When you are looking to build a home from the ground up, the material choice will have an enormous impact on the eco-friendliness of the building and will also impact how the building looks when it is completed.
When it comes to choosing the material for the roof, most people stick to the simple option, slate shingles. However, there is a growing trend among those who are designing their homes to opt for metal roofing instead.
Why is this a popular option, and what benefits does it offer over more traditional materials?
Table of Contents
Decreased Maintenance
Slate tile maintenance, or asphalt roof maintenance, is a world apart from metal roof maintenance. For example, both slate tiles and asphalt are prone to pests, such as termites, which can damage the material and increase the chance of leaks. There are very few pests that attack metal, meaning that once a metal roof is fitted, it won’t have any extensive maintenance needs.
Durability
A core issue with slates for a roof is that they can fall off during harsh winds, meaning that more maintenance and repairs are needed. If you skip that, you will soon have a leak on your upper floor!
With metal roofs, as the key materials are usually aluminium, copper, lead, stainless steel, steel, tin, and zinc, there is no need to worry about durability. All of these can withstand rain, wind and even hail for extended periods, without your roof succumbing to damage and causing secondary issues.
Energy Efficiency
If you are big on building a home that has high energy efficiency, then metal roofing may be the perfect material. When fitted, metal roofing can lead to lower energy bills and, of course, it can also lead to you having a reduced carbon footprint. Many companies that provide metal roofing use recycled metal, which makes this a greener option for your home and minimizes the environmental impact.
Aesthetics
When choosing a metal roof, it doesn’t necessarily have to be grey.
Metal roofs are versatile in their design, meaning that you can pick a metal roof in an array of colors, styles, and finishes to match the feel of your home. For many people who are building their home from scratch, opting for a metal roof provides a modern and chic look, which simply can’t be obtained with shingles or asphalt. Best of all, any roof design features that will help the building to stand out will not impact the functionality, which cannot be said for other materials.
Sound Proofing
Last, but certainly not least, if you are aiming to have a loft conversion that is a relaxing space, or simply want a bit of peace and quiet on the upper floor of your house, a metal roof can tick that box.
Metal roofs are natural insulators, meaning that they can prevent noise from entering your home from the outside, as well as keep the upper level of your home warm. This will also reduce the need for additional insulation, which can be an extra cost when building a home with a slate roof.