Metal Roofing

Last updated: 2026-10-28 by Ted Sellers, Owner

The metal roof has a long and varied history, but has really come into its own since the Industrial Age.Experiments with different metals in roofing over the past few centuries have resulted in steel roofing being the predominant form of metal roof today. Corrugated roofing made from wrought iron-steel sheets and producing a standing seam metal roof is still very popular today. They often ,comes with a coating of zinc or aluminum for extra durability. A metal roof, especially one treated with additional coatings, can easily last several decades and many have been known to last upwards of half a century.

By comparison an asphalt shingle roof often does not last past a decade.

A metal roof has a number of advantages. These include easy to transport, lightweight, durable, does not catch fire or burn easily, hail and wind resistant, easily recyclable, and requires little to no maintenance.With metal roof panels being light weight and relatively small size, they can be transported in a variety of ways, also very important in the third world were they get used a lot.

Their ratio of light weight to strength makes them a favourite for large buildings. The strength of steel roofing also makes it favor in heavy weather situations such as hail and snow build up.With energy efficient architectural designs more and more in demand, metal roofs are again becoming a prime option for builders. A metal roof can be very energy efficient. When treated with a reflective coating it can provide a significant reduction in cooling costs in hot weather.

Of course,anything with advantages must also have some disadvantages! Metal roofs are no exception. On large roofs allowances have to be made for thermal movement.Thermal movement can also cause noises in steel roofing. And depending on the thickness of insulation between a metal roof and the occupants of the building, rain and certainly hail can generate significant noise.Metal roofs are applied to a wide variety of building types including but not limited to residential, industrial, agricultural, and commercial. Additionally, they are often applied as siding to buildings with little change in design required.