The ongoing downturn in the housing market has homeowners looking for ways to protect the value they do have in their homes. Many homeowners have decided that they are going to stay in the home they have for the long-term, and as such they want to protect the investment they have and eventually start to grow the value again as the market does turn around.
One area of frustration for homeowners in recent years has been roofing; as oil prices jumped in the early 1980s and again in 2001, asphalt shingle makers responded by greatly reducing the petroleum content in their shingles and replacing it with limestone filler. The result is shingles that are brittle, curled, cracked, and streaked with black algae, and failing much sooner.
To overcome the constant cycle of roofing repairs and replacement, many homeowners are investigating metal roofing as a permanent replacement. At first glance, some shy away from metal roofing because they fear the only options are vertical panels that will look too agricultural or too commercial on an average home. But those who investigate a little deeper find that metal roofing can be both permanent AND beautiful.
Beyond just vertical panels, metal roofing is available in a variety of stamped profiles including shingles, wood shakes, tile, slate, and other designs. These stamped profiles offer many choices in the texture, shadow lines and architectural interest that can be added to any home. Most manufacturers offer a wide variety of color choices, so just about any style or color scheme of home can find a good fit in metal roofing.
Of special concern are homeowners who live in neighborhoods with strict architectural covenants or even historic districts where rules govern the types of roofing that can be used. Many Homeowners’ Associations have rules barring the use of metal roofing, written under the assumption that only vertical-panel metal roofs exist. When these organizations find and see the many styles and textures of stamped metal profiles available, they are willing to grant exceptions or re-write the rules to allow for these types of metal roofs.
Of course in addition to the beauty, a metal roof needs to live up to the durability that is expected of metal, and most excel in this area. Depending on the base metal used, finish and fastening system, stamped metal profiles can be just as durable and wind-resistant as their simpler forerunners—sometimes even more so. The most durable systems will employ interlocking designs, hidden fasteners and finishes with very long-term warranties on both adhesion and fade. It’s not unreasonable to expect some metal roofs to last 50 years or more before they may even need any major maintenance.
The up-front cost of a metal roofing system will be higher than asphalt shingles, even 3 to 5 times higher in some cases (depending on the metal used; copper, for example, will be the most expensive choice). But homeowners who view the roof as a long-term investment will see the higher up-front cost paid back in lower lifecycle costs with no need for replacement, less maintenance, and even energy savings over hot asphalt shingles.
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