Further Reading

Metal roofing materials have long been seen to be the province of stark industrial buildings looking to improve their fire ratings and energy efficiency. But the fact is, energy-efficiency is not the dull, book-balancing issue it once was. With 'green' policies becoming increasingly popular amidst growing concern about global warming and the environment, the energy-saving characteristics of having a metal roof are starting to look more and more desirable for the average person.

Furthermore, metal roofing is much more recyclable than other type of roofing materials - unlike fiberglass it can be easily melted down and reshaped. Quite aside from such social and environmental issues, metal roofs are also known for being the most durable and safe option around. Many insurance companies will actually give discounts topping 25% off your payments if you have a metal roof, given their resilience when faced with the hazards of hail, strong wind, and fire.

Residential metal roofing materials have, without question, come a long way in terms of their design aesthetics - that was something achieved by the frenetic, minimalist nineties, when steel and glass were the height of construction attempting to embody the philosophy of 'dynamic tension'. Indeed, roof paneling has been developed so as to more closely resemble cedar shakes or Tuscan clay roof tiling than the raw, exposed materials that avant garde architects prefer.

If you're keen to move into the new era of design, on the other hand, panels crafted in that raw exposed style, in copper, stainless steel and aluminum, have never been more meticulously crafted or of better quality. Galvalume is known as the strongest of all materials - galvanized sheet steel coated in a silky-sheen layer of zinc-alloy, its hardiness approaches that of Kevlar.

When Galvalume is used in the crafting of standing-seam metal roof panels, that's when you wind up with the toughest, most durable design imaginable - highly reflective and corrosion-resistant. Standing-seam roof panels have enough flexibility to endure any stresses place on them by wind, ice or strong wind, and they clip together to be just about water tight, meaning there's very little by way of elemental extremes that will challenge the strength of your roof.

How long will it last? Well, manufacturers are notoriously conservative in how they issue warranties, and the average metal roofing material manufacturer issues a forty year warranty on properly installed roofs. Scientific estimates of how long modern built metal roofs will last range more to the sixty or seventy year mark. So invest now, and look forward to a roof that will protect your home as long as you choose to live in it.

For more interesting articles on Metal Roofing Materials check out www.DurableMetalRoofs.com.