The popularity of metal roofing products has increased dramatically over the past few years, a clear sign that homeowners and building contractors are becoming more aware of the benefits of quality roofing materials, in fact a whole new genre of metal roofing materials has hit the market after hurricane Ivan & Emily’s unwelcome visits devastated the country’s housing stock and took with them almost 90% of the roof covering that sheltered the nation’s homes back in 2004/5.

This whole new attitude in roofing material is a far cry from the zinc corrugated galvanized sheet that leaps to mind at the mention of metal.
The word “metal” covers a lot of grounds, several types of metal are used for roofing materials, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc alloys and copper, each metal consists of different properties that affects their durability, appearance and price. Quality metal roofing are the high-tech answers for the need for durable roof covering.

Some sheet-style materials, notably “standing seam” have a decidedly contemporary appearance that is favoured by architects, engineers and homeowners alike. They are normally manufactured in 24-26 gauges for strength & durability, wind resistance and noncombustible materials that compliment most architectural designs.
The two main systems are named after the method of joining panels together: “Standing-seam” has a self-sealing, raised seam, and “Bermuda panels” employs a wider cover. Special matching metal parts are made for ridges, hips, edges and connections.
Good quality metal roofs are preferred for their speed and ease of installation, fire-resistance, and expected longevity; they are also surprisingly lightweight and are great at reflecting heat from the sun minimizing midday heat gain, though the material itself is low in insulation (R-value), many systems utilize a dead-air space between the metal and roof deck to increase energy efficiency and can be installed on gently pitched roofs without danger of leaking. Minimum roof pitch is 3-in-12 (the roof rises 3 inches for each horizontal foot).
The steel used for roofing material is heavier and sturdier than aluminum. Manufacturers have settled on a number of durable coatings and finishes that protect the steel from corrosion, usually zinc-coated and then sealed with a coating of epoxy primer offers adhesion, a baked-on acrylic top coating adds colour and lasting protection.

Designed for residential and commercial applications metal sheet systems are generally given highly durable paint finishes. Stainless steel, an expensive roofing material won’t rust or corrode. Aluminum extremely lightweight is used in many residential buildings, it won’t rust but it must be painted or coated for appearance, coatings are similar to those used on steel.
Copper rooted in centuries of use is rustproof, has no “finish” to scratch or peel and is soft enough to easily tool, weathers naturally to a beautiful verdigris patina. Alloys are formulated for strength, graceful weathering, and durability.

The benefits out weigh conventional roofing materials on a number of counts; properly installed by a roofing contractor, a metal roof should last as long as the building, completely sealing out water and surviving high winds and heavy rainfalls. Because metal roofs are noncombustible they’re given a class A fire rating (the most resistant), part of a roof’s classification depends on the materials beneath the surface that could ignite in intense heat therefore some metal roofs applied over an old combustible roofing material such as wood shingles may be rated lower. Warranties vary but most roofing companies strongly back their products for 20 to 50 years, sheet metal roofing materials are typically priced by the square foot. Prices vary widely depending on the quality and finishes, cost typically includes panels, fastening clips, caps, trims and flashing, if you ask for overall square-foot prices be sure they’re inclusive of all necessary parts.