Are you considering a metal shake roof? Please read our post on the pros and cons of metal cedar shake roofing before you make a final decision. Metal shake tiles are a lightweight and easy to install roofing product with the strength to stand up against severe winds. Unfortunately, metal shake roofing’s high price, noise issues, denting problems, zero R-value, thermal expansion, and cosmetic insurance exclusions may steer you away from metal shake roofing.
What are Metal Shake Shingles?
Metal shake-roofing tiles create the look of warm and inviting cedar shake roofing, but with better durability than cedar. Metal cedar shakes provide fire and insect resistance and will not split. The composition of metal shake shingle roofing includes various metals and alloys, like galvanized steel, galvalume steel, and stone-coated steel. Metal cedar shakes look just like wood cedar shakes and come in numerous design and color options that can accommodate many architectural styles and designs.
Why Choose a Metal Shake Roof?
The many choices of roofing products, including metal shake tiles, challenges today’s homeowners to decide the best product for their house. Many homeowners pick metal shake tiles for its aesthetic beauty that mimics wood cedar shakes. Its strength and the ease in handling due to its lightweight nature also appeals to many homeowners. Homeowners can appreciate the protection that a metal shake roof provides, particularly in regions with heavy rains, wildfires, and severe winds. The stiffness, strength, and ductility of metal roofs creates earthquake-resistant roofs. These disaster-resistant features can save homeowners on costly repairs after a natural disaster. The lightweight metal roof can also contribute towards lowering installation costs.
Wind Resistance
Severe winds can put your roof at risk of serious damage, expensive repairs to both the roof and entire house, and can even shorten your roof's life. To protect yourself and your home and save on repairs, you should consider installing a wind-resistant roof. Metal shake roofs will protect a home from severe winds and wind-driven rain during dangerous weather events like tornados and hurricanes. According to the Metal Roofing Alliance, metal roofing achieves a 140-miles per hour wind rating and can withstand wind gusts against category 4 hurricanes like Laura and Harvey. The wind-resistance of a metal roof depends on correct installation with attachment methods and interlocking and overlapping panel systems.
Lightweight
Metal shake tiles offer financial advantages to both the builder and homeowner. Lightweight-metal shake tiles cost less to ship. Also, workers can easily handle the metal shake tiles, making installation safer and less expensive than heavier roofing products, like concrete or clay. Metal shake tiles weigh between 50 and 150 pounds per square, which eliminates the need for an additional substructure, often required with concrete (600-1000 pounds per square), clay (600-1500 pounds per square), and slate (700-3000 pounds per square) roofing products.
Easy Installation
Homeowners need to consider a roofing product’s ease of installation in order to limit their home's exposure to outside elements. Fortunately, metal shake tiles are a simple installation compared to heavy roofing tiles, which lessens the chance of damage due to an unexpected severe weather event. Easy and quick to install, metal shake roofing comes in 12- and 36-inch (0.3048- to 0.9144-meter) panels or multiple-shingle sections. Some builders can install lightweight metal roofing right over an old roof. Installing a metal roof instead of traditional roofing like asphalt reduces labor needs and saves builders and homeowners significant time and money.
The Downsides of Metal Shake Roofing
Homeowners must consider all of the issues with a metal roof and long-term costs before deciding to use it. Expensive and noisy,metal shake roofing is prone to dents and thermal expansion, leading to costly and time-consuming maintenance and repairs. It is also important to know that insurance companies often won’t pay for damage to metal roofs caused by hail.
Dents
A dent in a metal roof compromises its integrity, making the roof and house prone to long-term damage and costly repairs. To avoid the problems of a dented-metal roof, homeowners should consider impact-resistant, Class 4 roofing systems. Falling branches, large hail, and even walking on a metal roof can quickly dent and damage it. A dented roof not only reduces your home's curb appeal but also significantly affects the roof's performance. If not immediately repaired, water will pool in the dents, which leads to rust and corrosion and ultimately costly repairs or even a complete roof replacement. Furthermore, water may seep into the house if the dents become too compromised, creating a breeding ground for damaging and unhealthy mold.
Cost
Homeowners that choose metal shake roofing for its beauty, durability, and sustainably should be prepared for a hefty price tag. When comparing roofing products, homeowners should consider installation as well as the long-term costs for maintenance and repairs. Metal shake roofs cost between $100 to $1500 cost per square depending on the type of metal material installed, much more than asphalt, but in line with other premium roofing products, like cedar shakes. Metal roof installation requires specialized training, knowledge, tools, equipment, and insulation,further increasing the cost of a new metal shake roof.
Noise
During heavy rains and hailstorms, the noise that a metal shake roof makes can disrupt a home's peace and quiet. To minimize the sound, you will need to apply extra layers of solid sheathing or insulation, adding more cost to the already high metal roofing price.
Heat
A green, energy-efficient roof saves energy and money and creates a comfortable home. Unfortunately, metal shake roofs provide no insulative value. Homeowners interested in building an eco-friendly home should avoid metal shake roofing. Metal shake roofs have a zero R-value, making them ineffective at stopping heat transfer, significantly increasing your energy bill. For your home's comfort and to save energy, you must install adequate insulation with a metal shake roof. A metal roof expands during high heat events and then contracts when it cools down (thermal expansion), causing its seams to crack. Preventing the seams' cracking during thermal expansion requires installing fasteners to the roof that allow some movement between the shingles and panels. Moisture will seep through the cracked seams and into the roof, without this step, causing damaging corrosion, rusting, and mold.
Cosmetic Insurance Inclusions
Many insurance companies include cosmetic damage exclusions in homeowner’s policies. Unfortunately, most adjusters consider most hail damage to a metal roof cosmetic, claiming that minor dents don’t allow leaks, so insurance companies won’t pay for the repairs.
A Better Alternative to Metal Shake Roofing
Synthetic cedar shakes from Brava Roof Tile have an initial cost that compares to metal cedar shakes. Our products will significantly save you money and time on utility bills and costly maintenance and repairs. Brava composite tiles, with a high R-value, provide some insulative value compared to metal shake and other traditional composite. They cool roofs that reflect solar heat, further helping homeowners save energy and reducing their heating and cooling bills. Brava's cedar shakes won't dent, crack, or split during hailstorms and severe wind events, protecting the roof and home from water damage. Furthermore, all Brava roofing products resist damaging mold since they do not absorb water. Synthetic shake-roofing tiles also maintain their integrity during freeze/thaw cycles and extreme heat.
Why Synthetic Cedar Shakes Are the Best Choice?
Brava's synthetic cedar shakes feature the rustic split texture of a natural cedar shake roof, but with impact, moisture, and fire resistance. Synthetic cedar shakes ensure long-term savings through near-zero maintenance and repair requirements. Furthermore, sustainable synthetic cedar shakes create comfortable, energy-saving homes. Not to mention, Brava's cedar shakes also come in a variety of colors, which you can see in our visualizer, photos, or videos.
Why Choose Synthetic Cedar Over Metal Shakes?
Brava's synthetic cedar shakes provide a superior alternative to metal cedar shakes. Unlike metal roofing, synthetic cedar shakes—including Brava's award winning roofing—resist heat, moisture, and denting, produce less noise, and maintain their integrity during severe temperature swings, all of which save money and time on maintenance and repairs. To make it even better, you can view a sample, request a quote, or find a contractor through Brava. The best part is,
Save with Brava's Synthetic Cedar Shakes
For long-term savings and your family's comfort, consider Brava's synthetic cedar shakes over metal cedar shakes. For more reasons why Brava's synthetic cedar shakes are the best choice for your next roofing project, contact us at Brava Roof Tile today.
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