphalt shingle roof, the savings in the long run are worth it.
- Light colored metal roofs can also assist with your utility bills, as the material is known to reflect the sun’s strong and persistent rays.
- Metal roofing is also a greener option, as it is often made of recycled materials, and can be recycled again should you ever decide to remove the roof in the future.
Detriments of Installing a Metal Roof
We admit it, the title of this section is a bit misleading. Most of the “cons” of installing a metal roof are in actuality common objections which are largely unfounded. These include:
- Metal roofing is often thought of as being ugly and too industrial in appearance. While this might be fine for a warehouse, it doesn’t sound especially attractive for an office or apartment building. However, the metal roofing materials available today offer a wide range of colors, textures and aesthetics – meaning you can design your metal roof to be as beautiful as you wish.
- Many people remember growing up sleeping in an RV or camper, and hearing the sound of the rain on the roof. They often mistakenly think that a metal roof on their commercial building will be too loud for business purposes, but their fears are unnecessary. The solid sheathing is directly fastened to the underlayment, which minimizes noise – and is actually quieter during a severe rainstorm than its asphalt shingle counterpart.
- We get a fair share of lightening storms here in Sarasota, and some are fearful that a metal roof will attract lightning strikes. It does not (the likelihood is no greater than any other type of roof) and your metal roof will withstand other severe weather easily – such as winds up to 140 mph. Also, metal is the perfect material to keep water moving along, reducing the occurrence of leaks.
It is also important to point out that you may be able to install a metal roof over the top of your existing asphalt shingle roof. This would eliminate the need for – and the cost of – roof removal. If you need a new roof and are wondering about the possibility of of Avery Roof Services installing a metal roof over your existing roof, just give us a call for a consultation.
Avery Roof Services has been providing quality residential and commercial roofing services in the Sarasota area for decades. You can trust us for great advice, exceptional customer service and high-quality workmanship. How can we help you?
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