Ease of maintenance, durability, and energy efficiency. These are three of the strongest reasons why homeowners install metal roofs. They also come from different materials, including galvanized steel, tin, and aluminum.

Nonetheless — as what any reliable roofing company Columbia MD would know — metal roofs don’t come without any disadvantages. This is why it’s best to know metal roofing pros and cons before getting one for your home.

We’re rounding up the major advantages and disadvantages you need to consider.

Pros:

They are easy to install. If you ask a roofing company Columbia MD why metal roofs are popular, one of the first reasons you’d get is their ease of installation. As they mostly come in 12- and 36-inch wide panels, roofing contractors can install them easily. They can even be installed on your existing roof. With this, you won’t only save time but labor costs as well.

They can last for decades. If you think wood and asphalt shingles are durable enough for their 20-year-long lifespan, you’d be more delighted to know that metal roofs can last for up to 70 years! Apart from being incombustible and resistant to strong gusts of wind, they also require minimal maintenance.

They can help reduce electricity bills. Did you know that metal roofs have a solar reflexivity of 95 percent? This means that it can dissipate heat more efficiently, preventing your home from getting too much heat from the sun and ultimately reducing your monthly electricity bills.

They are environment-friendly. Perhaps the most eco-friendly among the types of roof available, metal roofs are made from recycled materials. Compared with others, they also release the least amount of emissions during their production.

They are lightweight. Weighing at most 150 pounds per square, metal roofs are one, if not the most lightweight roofing material available. This is beneficial if you want to save on engineering and building your roof’s support structure.

Cons

Their initial cost is pricey. With the host of benefits metal roofs offer, it’s quite understandable why a roofing company Columbia MD offer them at a higher price (about two to three times more than other roofing materials). But this initial expense can be overpowered by the savings you can get during its lifespan.

They’re not particularly great in noise cancellation. Another downside of metal roofs is hearing too much noise. This can really get annoying when there’s a typhoon or hailstorm. To resolve this one, you can install insulation but this will incur you additional costs.

They tend to expand and contract more easily. This is especially true for metal roofs installed in large panels. Your roofing contractor must ensure they are installed and fastened properly — or else, the panels may loosen and you would need to hire someone to repair them as soon as possible.

Their specific color can be hard to find. Metal roofs can also be inconsistent when it comes to color. If there will come a time that you would need to replace one panel due to damage, it can be hard for you to find the exact color of it. You might end up sacrificing the look of your roof or replacing your whole roof with new ones.

WF Schmidt Construction Company is one of the most trusted roofing company Columbia MD today. Contact us today to learn more about the roofing options available for your home or business.