Galvanized Metal Roof RepairHow to Use Galvanized Metal to Prevent Roof MoldHow to Repair a Galvanized Metal RoofHow to Prepare a Rusted Galvanized Metal Roof for PaintingHow do I Use Galvanized Metal to Prevent Roof Mold?What Is a Galvanized Metal Roof?
Print this article Galvanized metal lasts longer than asphalt shingles. When you are selecting a material for your roof, you are probably factoring in aesthetics, cost and durability. A galvanized metal roof compares fairly well to other options in cost and durability, with aesthetics being a matter of personal taste. Most new residential housing is roofed with asphalt shingles, although these don't last as long as metal roofing.
Material
Galvanized metal is created by dipping sheets of steel into molten zinc and causing it to adhere using an electric current. This process protects the surface of the steel from rust and makes it more durable in outdoor weather conditions. Steel roofing can also be painted or enameled, both of which are also designed to protect the steel from rust. Galvanized steel is used in many applications where the metal comes into contact with water, including pipes, buckets and water storage tanks.
Installation
Manufactured in sheets that are typically 2-feet wide and 8-, 10- or 12-feet long, these sheets have ridges built into them to increase their stiffness and as a place to put screws through where they are less likely to leak. Galvanized metal roofing is installed by screwing it down to furring strips that are laid horizontally on top of rafters. Metal roofing screws have rubber gaskets on them that press against the screw holes to prevent leakage.
Advantages
Inexpensive in comparison to many other kinds of roofing, galvanized metal roofing also requires less labor to install because the sheets are so big. A single 2 x 10-foot sheet of metal roofing covers 20 square feet of roof and can be installed in a fraction of the time that laying shingles would take. Metal roofing is very durable and will last for decades. Proper installation that allows for ventilation in the attic will help to prevent rust and prolong the life of the roofing.
Disadvantages
Metal roofing has become associated in many people's minds with barns and cheap rural housing, which is an unfair characterization, but many people don't like how it looks and prefer shingles. In a house without an attic, metal roofing can be very loud during a rainstorm. It can also get extremely hot under bright sun, adding to the heat in an attic and making working on it difficult during hot weather. If metal roofing isn't properly screwed down, there is a risk of it blowing off in severe storms and becoming a safety hazard.
References
Steel Roofing: Most Frequently Asked Questions
Mechanical Metals: Corrugated Metal Roofing and Siding Material
Berlin Metals: Galvanized Steel (Electro and Hot Dipped)
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