Further Reading

The votes are in, and not only have metal roofing materials ceased to be considered as stark, industrial and boring - they've become the new architectural style-staple, while also being favored by those looking to diminish their carbon footprints, save electricity and improve the fire rating of their homes.

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.

You'll be pleased to find that, since metal roofs moved from factories to top the most desirable suburban homes, residential metal roofing materials have come a long way in terms of their design aesthetics, as well as their functionality. You'll even find metal shingles treated and colored to resemble all manner of traditional products, including clay tiles and wooden slats.

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.

The most modern, and some would say aesthetically pleasing, metal roofing material is that of standing-seam roofing panels, which are both easily installed and virtually immune to wind, ice, snow and hail damage. If you'd like to go even stronger you can find these in Galvalume, galvanized sheet steel coated in a Zinc-Aluminum alloy that possesses the most impressive corrosion resistance of any roofing material, meaning that it will last a very long time.

So what, exactly, is a standing-seam metal roof's lifespan? Well, scientists have artificially aged metal panels by subjecting them to extreme levels of corrosive gas and heat, and found that, odds are, your average metal roofing materials will last up to seventy years without any need of repair. Of course, you'll have a hard time convincing most manufacturers of that number - their warranties stretch to a 'mere' forty years.

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