Why Metal Roofs Are Energy-Efficient?

The idea of metal roofs being energy-efficient sounds weird to some people.  At least at first.  The general reasoning is, when you put a ton of metal on top of your house, you’re turning it into an oven as the metal absorbs all the heat from the sun and sends it downward into the rooms.  But as any homeowner with a metal roof will tell you, this reasoning is incorrect.

The truth is, metal is at the high end of the most energy-efficient roofing materials you can buy, bringing owners savings of as much as 40 percent on air conditioning costs in the summer while providing great insulation during the winter months.

Reflectivity

Both standard and optimized metal roofs actually reflect the sun’s rays away from their surfaces.  Even the most basic, unpainted metal roof reflects more solar radiation than the typical asphalt roof, which by its very composition is a heat-retainer.

For homes in particularly hot climates, metal roofs that are granular-coated or pre-painted reflect most of the heat from the sun and return to the atmosphere the majority of what heat is absorbed.  In its most efficient application, a metal roof will discharge up to 90 percent of the heat it absorbs.

The ultimate roof for cooling

“Cool-metal roofing” is the term used for the finish that brings the most energy-saving benefits from metal roofs.  The finish uses cool paint pigments to create a highly reflective coating, which kicks up the solar reflectance and significantly lowers the temperature of the roof’s surface.  The result is immediate reduction of the need for standard air conditioning, which means less money spent on cooling.

In addition, ENERGY STAR certifications are available for many cool-metal roofing systems, and some of these systems can qualify for nice tax incentives, depending on where you live.

Speaking of solar

As more homeowners move toward solar power, metal roofs are the perfect component for that move.  Solar panels attach easily to metal roofs, in some cases not even needing to open the roofing.  Also, metal roofs last far longer than most other roofing styles, meaning solar panels, when they reach the end of their lifespan, can simply be replaced on the same roof.  When replacing an asphalt shingle roof every 10 to 15 years, off comes the roof and the working solar panels, on goes a new roof, and then the original solar panels require a complete re-install.

Quality metal roofing does cost more up front than standard asphalt shingles, but only with metal roofing will you begin realizing a return on your investment from the day you have it installed.  Add to that the fact that many home buyers are willing to pay more for a home with a sturdy metal roof, and you can see how a modern, high-efficiency metal roof is an investment that pays off now and in the future.

If you need a new roof and are thinking metal might be the best way to go, contact Advanced Aluminum of Lakeland, FL.  We provide top-line metal roofing materials to leading contractors throughout our region.  We can answer your questions and help you choose a metal roof style that best suits your requirements and budget.  Call (863) 648-5787.