Product Performance & Design Versatility Spur Increase in Metal Roofing Installations

Metal roofing was once seen as solely suitable for use on manufacturing plants and warehouses.  However, over the past few years, metal roofing has seen increasing use in the US on a wide range of structures, including residences, fast-casual restaurants, outdoor retail complexes, and senior living facilities.  

Going forward, this trend is expected to continue as construction professionals specify metal roofing due to its:

• resistance to damage caused by severe weather, such as hurricanes and hail storms
• ability to serve as cool roofing
• favorable aesthetics that add value to a property

Impact Resistance of Interest to Property Owners, Insurers Alike

A key factor in boosting interest in the use of metal roofing is its durability.  Home and business owners who have suffered hail damage -- such as in Colorado -- face a number of challenges while trying to fix or replace damaged roofing.  In many cases, these consumers will opt to install metal roofing because of its superior resistance to impact damage.  While asphalt or wood shingles can be broken or impaired by hail storms, most metal roofing varieties are engineered to withstand high-velocity impacts, such as those caused by hail -- greatly minimizing the risk of damage the next time a storm hits.

Insurance companies are also promoting the use of metal roofing as a way to reduce claims related to roofing replacement.  Many homes in the US are outfitted with older roofing materials (such as three-tab asphalt shingles) that are highly susceptible to damage caused by hailstorms.  Repairing the damage caused by severe weather can greatly affect an insurer’s profitability.  Some insurers require consumers to replace older roofs as a condition of maintaining coverage, while others firms offer discounts when storm-resistant roofing is installed.

Cool Roofing Properties to Drive Metal Roofing Demand in South & West

Reducing the amount of energy used to cool buildings has emerged as a key trend among building owners, designers, and those concerned about the environmental effects of burning fossil fuels.  Construction professionals are increasingly realizing that by using cool roofing, buildings can use energy more efficiently, saving money and the environment at the same time.  This is an especially important consideration in the southern half of the US, where air conditioning must be used extensively -- especially in summer months -- due to high heat and extended periods of sunlight.  Metal roofing qualifies as a cool roofing material due to its ability to:

• deflect solar radiation, thus keeping the roof of a structure cooler
• reduce the amount of heat transferred through the roof to the interior of a building

Going forward, more communities in the South and West will follow the lead of California and adopt building codes that require cool roofing on new and renovated structures.  As a result, designers will increasingly specify metal roofing to meet these mandates. 

Many Metal Products Offer Aesthetics as Well as Durability

In addition to its durability, metal roofing offers consumers a chance to enhance the exterior appearance of their homes and businesses.  While many people believe that metal roofing is only available in such drab colors as beige, white, and gray, manufacturers have worked to offer products in a wide range of bright and vibrant hues.  Furthermore, cognizant of the need to counter the perception that metal roofing is not suitable for use on residences, producers offer such metal roofing varieties as: 

• standing seam roofs with concealed fasteners
• products that look like roofing tiles or slate roofs
• granule-coated shingles and metal shakes that resemble traditional roofing materials
• Insulated metal panels that not only look attractive, but reduce installation times -- an important consideration for contractors dealing with labor shortages

For more information about the US metal roofing market, check out The Freedonia Group Study Metal Roofing in the US.

About The Author:

Matt Zielenski is a Senior Analyst at The Freedonia Group, where he covers trends in the use of building materials and related construction products in the US market.