Home shopping...Metal roofs good or bad?

[Jeff La]

Thanks, that's kinda what I figured.

I'll need a new roof on the house & garage soon, but not sure metal is in the budget....and at my age, a shingle roof would probably outlive me anyway.

If you figure you have less than 25 years on this ride than I would suggest just going shingle. Insurance would cover any storm or hail damage and you save money in the process. A young guy building new I would spend the extra on metal.

I went with the galvalume for another reason also, while we don't get hail here often, we occasionally do and you don't see the hail damage if it occurs.

[TRCM]

If you figure you have less than 25 years on this ride than I would suggest just going shingle. Insurance would cover any storm or hail damage and you save money in the process. A young guy building new I would spend the extra on metal.

I went with the galvalume for another reason also, while we don't get hail here often, we occasionally do and you don't see the hail damage if it occurs.

HA Ha....well, I will be 55 in a month or 2....so definitely no young guy.............but could/maybe/might outlive it......

[Jeff La]

HA Ha....well, I will be 55 in a month or 2....so definitely no young guy.............but could/maybe/might outlive it......

You still have time to get your money's worth

[larryhyco]

All of my garages and out buildings are metal roofs

[ridgerunner6901]

I'd think the problem with snow weight isn't the roofing material, but the ability of the joists to support it...

Nothing to do with weight, metal sheds snow much easier

[Erie eye]

I have had an exposed fastener metal roof for 8 years and am replacing it with shingles next week. Google expansion and contraction of metal roofs and how the screws work their way out. If you have one of these roofs I suggest you get up in your attic during a rain to check for leaks on a regular basis,if you can't get in the attic either get up on the roof to check for loose screws or use binoculars to check. These roofs need to be monitored for leaks on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and stick with a shingle roof.

[Deadeye1]

What is kind of funny to me is that this thing about Metal Roofs on Homes is a New Thing to many, while in actuality they have been around for many many years.

Lets start first with Metal Buildings, the kind you see all the time being used for Shops and Large Garages. They all have Metal Roofs and you very very rarely (if ever) hear of them leaking.

Then go look at home built Way Back When. Lots if not most were bult with Metal Roofs, especially in the south. Some of those buildings are just about ready to fall down and yet the Metal Roof is still there, rusted but still there.

My next roof will be a Metal One no doubt about it. My research has showed me that the best way to do them is right over the existing shingles. Build a section of inch boards 2 ft apart and it gives Ventilation that helps to keep the house even cooler. Metal is the way to go!

[Bkt1]

I have done it both ways. I like them both. Really like the standing seam metal but i could not afford it. Went thicker 26 gauge standard. I have shingles on the house i live in now. To be honest i like shingles better. Some houses look great with metal, some dont. There was about 1500 dollars difference with metal being higher when i done it. Certain colors will fade and get chalky over time. Shingles will streak..

[Axkiker]

Then go look at home built Way Back When. Lots if not most were bult with Metal Roofs, especially in the south. Some of those buildings are just about ready to fall down and yet the Metal Roof is still there, rusted but still there.

That's a good point. I remember my grand parents house having a metal roof and that house was OLD. It the old school style metal roof not the new fancy colored stuff you see today. Cant remember it ever having issues.

[spinningreel]

I have had an exposed fastener metal roof for 8 years and am replacing it with shingles next week. Google expansion and contraction of metal roofs and how the screws work their way out. If you have one of these roofs I suggest you get up in your attic during a rain to check for leaks on a regular basis,if you can't get in the attic either get up on the roof to check for loose screws or use binoculars to check. These roofs need to be monitored for leaks on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and stick with a shingle roof.

I would have to believe your issues with leaking at the screws would be more of an installation issue. When done correctly, an exposed fastener metal roof will not leak, not immediately, not after 5, 10 or 20+ years.

My guess is the installer either didn't tighten the screw fastener down enough to make the silicone washer seal, or they tightened it down too much to the point where the washer mushroomed out.

[Jeff La]

I have had an exposed fastener metal roof for 8 years and am replacing it with shingles next week. Google expansion and contraction of metal roofs and how the screws work their way out. If you have one of these roofs I suggest you get up in your attic during a rain to check for leaks on a regular basis,if you can't get in the attic either get up on the roof to check for loose screws or use binoculars to check. These roofs need to be monitored for leaks on a regular basis. Do yourself a favor and stick with a shingle roof.

Just out of curiosity what screws were used when they installed your roof?

Also to note is the screws need to be placed squarely to the sheet metal for a full seal. Not taking the time to correctly do this will develop leakage.

[Jeff La]

These are the bad one's, which many installers use https://www.walmart.com/ip/Metal-ROO...partner=wmtlab

These are the correct one's to use http://www.affordablesupplyco.com/14...ag_p_1075.html

[Erie eye]

The right screws were used on my steel roof, they were bought at the dealer that sells the steel and they were squarely installed. The front of my house gets direct afternoon sun and the expansion and contraction of the steel roofing caused the screws on the top 2 rows ( 2 foot and 4 foot from the peak ) to back out. I have even had the 1/12 inch screws on the ridge cap back out. I don't mean they just get loose some of the screws have backed out 3/4 of an inch. It's a manageable problem if your roof is not too steep of a pitch but it gets to be a pain in the ----. If you do some due diligence on exposed fastener steel roofs you will find what I am talking about is a fairly common problem. Other than that I like the steel roof but I am just tired of babysitting it so I am going back to shingles

[Nova Kaw 650]

I have to do my roof in the next year or two.
I'm going with metal; I'm sick of getting 15 years out of 35 year rated shingles.

[okhawg]

The right screws were used on my steel roof, they were bought at the dealer that sells the steel and they were squarely installed. The front of my house gets direct afternoon sun and the expansion and contraction of the steel roofing caused the screws on the top 2 rows ( 2 foot and 4 foot from the peak ) to back out. I have even had the 1/12 inch screws on the ridge cap back out. I don't mean they just get loose some of the screws have backed out 3/4 of an inch. It's a manageable problem if your roof is not too steep of a pitch but it gets to be a pain in the ----. If you do some due diligence on exposed fastener steel roofs you will find what I am talking about is a fairly common problem. Other than that I like the steel roof but I am just tired of babysitting it so I am going back to shingles

I haven’t noticed this in Oklahoma. I built a shed, with regular (not zac) screws and no leaks or backouts after 15 yrs. We have a barn now, that is at least 12 yrs old and no issues.

[CigarBasser]

We put an Advantage-Lok standing seam roof system in several years ago.. it’s a very tight roof with clean lines. One tip, have new gutters put on then too.. I highly recommend the upgrade if it’s within your budget..

[WisconsinF]

My summer job back in the day was putting up Menard pole buildings. We used lead sealed shanked nails. I still drive past many of the sheds Iworked on and the metal roofs look great!

[Hart]

Well my two cents I’m a remodeling contractor I i steer clear of it .. don’t care what anyone says the neoprene washers do go bad . And other thing I’ve seen in several barn metal roofs is the exposed ends at the bottom start to rust and nothing you can really do about it , u paint it but it’s rusted on the bottom also so it’s a loosing battle . And FYI the exposed screw metal is and originally just made for a cheap way to build a barn , it’s actually a siding material they use for the roof . If you truly want metal get standing seam I have no qualms with that or just good ol shingles..

[Walkabout7781]

Many years ago I was shopping for a roof and inquired about aluminum faux-tile roof. I think it was about 3 or 4 times the cost of a 3-tab shingle roof. Lost interest real quickly.

[Hunna]

Today a lot of people are going with metal roofs but the cost is a lot more.