How Does Heat Affect a Metal Roof?

Metal roofing has gained increased popularity in warmer climates. Why? High temperatures and direct sunlight are extremely harmful and damaging to classic roofing materials. The intense heat of summer can cause traditional roofing materials to break down, dry out, crack, curl or disintegrate. To make matters worse, this damage can make the roof more susceptible to Florida summer storms with leaks and wind damage.

Luckily, metal roofs don’t have this issue. They’re basically infallible to the Florida sun and are more durable, lasting and energy efficient. Let’s consider why metal roofing is popular in warmer climates and special considerations to keep in mind if you’re thinking of installing one.

If wanting a painted metal roof, homeowners can now find paint products with PVDF coatings. Though past paint products would fade and chalk in extreme heat, these high-quality coatings, known as Kynar 500® and Hylar 5000® PVDF resin-based finishes, are highly fade and chalk resistant and out-perform other paint systems. Also, painted metal comes with a 40-year warranty!

As traditional roofing materials bake in sun, they lose their fire resistance and can pose a fire risk to homes, but not with metal. Metal roofs create a long-lasting, reliable barrier against airborne sparks to protect both your home and family. Metal roofs are also light. In comparison to traditional roofs, a metal roof has a much lower risk of caving in if there’s a fire in the home. This allows firefighters to fight the fire from the inside rather than only trying to control the flames from the outside.

With Florida’s hurricane season, many areas across the state are prone to high winds. Metal roofs depend upon seams, crimps and interlocks between panels, allowing them to hold strong even in strong winds. Metal roofs are less prone to wind damage, too, as they continue to stay intact and tight even with age.

The biggest concern most homeowners have is if metal roofs will make their homes warmer in the summertime. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. Once the sun stops striking a roof directly, the lightest material will lose its heat fastest; the lightest material being metal. Once the sun stops shining on a metal roof, it quickly reverts to the same temperature as the surrounding air. With heavier materials like slate or concrete, their weight makes them retain heat much longer. The longer they stay hot, the more heat that will transfer into the building below. 

A consideration to think about is value. Metal roofing is a larger investment, but, overtime, metal roofs show their cost through their numerous benefits and durability, especially in hot, humid climates. Also, roofing prices, on average, double every ten years. This makes metal roofing ideal for homeowners who intend to stay in their home for at least one roofing cycle. The average lifespan of a shingle roof is 17 years, though most need to be replaced every five to seven years in warm climates. The facts are simple, one properly installed quality grade metal roof will outlive 2-3 shingle roofs in typical Florida weather conditions. The silver mill finish, non-painted galvalume roofing systems we offer come with a 25+year product warranty, and have been known to span over 50 years.

If you’re considering a metal roof, let the specialist at Florida Roof Masters work with you to make certain your experience is effortless allowing you to enjoy your roof for many years to come.

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