This April 22 is Earth Day. It’s a day where we’re reminded that, in ways large and small, our actions have consequences upon our planet. We think that everybody should care about the planet. After all, we have to live here. The good news is, there have been enormous technological innovations when it comes to home engineering and materials. As industrial roofing contractors, we’re proud to offer metal roofing as an environmentally responsible option.
But is a metal roof the smart move for your business? Yeah, we think so. As a matter of fact, there are a number of reasons why it’s worth your while to ditch the asphalt shingles and make the switch to metal. Read on, and we’ll share a few reasons why asphalt is inevitably on its way out and why metal is the roofing material of the future.
- The asphalt shingles found on hundreds of thousands of rooftops are a petroleum product. That’s a problem for a few reasons. First, they don’t last too long, only about 15-20 years. Second, when they are removed from a roof, they can’t be reused, so they get tossed into a landfill. Finally, they are one more way in which we’re dependant upon fossil fuels.
- On the other hand, there has been a wave of environmentally responsible building materials put into use of late. Metal roofing is one of the most popular. So much so that metal roofs are gradually overtaking asphalt materials for usage by homeowners and business owners.
- In the short term, it can be more expensive to have a metal roof installed over asphalt. However, many states offer a roofing tax credit that can defray some of the cost of the installation.
- Whether it’s made from steel, aluminum, tin, copper, or any other mineral, metal roofing comes from a highly sustainable source. Every roof is made from at least 25-35% recycled metal, and some of that content can come from what was formerly a car, refrigerator, or dishwasher.
- Remember we talked about asphalt having an operational life of about 15 years? When it comes to metal, their lifespan is at least 60 years, and the average of metal roofing materials seems to be right around a century. Odds are their lifespan will outlast yours, but if that doesn’t happen, the roofing materials can be completely recycled and used for something else entirely.
- Metal roofing tends to be highly durable. So much so that it can withstand extreme weather like hail, high winds, blizzards, and heavy rain. That also means it’s more leak resistant, so there’s much less of a chance of water seeping in and gradually destroying the structural integrity of a building. Metal roofs are also heat resistant, so in the event of a fire, they can remain secure.
- An added benefit of a metal roof is the ability to reduce your heating and cooling needs. Asphalt absorbs solar radiation and causes the interior of a building to heat up. As a result, an air conditioning system needs to work harder to keep things cool. Metal roofing reflects the majority of solar radiation, and owners routinely expect a 25% reduction in their energy costs.