Premium Copper Roofing - Attractive and Functional
Roofing is more about being functional. The roof is one of the biggest contributors to the overall look and feel of your home. If you’re unhappy with the way that a roof looks, it doesn’t matter how functional the material may be. The trick is to find a style of roofing that looks attractive to you while securing your house adequately. Amongst metal roofing materials, premium copper roofing is often chosen for just this reason. Copper roofing has a distinct look to it that is very alluring, especially on homes with wooden exteriors. A copper roof actually changes color over its lifetime, achieving an elegant jade-like tone after a few years. Additionally, it provides excellent advantages over conventional roofing materials in terms of safety, strength, and durability. Between its aesthetic grace and its practical benefits, copper roofing is one metal roofing material that you should definitely consider.
The Practical Benefits of Copper Roofing
Copper metal roofing is very versatile, offering many practical benefits over more conventional roofing materials like asphalt shingles and shake. A copper roof tends to last much longer than these materials, and many have been known to last for over a hundred years. Taking the time and effort to maintain the roof when required is a key aspect of keeping the roof looking great. Longevity is never something which is guaranteed, but it’s far more likely with copper roofing.
In terms of safety, copper roofing provides excellent protection against common hazards like fire and flooding. Copper roofs are inflammable, meaning that they won’t catch flame like materials based on asphalt. There’s no reason to take unnecessary risks when your family and belongings are on the line. Copper roofing performs well year after year, even in areas which are highly prone to fires. Flooding is also less of an issue if copper roof shingles adorn your home. So long as it’s properly installed, this kind of metal roofing material can withstand torrential downpours without any water leaking inside your home. The best installations use a second layer underneath the copper shingles to provide the very best in flood protection.
Additionally, copper roofing shares many of the common advantages that metal roofing materials exhibit. They’re lightweight, meaning that they put less stress on the structural supports of your home. This means that you can get by with less supports, cutting down on labor costs involved with installation. The supports you do have won’t be bearing as much of a load, making them less susceptible to strain over the years. This is one of the reasons why copper roofs last for so long. It’s also why it’s so common to see a copper roof in areas that suffer heavy snowfalls every year. Snow can add quite a lot of weight to the roof. With copper roofing, this won’t cause catastrophic failure or collapse.
Aesthetic Benefits of Copper Roofing
It’s well known that copper roofing is one of the best materials in terms of practicality. Where this metal roofing material truly shines, though, is in its distinct look. With a copper roof, you’re sharing a look that distinguishes many famous structures around the world, including the Statue of Liberty. While copper first has an amber shimmer to it, over the years it reacts with environment in a process called ‘patina.’ The copper roof becomes coated in a jade green layer which looks incredibly elegant. In addition to this enhanced aesthetic, the patina also protects the rest of the copper roofing material, ensuring that no corrosion damage can occur. Sometimes beauty isn’t just about good looks. In the case of a copper roof, that which provides its distinct look also provides increased protection from the elements.
Premium Copper Roofing
Copper roofing is an excellent choice for any who want their roof to be more than something which is merely functional. When installing copper roofing, make sure to ask for the very best. This is the only way to ensure that you’re getting the full potential of this material in terms of safety, security, and beauty. A premium copper roof provides an amazing look to any building it is installed in, whether a home, office, or business.
Aluminum Roofing Advantages
When aluminum roofing was first introduced, many in the roofing business considered it the way of the future. While that was over a hundred years ago, today more than ever aluminum is celebrated as a truly phenomenal choice. An aluminum roof has numerous advantages to it, making this kind one of the most highly sought after metal roofing material. Aluminum roofs are lighter, stronger, and more dependable than almost anything else out there. Aluminum roofing has been shown to increase property values, reduce energy costs, and endure some of the harshest weather conditions.
The Benefits of Lightweight Aluminum Roofing
One of the best benefits to installing an aluminum roof is that it’s far lighter than conventional roofing materials. Even when compared against other metal roofing materials, aluminum reigns as the lightest material available. The lightweight properties of this metal is one of the reasons why it’s used in the aerospace and architecture industries. A lighter weight means less stress on your home. This allows you to put in less supports without creating a higher risk of roof collapse. The less structural reinforcement required, the less labor and installation costs you’ll have.
The Durability of Aluminum Roofing
Aluminum roofing is incredibly durable, making it an attractive choice for areas that see harsh weather conditions on a regular basis. The ultimate endurance levels will be determined by the style of roofing you decide on. After all, aluminum roof panels and aluminum roof shingles will not have the same strength levels since the metal roofing material is secured in a different way. Many aluminum roofs have survived hurricane winds, making this material an excellent choice if you live in the path of dangerous storms.
An Aluminum Roof Has Superior Corrosion Resistance
Aluminum as a material is much more naturally resistant to rust and corrosion than most other metals. Because of this, aluminum roofing does not tend to lose its shine over the years. The reason for this is that aluminum roofing forms a natural oxidation layer at its surface. This acts almost like the coating on galvanized steel, protecting the inner metal from exposure to the environment. If you live in an area that’s susceptible to corrosive elements, such as the shore, you may want to spend some extra money and invest in an aluminum roof coating. This provides extra protection against the elements. This coating isn’t always necessary since aluminum roofing is naturally so resistant to rusting.
Aluminum Roofing Provides Environmental Benefits
Unlike conventional roofing materials, aluminum roofing is very environmentally friendly. This is because it is generally made from recycled aluminum metals. An aluminum roof also reduces your energy output by making it easier to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This reduces your consumption of power, making your impact on the environment much lower. Aluminum roofing truly is the way of the future in this respect.
Increase Property Values With Aluminum Roofing
Another benefit to an aluminum roof is that it significantly increases your home property values. Because aluminum roofing tends to last for multiple decades, they are seen as a permanent investment in the home. People looking to buy a home always look at the quality of the roof before they make a final decision. Not only will aluminum roofing increase the property value, its presence also makes the home more likely to sell.
Improved Safety Through Aluminum Roofing
Safety is always a concern, especially when your home and all your belongings are at stake. Aluminum roofing increases the safety of your home by reducing the risk of fire or flood damage. Since aluminum is not a flammable material, it won’t burn under the same conditions that will set conventional roofing materials ablaze. In addition, aluminum roofs can be installed at far lower pitches than other roofing materials, making it a better choice for homes that need flat roofs. Many insurance companies will actually lower your home owners insurance rates once the aluminum roofing is installed.
Reduce Energy Costs With Aluminum Roofing
Aluminum roofing has been proven to reduce monthly energy costs, especially in cold or hot months. Aluminum is even better than other metal roofing materials at this task because it’s a better reflector of heat energy. By reflecting sunlight away from your home in summer, less energy will be needed to keep your house at the desirable temperature. In winter, heat that’s already in your house won’t escape as easily because the aluminum roofing will reflect it back inside. In any season, this serves to reduce your energy bills.
Corrugated Metal Roofing
Corrugated metal roofing has been used for centuries to provide safety and security to homes and businesses. Modern engineering has transformed this time honored tradition and brought in into the twenty first century with new materials and manufacturing innovations. While old corrugated metal roofs can seem rustic or unattractive, their modern counterparts gleam with functional strength and aesthetic beauty. There are many different kinds of metal roofing material which can be used for this classic and functional style.
What Distinguishes Corrugated Metal Roofing
A corrugated metal roof is most easily distinguished by the way that the material looks and the way that it is made. Traditionally, the material is cold rolled after casting to form periodic folds in the metal. This isn’t done for looks - the cold rolling strengthens the material significantly, enhancing its physical endurance and mechanical durability. The material is only strengthened in the direction which is parallel to the corrugations. Corrugated metal roofs have been in use since 1840 when this process was first developed.
Corrugated Metal Roofing Materials
While the first corrugated metal roofs used wrought iron, those that are installed today use one of a variety of materials. Some have been highly engineered to provide enhanced mechanical properties or a better aesthetic. Others are more simple, having the benefit of lower costs.
One of the most common materials seen is galvanized steel. Galvanized corrugated metal roofing is typically rolled steel which has been cold pressed to provide mechanical strengthening. Before it’s been pressed, the metal is coated with zinc in order to stop the sheets from rusting. The downside to galvanized steel is that the finish will oxidize, changing the external color and appearance over time. While this coating acts as a passivation layer to keep the rest of the material safe, it may not be the most attractive choice.
Stainless steel is another excellent choice, especially if you don’t expect the roofing to endure especially harsh conditions. While it may not be as strong as other steel alloys, stainless steel roofing is famous for its excellent natural corrosion resistance. This means that it retains its initial look for far longer than almost any other metal roofing material.
Engineered Corrugated Metal Roofing Materials
There are certain engineered corrugated metal roofing materials which provide superior corrosion resistance, mechanical performance, and aesthetic look. While these may be more expensive, they can ultimately be worth the cost if you have the need.
If you like the advantages of galvanized steel but desire something with greater corrosion resistance, you may want to look into Galvalume(R). This material uses a modified coating to provide better resistance to rusting and the elements. Instead of pure zinc, an alloy of 55% aluminum and 45% zinc with trace amounts of silicon is used. The silicon is added to ensure that the coating forms a sturdy bond to the underlying steel. By providing better corrosion resistance, there is less of a chance of the stress points on the roof weakening due to interactions with the environment. This ensures a longer lifespan for the roof.
While previous materials tend to have metallic looks to them, it is possible to have a corrugated metal roof that does not exhibit this kind of finish. Manufacturers offer Kynar painted corrugated metal roofing for those that enjoy the benefits of this style of roofing but want something that’s a bit flashier. Kynar is one of the primary components of high quality paints. It is famous for its excellent gloss, its color retention over time, and its resistance against corrosive elements. Using a Kynar finish on corrugated metal roofing ensures bright and bold colors that will last for decades, which is why it has been used on many prominent new buildings such as the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.