Advantages and Disadvantes of Metal Roofs for Ranch Style Houses
You may enhance the style and beauty of your ranch home by installing the right roofing. If you are building a new home or remodeling an existing one, choose from a number of different roofing materials, including metal. Using metal roofing for your ranch home has a number of advantages, and a few potential drawbacks.
Durability
Metal roofs are lightweight, but also very strong. If the area where your ranch home is located is prone to hail and high winds, a metal roof can protect you from those hazards. Metal roofs are so durable and long-lasting that many companies warranty their roofs for 30 years or more.
Fire Protection
Metal roofs are naturally fire resistant. That fire resistance makes metal roofs a good choice for ranch houses, especially in parts of the country prone to wildfires.
Energy Efficiency
A properly installed metal roof efficiently reflects the sunlight quite. That can keep the home cool in the summer and reduce the need for air conditioning. A metal roof is good for cold climates, since snow and ice tend to slide off the corrugated metal surface, which may prevent the buildup of ice and snow on the roof.
Ease of Installation
Since metal roofs can be installed over existing roofs, they are among the fastest and easiest to install. You can install a new metal roof directly over existing shingles or other roofing materials, eliminating the time and hassle involved in tearing out the old roof. Installing a metal roof on a ranch home is even easier, since there are no high angles or unusual surfaces to worry about.
Initial Cost
Installing a metal roof may save you money in the long run, but the initial cost may be steep compared to other types of roofing materials. If you plan to stay in your home for at least 10 years, you should be able to recoup the cost of the metal roof through energy savings and fewer repair costs. If you plan to move in the near future, you may not be able to make up for those high initial costs.
Noise
Metal roofs can be noisy, especially in rain, hail and other severe weather. The roof pitch of the typical ranch home can exacerbate that noise. If you are planning to install a metal roof and are concerned about the noise, you visit a building with such a roof during a thunderstorm to evaluate the noise.
Difficult Maintenance
Metal roofs can be trickier to repair and maintain than shingle or composite roofs. Even if you are used to doing repairs yourself, you might find you need to hire a contractor to make repairs on a metal roof.
Writer Bio
Based in Pennsylvania, Bonnie Conrad has been working as a professional freelance writer since 2003. Her work can be seen on Credit Factor, Constant Content and a number of other websites. Conrad also works full-time as a computer technician and loves to write about a number of technician topics. She studied computer technology and business administration at Harrisburg Area Community College.
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