You get what you pay for, as they say, and your roof is no exception. Metal roofs in Central Indiana can cost double to three times the cost of a traditional asphalt shingle roof, so you may be wondering if a metal roof in Central Indiana is worth it. The answer, of course, depends on what you need.
Longevity
Metal roofs last longer. Plain and simple. Metal, of course, lasts a very long time and unlike an asphalt roof that will slowly lose its durability over time as granules slough off, the metal roof is going to last just about as long as the metal will.
There is a caveat to that, though, which is that the paint on the metal will eventually fade, chip off, or just generally degrade. The good news is that most paint coatings on metal roofs should last 30-50 years, which is longer than the average asphalt roof. See the difference between metal and asphalt roof.
When an asphalt roof reaches the end of its life (somewhere between 14-25 years dependieng on the shingle quality), the only thing to be done is to replace it. With a metal roof, when the paint starts to wear off, the metal is still perfectly usable. That means that you only need to have the roof repainted, a task that would offer considerable savings to the installation of a completely new roof.
Warranties
Another positive is that most paint on a metal roof is warrantied for 30-40 years, depending on the manufacturer. The average asphalt manufacturer guarantees a shingle for 10-15 years, and if you live in Central Indiana, you can expect that your color will slowly turn black over due to an airborne algae present in the region. With a metal roof, the color is guaranteed for longer.
Environmentally Friendly
Because you’re not having to completely redo your roof every 20 years, you are also helping the environment. Shingle recycling programs are still under utilized due to their high expense and low availability. Except in rare cases, your roofing company is pretty much forced to dump the old roof materials in a landfill. With a metal roof, the only new resource is the paint and maybe some new screws. Not only that, but metal is much more easily recycled, so your entire system can be recycled should you choose to switch it out.
Durability
According to the Metal Roofing Alliance, metal roofs can withstand wind speeds of 140-180mph, meaning you should be fine for just about all normal weather conditions, and maybe even a hurricane! Shingles can blow off one at a time, whereas metal roofs that are properly secured down, are unlikely to have blow offs or be bent in strong winds.
Metal is fire resistant. As more areas of the country are experiencing wildfires and other natural disasters, having a very durable roof seems even more beneficial. Although in a major wildfire your roof will not prevent your house from burning, it would be unlikely that falling ash onto your roof would be the spark that starts the flame. It also helpful if your area is prone to lightning strikes.
Variety
One often overlooked benefit of metal roofs: there are several types of metal roofs out there! You will need to do your research to find the perfect one, but we can help you get started. Here’s an overview of the most common types of metal roofing systems [link to new metal roof types in Indianapolis article] found in the Indianapolis Greater Area.
If you want to know about some of the downsides to a metal roof, check out our recent article discussing the most common problems with metal roofs. If you have questions about whether a metal roof is right for you, give us a call here at Rojas Roofing at (317) 864-6193 and schedule a free consultation!