It's undeniably true: asphalt roof shingles offer the most traditional appearance of a Western home. However, it doesn't mean you should always use asphalt shingles if you have enough in the budget to use metal roofing materials. Fortunately, you can have the dependable durability and performance of metal roofs and the classic look of wood shakes (a viable and homely-looking roofing material similar to asphalt shingles) when you use aluminum shake roofing.
True enough, metal shingles are available in the market. These take on the appearance of asphalt shingles. However, with painted or printed texture on the metal shingle, it appears like a traditional wood shingle when viewed from the curb. Aluminum shake roofing uses the same principles. You will own small aluminum panels that have painted or printed patterns of wood shakes. In turn, it gives your property a distinctive yet natural wood shake roof but you can enjoy roof lifespans up to 70 years and beyond.
The lightweight aluminum material is well-known and highly recommended by reputable and highly dependable Denver CO roofers because of its durability and adequate malleability. In addition to these two, it provides the following excellent advantages as listed by Roofing Superstore UK.
1. Easy installation
Aluminium roofing sheets are really easy to install – all you have to do is cut the sheets to size and fasten to the roof trusses. This can save you time, money and energy.
2. Lightweight roof sheets
Aluminium is incredibly light in comparison to other roofing sheets. This makes transportation much easier and doesn’t add much weight to the overall building structure.
3. Strong
Aluminium has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal, even superior to steel. This makes it an incredibly strong material, which combined with its light weight makes it a great roofing material.
4. Aluminium roof sheets are corrosion resistant
Aluminium is corrosion resistant, and unlike other metals, does not rust or corrode, even in highly industrial or corrosive environments.
5. Energy saving
Aluminium reflects the sun, meaning that in the summer the building will remain cool, despite increasing temperatures outside. It also helps maintain the heat inside the house in the winter, reducing heating costs and saving energy.
6. Environmentally friendly
Aluminium sheets used for roofing can consist of up to 90% recycled material, meaning it’s the perfect choice for those environmentally conscious.
7. Robust aluminium roof sheets boast longevity
Aluminium roofs can last up to 50 years, perhaps even longer, so although the initial cost may seem high it is a long term investment. Other roofing sheets may only last 10-12 years, so replacing these up to 5 more times will inevitably add costs on to the initial price. (Continued)
You might consider the article is talking about aluminum roof panels and not roof shakes. Because they're made of the same base material, aluminum shake roofing is as dependable as their panel counterparts. True enough, you'll need to follow the proper shake roofing installation procedures to make sure it doen't leak and guarantees the longest lifespan possible for your roof.
On the other hand, you won't need to worry about aesthetics. Both steel and aluminum shakes share an excellent amount of similarity primarily because the painting or printing of its wood shake texture gives them an unidentifiable difference. However, you may need to coat your steel metal roof in the future especially if its sacrificial galvanized or galvalumed layer starts wearing off.
Why use steel roofing shakes? Similar to aluminum, steel shakes share many qualities with its steel panel counterparts. Learn more about it below from Capital Steel & Wire Inc.
It’s never been smarter to install a steel roof. Steel roofs are strong, attractive, and eco-friendly. They offer many advantages for homeowners, including a few cost-saving attributes which put some money back in your wallet. And the benefits don’t end there.
1.) Safe – A steel roof is extremely fire-resistant. It insulates against sparks, preventing a fire from spreading to your home. Steel roofs are classified as a noncombustible roofing material with a Class A rating - the highest possible rating.
2.) Environmentally-Friendly – Old steel roofs are 100 percent recyclable and often contain recycled metals, unlike asphalt and other roofing materials which only end up in landfills. Additionally, because it is so light-weight, when a new steel roof is installed it can be placed over the existing roof, saving the old roof from becoming more waste in a landfill.
3.) Saves Money – Not only can a steel roof save you money by keeping your heating and cooling costs low, it’s good for the environment. Steel roofs are energy efficient because they have a higher reflectivity than other roofing materials. In the hot summer months it deflects sunlight from being absorbed, and in the winter it acts as an insulator, reflecting and circulating heat from the underside of the roof back inside the building.
4.) Low Maintenance – A steel roof will not crack, shrink, or warp under the effects of humidity, sunlight, or other weather. Steel’s durability means less hassle and less cost over the length of its life.
5.) Long-Lasting – Steel roofs are made to last. The life of a steel roof can be over 50 years, while the average traditional roof lasts only 17 years. (Continued)
Remember, all kinds of metal roof shakes require a hand with experience and the right equipment to install them. If you have yet to find a dependable local roofer, you can call on Roper Roofing to handle all your Denver CO roofing needs. Contact us today and let's get started!
