Deciding to have a metal roof installed for your residential, commercial or agricultural building is only the beginning. When it comes to steel roofing, there are more choices for metal roofing materials and panel styles than most people probably realize.
Once you have decided on a style (corrugated metal, standing seam, metal shingles, flat metal roof or metal tiles), you next need to consider your roofing material. The most common metal roofing materials include aluminum, copper, steel (metal), zinc and tin. Each material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages which we will discuss below.
Aluminum is the lightest weight metal roofing material on the market, but don’t let that fool you. Aluminum roofing is still very durable and lasts just as long as steel. It has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than the other materials used for roofing. This means you get the same or greater strength without having to use a heavy material. This makes installation easier and puts less weight on your house. Aluminum roofing panels are commonly used for architectural roofing rather than structural roofing.
The cost of aluminum roofing will vary depending on the difficulty of the installation, the location of the job, and the accessories required. These prices include the costs of materials and installation.
Copper roofing is well known for its eye-catching and unique appearance. Aside from its looks, copper is still very durable and is the longest lasting roofing material. A properly installed copper roof can last for over 200 years. A one-of-a-kind feature with copper roofs is that over time, the copper will change colour. It goes from looking like a new penny to a blue-green or brown patina. Copper roofing comes in many styles including copper tiles, copper shingles, copper panels and copper sheets.
Copper roofing prices have a larger range than aluminum or metal roofing prices. Because it is a premium product with a high price tag, it is not uncommon for the installer to charge a premium when bidding for a copper roof. The cost of copper roofing will vary depending on the difficulty of the installation, the location of the job, and the accessories required. These prices include the costs of materials and installation.
Zinc roofing is similar to copper. It has a beautiful appearance that will age and change colour over time. The majority of zinc roofing panels used today are pre-patinated, or have not yet developed their protective layer, which alters the appearance of the zinc. While zinc roofs are common in Europe due to their aesthetic appeal, they are not widely used in Canada due to their high cost.
Now a days, it's hard to find a zinc roofing installer who knows what they're doing. This material has some drawbacks and should be installed only by a professional who is familiar with zinc. Since there will be fewer qualified installers to choose from, installation prices will vary more than with any other type of metal roofing material. These prices include the costs of materials and installation.
When referring to metal roofing, metal and steel are interchangeable. Steel is a metal alloy composed of iron and other elements. Steel roofing has long been used on commercial buildings, but has recently become extremely popular for residential homes due to its affordability, longevity, and low maintenance. Homeowners also love that many steel roofing panels, styles and colours available. With all the options out there, it makes it easy to find the perfect match for any home.
The cost of metal roofing will vary depending on the difficulty of the installation, the location of the job, and the accessories required. These prices include the costs of materials and installation.
Tin was the first type of metal ever used as a roofing material. It was a very popular roofing material in the mid 19th century because it was lightweight, which made it easy to maneuver and install.
Over the past century, the demand for tin roofing rapidly started to decline as asphalt shingles and aluminum roofing started to rise in popularity. Tin roofing isn’t as durable as other metal roofing materials which lead to its decline in demand. Now tin roofing is no longer a commonly used roofing material. The term tin roof is now used to describe metal roofing, steel roofing and galvanized steel roofing.
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