Metal Roofs Verified to Last More than 60 Years
A recent industry study confirms what metal roof enthusiasts have known for a long time: metal roofs hold up better and last longer than any other type of “standard” roofing material.
The study, which focused on 14 commercial buildings in five climate areas in the U.S., was sponsored by the Metal Construction Association and the Zinc Aluminum Coaters Association in conjunction with three independent consulting companies. They found that metal roofing systems easily can last for more than 60 years, which was as long as or longer than the lifespan of most of the buildings.
While the metal roofing used in the study was unpainted 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roofing, statistics have shown that all types of metal roofing systems significantly outlast asphalt tile roofing, clay tiles and other popular roofing material styles.
The study did note that metal roof fasteners and other ancillary parts of the system would possibly need replacing during the life of the metal roof, but that the costs involved would be less than one-fifth of the cost of a complete roof replacement – which would be impossible to avoid over a 60-year span with any other type of roofing material.
In fact, across 60 years, non-metal roofing systems may need total replacement two or more times, resulting in an overall higher cost than a single metal roof application.
Another consideration when comparing metal roofing with other styles is the fact that metal is 100% recyclable and can be re-used in many ways after it is done serving as a roof. Asphalt shingles, currently the most-used roofing material, head to already over-crowded landfills after they’re torn off a roof. Some industry experts estimate that as much as 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are added to American landfills every year.
60 years of metal roofing durability
It’s hard to accurately gauge the lifespan of every metal roof in every application, but some of the known numbers indicate that lifespans can significantly surpass 60 years.
When offices, apartments and/or retail stores are combined in a mixed-use environment, life expectancy of a metal roofing system jumps to 75 years. Metal roofs on individual apartment buildings average 66 years, with many college buildings’ metal roofs averaging 60 years. It’s interesting to note, however, that metal roofs that are still in place and functional after 100 years can be found on the campuses of schools such as Rutgers, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, The University of Pennsylvania and William & Mary.
These facts and figures confirm what many of us already knew: metal roofing material is the future of roofing. In addition to an extremely long lifespan, metal roofs require minimal maintenance, act as heat shields thereby lowering utility costs, and simply look great with the wide range of colors and styles available.
Advanced Aluminum of Lakeland, FL, sells the very best in metal roofing materials to leading contractors throughout our region. If you want to know more about why a new metal roof could be the smartest move you could ever make for your home, or if you need help finding a contractor, give us a call at (863) 648-5787.