Examining the Advantages and Disadvantages of Steel and Aluminum Metal Roofing

Finding a roof material often boils down to one simple question: Where is your home located?

Metal roofs offer many advantages over asphalt shingles, tile and wood shake roofs. Their construction makes them more robust, withstanding strong winds, wind-driven rain, extreme temperatures, fire, mildew and termites with ease. When properly fitted by an experienced company such as LondonEcometal.com/ you should expect it to outlive your home life span! For an excellent installation service visit Londonecometal.com/ for further assistance.

Compare thick aluminum pans with steel or cast iron pans of comparable thickness and you will quickly understand why aluminum wins out: thin steel pans lack heat conduction, leading to hot spots. Furthermore, aluminum roofs weigh one-third less and corrosion less quickly.

Screws/nails should be stainless or aluminum to reduce galvanic corrosion of aluminum when different metals come into contact or near each other. In addition, quality metal roofs have multiple layers of coatings which act to keep steel roofs corrosion-free for as long as damage or cuts remain unfilled.

Here are a few qualities homeowners should keep in mind when shopping for steel and aluminum roofs.

What You Need to Know about Steel Roofs
Steel roofs are resilient, safe and environmentally-friendly due to their 100% recyclable nature. Although steel roofing panels were once common only in older European structures, their use is growing increasingly popular here in North America.

Many steel roofing materials come with 40-50 year “lifetime” warranties and often outlive this period. When making your decision on steel roofs, keep the following factors in mind.

Durability/Gauge – The lower the number is, the stronger and more durable the metal will be. Roof panels range in thickness from 22 gauge (the thickest) to 29 gauge (thinnest), while solar reflectivity improves energy efficiency by letting less heat enter a home.
Aesthetics – Steel roofs offer aesthetic and heat conduction benefits, with Galvalume (also known as Mill Coating) coating providing additional UV radiation protection. In terms of heat conduction, Galvalume coating provides extra UV radiation protection. Aside from aesthetic and heat conduction benefits, steel roofs also come with additional advantages that include:

Value – While initial installation costs for steel roofing may be higher than other options, its durability outweighs initial costs in terms of lasting energy savings and aesthetic customization options. With steel’s ability to reflect heat away from homes it reduces energy expenses significantly while also creating savings by reflecting radiant heat away. Steel can even be made to appear like wood tiles, slate roofs or shingles!
Steel roofs are lightweight and can be constructed quickly, even over an existing roof. Plus, steel’s impenetrability to algae and fungus means it may reduce lifespan of asphalt or wood shingles significantly.
Steel roofing materials provide animal-proof protection, making it inhospitable to termites, as well as species like rats or raccoons that seek refuge under roofs such as raccoons and rats. But these roofs can be costly, and eventually can rust if exposed to moisture over time.
Steel Roofs Receive Class-A Rating on Houzz
Although steel does well with seawater environments, its performance suffers in marine conditions. Moisture from ocean currents oxidizes iron components over time to form ferric oxide commonly referred to as rust. Manufacturers attempt to combat this rust problem by coating roofing panels with zinc or Galvalume (an aluminum-zinc alloy) coatings in order to create a protective barrier and minimize further corrosion damage.

Aluminum roof fundamentals Like steel, aluminum is widely recognized for its long lifespan, ease of installation, energy efficiency and resistance to fire and pests. Furthermore, its lighter weight and more adaptability makes it the superior choice in coastal settings where corrosion protection may be of particular concern; special coatings may further bolster this resistance.

Due to aluminum’s excellent thermal conductivity, it is frequently employed as a heat sink – that is, it rapidly absorbs and releases heat from its surroundings.

The finest heatsinks are composed of 70 percent silver and 30 percent copper, but these costly and scarce heatsinks don’t warrant further discussion.

Aluminum is more corrosion-resistant than steel, while being lighter and softer than the latter material, meaning less strain during construction of your home, though it will not withstand violent hailstorms as effectively. Aluminium holds heat better than steel; it quickly heats up during the daytime hours before cooling more slowly in the evening, making it suitable for kitchenware such as frying pans. Due to this advantage and its lighter weight, aluminum has long been preferred over steel for culinary uses like this. Steel stands in contrast with all of these characteristics; it is stronger at any thickness but heavier, and even stainless steel (which is quite costly) may rust. Both metals typically receive several generous coats of protective paint; in the case of steel it is important that this layer not be penetrated.

Aluminum offers several other advantages:
Malleability — Aluminium’s malleable nature allows it to be formed into more intricate forms than steel, producing products with the appearance of shake shingles but lasting much longer due to superior durability and weather protection.
Fire Resistance — Aluminum roofs may not be Class-A certified on their own; however, with the addition of a fire barrier they could qualify. Its Heat Conduction – Aluminium quickly cools after being heated, which makes for quick cooling off after heating occurs.
Aluminum roofs are very lightweight, meaning strong winds could easily compromise their durability.
Steel and aluminum roofing materials make great choices for residential roofs, and homeowners should carefully evaluate both properties when making their decision. Considerations must also include your property location when making this choice.

If you live in Farnborough and require roofing services, click on this link and give them a call for more information.