The Advantages of Metal Roofing in Commercial Construction

Commercial buildings are certainly their own breed. While most folks are somewhat familiar with the needs of a residential home, they may not understand the specific needs and challenges of a commercial building or why metal roofing can be the perfect material to cap one off against the elements. 

To help property owners understand this point, we want to highlight the advantages of metal roofing for commercial buildings. We’ll cover all of its strengths and benefits (we’ll mention a couple of downsides, as well) so property owners can make better decisions next time they need to tackle their roofing project. 

The Benefits of Metal Roofing on Commercial Buildings

When metal roofing is a good fit for a building, it’s often the best fit. While metal roofing is more expensive than asphalt shingles and other traditional roofing materials, it has many advantages over it and other like materials. The following are some of the biggest benefits of metal roofing.

Durability

Property owners often choose metal roofing for its durability. It’s one of the toughest, most element-resistant materials one could choose for their roof. They’re extremely durable against harsh weather, including heavy rain, extreme winds, snowfall, high heat, bitter cold, and more. They expand and contract in these conditions while maintaining their strength and waterproofing and reducing the risk of structural damage.   

Energy Efficiency

Solar reflectance is a concept that some folks might not be aware of, but it’s an area where metal roofing excels. Solar reflectance is a surface’s ability to reflect the sun’s heat rather than absorb it, and metal roofs are designed to do this better than most other materials. This can allow property owners to reduce their cooling costs, particularly in hot climates. 

Metal roofs can also be coated with cool roof coatings, improving energy efficiency. Cool coatings not only protect and seal the roof but also increase its solar reflectance. 

Minimal Maintenance

A significant benefit of metal roofs is the relatively low maintenance required to keep them working properly. Unlike traditional roofing materials, metal roofing systems’ durability and ability to expand and contract prevents leaks and cracks effectively. The metal panels themselves have minimal maintenance requirements, as does the hardware that holds them in place. 

However, metal roofing isn’t entirely set-and-forget. Property owners still have inspections to perform and any gutters need to be cleaned to prevent ice dams. 

Service Life

Let’s make this clear: metal roofing systems last a very long time. Traditional commercial roofing materials like BURs, single-ply, and asphalt shingle systems can last 20 to 30 years. Metal roofing, on the other hand, can last 50 years or more with a proper installation and an easy-to-follow maintenance schedule. 

Most other roofing materials don’t even come close. 

While this means a bit of a higher cost upfront, it’s an investment that can pay dividends over the lifespan of the building.

Recyclability and Eco-Friendliness

For the environmentally conscious, metal roofing can be an excellent choice. First, metal roof panels are recyclable. Steel roofing systems can contain up to 30% recycled steel, while aluminum roof panels can contain up to 95% recycled materials. This lowers the need to mine for virgin materials and the environmental impact of processing them. 

It’s important to note a few other points about metal roofing’s environmentally-friendliness:

• It takes less energy and resources to recycle metal than it does to produce it from ore.
• Metal roofs last longer than other materials, reducing associated waste over time.
• High solar reflectance prevents the absorption of solar heat, reducing cooling costs. 

Fire Resistance

In areas where wildfires and other fire risks exist, there may be no better material than metal roofing. Burning embers can become airborne and travel great distances in wildfire conditions, often landing on buildings and causing ignitions. Metal roofs won’t ignite, making them Class A fire-rated and meeting almost all local codes and regulations. 

Another point to consider is metal roofing’s resistance to heat. Some materials can break down in extreme temperatures, causing degradation and even melting. Melting roofs can fail, allowing heat and embers to penetrate the building, sometimes causing total loss. Metal systems won’t melt in these conditions, helping maintain the building’s structural integrity and protecting its contents. 

Appearance

While appearance and aesthetics are always a matter of opinion, many folks admire the look of a metal roof. They’re available in a wide range of colors and styles, including standing seam, metal shingles, corrugated metal, hidden fasteners, and exposed fasteners, and many folks have their preferences on the look of these materials. Their architectural styles are both industrial and rustic, providing a charm that most commercial buildings don’t have.

Installation Speed

Metal roofing materials may require less time to install than other materials. They come in large sheets that cover a lot of square footage, they’re lightweight and easy to maneuver, and they often have less of a need for underlayment layers, depending on the local codes and regulations. These factors all make installing metal roofing faster and simpler for experienced contractors. However on very steep slopes or roofs with extensive amounts of rooftop equipment, labor costs will be higher.

Other reasons that metal roofs install quickly include interlocking designs to speed up alignment, minimized deck prep over heavier materials, and the fact that some systems are prefabricated specifically for the building. Every situation is different, but metal roofs are often the fastest route to weather protection. 

Weight

Metal roofing systems offer an incredible blend of strength and minimal weight. They’re sometimes lighter than composite materials, typically lighter than shingle roofs, and always lighter than concrete or tile roofing. This means less of a load on the structure of the building. And, in areas where heavy snow loads are common, this reduced weight can help the building withstand the forces caused by the heavy snow. Also, the smooth surface allows the snow to slide off, further reducing the weight. 

Long-Term Investment

It’s hard to compare the long-term investment of metal roofing to other materials, as they’re not even on the same level. Most roofing materials last about half the time that a metal roof does, which means more frequent repairs and at least one extra replacement. Metal roofing is the opposite, requiring fewer repairs, less maintenance, and outlasting the others by a ratio of 2:1, in most cases. 

The Disadvantages of Metal Roofs

While metal roofs are incredible, they’re not always perfect. There are things about them that might be considered a drawback, and commercial property owners should be aware.

Increased Cost

There is no denying the fact that metal roofing systems are generally more expensive than other options. The materials are more expensive, and they do require an experienced crew to install them properly. For many commercial property owners, this can dissuade them from choosing metal, but the long-term benefits typically outweigh the initial costs. 

Fewer Commercial Applications

Not all commercial properties are suitable for metal roofing systems. Flat and low-sloped roofs are common in commercial settings, and these are not ideal for metal panels. For metal roofs to work properly, there must be enough pitch for the rain to run off the surface of the roof quickly. Otherwise, puddling can occur and will eventually lead to leaks.

Denting

Alas, metal roofs can be susceptible to denting from hail storms or fallen debris. While the roof itself will typically handle the damage in stride, there may be visible damage that detracts from the look of the building. But if they become too much of an eyesore, dents can typically be repaired by an experienced metal roofing contractor. 

We Are Your Metal Roofing Experts

If you’re interested in learning more about how your commercial building can benefit from a metal roofing system, give us a call. We can answer any of your questions and help you decide if a metal roof is the best fit for your building or choose another option that might work better for you. We have over 100 years of combined experience in commercial roofing, so don’t hesitate to put your building in our hands. Learn how we protect you.