Steel roofing, also known as metal roofing or metal shingle roofing, is a system that uses many different styles of roofing using metal. What is generally thought of as steel roofing is metal shingle roofing. This roofing is designed to resemble wood shakes.
It is truly amazing how close in appearance many types of steel or metal roofing shingles can be to wood shingles or tile and slate. Companies that make this type of product actually reduce the shininess of the metal by texturing it and layering the finish. Even close up these can be difficult to tell from the real thing.
While these shingle systems appear to be individual shingles put onto a roof. There actually made up of large sections of roofing, generally about 4 feet long, that are created for quick installation. There are types that are made of single shingles that can be applied individually; however, most systems use the big panels.
Why Use Steel Roofing?
Steel roofing may be preferred over standard wood shake or tile roofing due to several factors. First of all, metal roofing is usually less expensive than the types of roofing it is trying to emulate. This may be a significant factor for homeowners, because replacing an entire roof can be quite expensive.
Another reason consumers choose to use steel roofing, rather than wood shakes or tiles, is due to how fire resistant steel roofing is. Steel roofing can be given a class A in fire resistance if the materials used underneath the roofing are appropriate for this rating. In order to keep their roofs as safe as possible, homeowner should ensure that they use the appropriate materials under their roofing. While the large panels can sometimes be installed over old roofing materials, the shingle style steel roofing may need to be installed after all old missing materials have been removed.
Steel roofing may also be easier to install and less expensive to install than its counterparts. It also requires very little maintenance and can keep its new appearance for many years. Many metal roofing systems only require that they be hosed off occasionally to keep their nice appearance.
Other Types of Roofing Products
There are of course other types of products that a consumer can choose from in addition to metal-style roofing. Some of the more common types include the wood shakes and tile that some metal roofing materials attempt to emulate. Other styles include asphalt shingles, which are the most popular roofing material in the US and are put on four out of five homes.
