The Real Story - Dispelling 5 Common Metal Roofing Myths

Metal Tile Roof Courtesy of Allmet Roofing Products

Although metal roofing is very common in the commercial market, this durable product is also gaining ground as a popular choice for homeowners.  Many consumers have a few common misperceptions related to metal roofing myths and metal roofing questions.  Here are a few questions and answers that can dismiss these residential metal roofing myths:

Will a metal roof increase the likelihood of a lightning strike?
Short answer --absolutely not.  Although metal conducts electricity, lightning is not drawn to any metal roof homes.  In fact, it's unusual for lightning to hit buildings -- it typically strikes the highest object in an area, such as trees, utility poles, antennas, and towers.

However, if your home were hit by lightning, your metal roof would disperse the energy safely throughout the structure. Since residential metal roofing isn't combustible or flammable, it's a low risk, desirable roofing option in many severe weather conditions, including lightning.

Are metal roofs loud?
This may surprise you -- metal roofing is often quieter than an asphalt shingle roof. When installed with solid sheathing, metal roof panels on your home will actually silence noise from rain, hail and other bad weather better than other residential roofing materials.

Will my metal roof rust?
Today's metal roofing systems are built to last. Steel metal roofing has a metallic coating made of either zinc or a combination of zinc and aluminum. This metallic coating prevents rust from forming and is bonded to the steel at the factory. Paint is then applied over the metallic coating to provide the long-lasting color homeowners desire.

Will hail dent my metal roof?
In most cases, no. A metal roof can withstand decades of abuse from extreme weather like hail, high winds, and heavy snow. The majority of metal roofing earns a UL2218 Class 4 rating, meaning that a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 2-inch steel ball, which, in a storm, would translate into a huge hailstone.

As a result of residential metal roofing’s superior performance in hail prone areas, some insurance companies even provide a reduced rate for homes protected by metal roofs.

Can I walk on my metal roof to clean gutters?
Many people think you can't (or shouldn't) walk on a metal roof -- but the truth is that you can safely walk any metal roof without damaging it. Before you walk your roof, however, we recommend you talk to your installer or metal roof manufacturer for instructions for your specific roof.  And of course, be careful!