Metal Roofing and Siding: Its Outstanding Properties
Lightweight: Shingles and tiles are widespread materials of choice. But unlike metal, they are heavy and difficult to install. Because metal roofing comes in thin panels, it is the lightest among the available materials, which makes it preferable for both commercial and residential buildings. Metal roofing is sold in panels. A few panels can cover a wide roofing area that requires hundreds or thousands of pieces of shingles or tiles.
Durability: Contrary to popular misconceptions that thin metal roofing cannot last long, metal roofing can actually last 50 to 100 years with proper maintenance and care. Some thick steel roofing can even reach 300 years with minor signs of deterioration. The same is true with Allentown siding made of metal.
Recyclability: Compared to wooden and ceramic materials, metal roofing can be recycled after decades of use. For instance, a house under remodeling may have its metal roofing dismantled and sold to manufacturers for reprocessing. Rust and other unnecessary debris are removed to bring back the original properties of the metal. Although a bit expensive, the most common recyclable metal used as roofing material is copper. Aside from being corrosion-resistant, it can be reused after a hundred years since it repels microorganisms that lead to deterioration.
Flexibility: Since metal is malleable and ductile, it can be made into shingles to imitate shingle-type roofing or just large corrugated panels for labor efficiency. In addition, unlike shingles that respond negatively to paint, metal roofing has strong adherence to paint, which makes it easy for homeowners to change the color of their roofs several times.
Affordability: Because of the abundant worldwide supply of metal, there is no doubt that it is one of the cheapest roofing materials. The price of materials is usually influenced by its scarcity, which makes wood and slate quite expensive. However, there are some metals such as copper that are expensive by nature because of their valuable properties. Even Bethlehem window replacement frames made of copper cost more than typical aluminum or steel framing.