Busting the Myths of Houston Metal Roofing

• A Houston metal roof will outlast a conventional roof by 3 to 4 lifetimes
• Houston metal roofs add to the energy efficiency of your home, lowering energy bills as much as  20%
• About 60% of a Houston metal roof’s cost is added to your home’s value. Your asset is worth more. If you go with conventional materials, you bring the house value back to what it was worth when the original roof was new.
• An adequately installed Houston metal roof will require minimal maintenance, which you can do yourself and will not require repair.
• Houston metal roofs withstand extreme weather and wildfires, so the risk of damage or loss is reduced, and therefore long term cost as well
• Insurance companies often give discounts to metal roof owners
• You have the additional advantage of being able to select colors and finishes for Houston metal roofing that are EnergyStar rated that may qualify you for a federal tax credit.

Studies show that a Houston metal roof is no more likely to be struck by lightning than a conventional composition roof. If a Houston metal roof is hit by lightning, it will disperse the energy more evenly. If you attach a ground, the roof would then function as a lightning rod, further protecting the home. Another benefit is that a Houston metal roof is non-combustible, so there is far less chance of fire.

Houston metal roofing is available in a wide range of colors, styles, and textures that will be suitable for any architectural style (contemporary, colonial, Victorian, ranch, cape-style, historic homes, etc.). Popular aluminum styles look like wood shakes, slate, and even tile. This solution provides a beautiful presentation without the negative factors of those materials. Wood shakes are outlawed in some areas due to flammability. Slate and tile are too heavy for homes that were not designed to support them. As for Houston metal roofing color choices, you will find that the selection is just as extensive as for any other popular roofing material, such as asphalt shingles. If you do not see a color that you want, it is possible to order a unique Houston metal roofing custom color. You can’t do that with conventional roofing.

While it may come as a surprise, a metal roof may be even quieter than composition shingles. Houston metal roofs are typically installed over the existing roofing materials. An additional underlayment is applied and an optional foam backer on top of that, adding to insulation and noise reduction. This helps silence the noise from rain, hail, and other weather conditions, better than other types of roofing materials. In most cases, the new Houston metal roof is even quieter than the previous roof, so you do not have to worry about waking up to the sound of rain.

Houston metal roofs are 50% to 75% lighter than conventional roofing materials, and therefore the weight is never a problem. This is TRUE, but not harmful. When you replace a worn-out conventional roof with another traditional roof, you add no value. You bring the home’s value back to what it was before. When you replace your conventional roof with a Houston metal roof, about 60% of the cost is added to the original home’s value. Your asset is now worth more.

Houston metal roofs by All-Star Roof Systems have finishes that protect the roof from rust and corrosion for the lifetime of the roof. The manufacturer guarantees this and the warranty is transferable if you sell your home with no transfer fee.

The notion that metal roofs are ugly stems from popular images of old tin roofs on animal barns and industrial warehouses. In reality, metal roofs come in a wide range of highly attractive looks that would satisfy even the most capricious taste.

For people who have modern homes or love the look of metal, standing seam metal roofing is a great fit. They come in various widths and offer a distinct and bold look.

For people who want the benefits but not the looks of metal, we offer a wide range of metal shingles options. These shingles imitate the look of cedar shakes or slate shingles. In fact, you can order a metal roof styles and colors so that people who are unaware that it is a metal, would never be able to guess it from the looks of it.

Metal is a premium roofing material, so it is logical to compare it to other premium materials, which are slate, clay tile, and cedar shakes. When it comes to longevity, cedar shakes begin rotting just after twenty years. Natural slate and clay tile roofs do last a long time (50-100 years) but can crack and break randomly, requiring costly repairs. Additionally, because of their heavyweight, these roofs need proper structural support before they can be installed. A metal roof will last just as long, but will not be subject to cracking and breaking. A metal roof is also lightweight, and will not strain your original home structure.

When it comes to durability, metal will not break on impact (such as hail or a falling tree branch), whereas both tile and slate will break and slide off the roof. Metal roofs with foam backing can be walked on without causing any damage.

When it comes to standing up to inclement weather, metal is by far the best choice. It offers superior protection against wind damage, hurricanes, ice and snow, and wildfires. By comparison, tile roofs need special cement, adhesives, and fasteners to meet the minimum wind resistance requirements in Texas coastal areas. Slate roofs are not recommended for high wind areas at all, because they have immense wind uplift potential, as they are held in place by just a pair of nails or wire hangers. Finally, when it comes to metal roofing cost, we have a clear winner, as even the most expensive types of metal, such as copper, zinc, and stainless steel, will cost 30% less than the cheapest slate or tile roof. Cedar roofs cost about 20% more than aluminum but last about three times less. Therefore, they are 3.5 times more expensive when considering how often they must be replaced.

When compared to other materials, metal consistently demonstrates superior performance in a wide range of inclement weather conditions. In fact, the majority of homeowners who end up installing a Houston metal roof, do so primarily because of the level of protection it affords when severe weather strikes. In the Northern states, there is an abundance of snow, ice, and hail. Metal roofs are unbeatable in protecting the home from ice dams and hail damage. They shed snow extremely fast, preventing water from backing up and leaking inside your home.

In the areas that are prone to wildfires, metal roofs protect homes from catching on fire. They are non-combustible and carry the highest fire rating of any roofing material in the industry.

In regions that are exposed to hurricanes, a metal roof will protect your home from suffering significant damage. Our roofs have a 140 mph wind rating. This means it will not be blown off or require extensive repair, such as the case with asphalt shingles.

In Texas, where homes are regularly exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, this roof can save you hundreds of dollars. Metal roofs cool your home by reflecting heat rather than absorbing it as asphalt shingle roofs do. The chances are that you currently use your cell phone in metal roofed buildings regularly. Think of the restaurants where you eat, the stores in which you shop, your bank, your church, etc. Many of those buildings have metal roofs or metal decks beneath flat roofs. Over the years, we have had less than five customers tell us their phone reception wasn’t affected.

If you currently have a very weak cell phone reception inside of your home, a metal roof may interfere further. Adding a cell phone signal booster in your house before metal roof is helpful. In fact, it comes in handy after your metal roof is installed as well. However, if you have fair to excellent cell phone reception now, the metal roof should not have any noticeable effect.

Our high-strength metals, combined with deep texturing, don’t lose their strength over time. This makes our roofs just as resistant to foot traffic and hail after years. Your product representative will be able to give you instructions on how to walk on your roof safely. Optional foam inserts are available for our shingle products in areas with heavy footing. The random texture of our metal shingles will mask any minor indentations which may occur.