Back in the days, metal roofs didn’t get much love from the homeowners. However, that trend is slowly changing as it’s enjoying a very wide appeal as a roofing material. Moreover, in the earlier days, metal roofs can only be found in a single colour which was the ‘metal’ colour. But, not anymore as you can find most metal roofs these days in a wide range of colours across multiple homes.
So, as a home buyer, you must know the basic information about this roof type, including its installation and the common defects that home inspectors generally find during their pre purchase home inspection procedures. Therefore, to provide you with all of that content, we have created this comprehensive guide that you should go through in its entirety.
Knowing The Basic Merits & Demerits Of Homes Having Metal Roofs
Merits
- Lightweight and impact resistant
- Highly cost-effective
- Can be available in either panels or shingles
- Can shed snow, rain or any other debris easily
- Incombustible
- Looks beautiful
- Available in materials such as zinc, steel, copper and aluminium
Demerits
- Susceptible to rust or corrosion
- Expands and contracts in the summer & winter months respectively
The Installation Of Metal Roofs
It should be known that installation of a metal roof very much depends on the type of material that has been used for the purpose including the roof shape and the type of roof that is being built. However, usually, vertical seams are utilised for installation as the horizontal installation isn’t going to be appropriate at all. The metal roofs are affixed using metal roof fasteners, which generally consists of neoprene washers and metal screws. As a result, the screw holes become watertight. Nails are avoided for this kind of installation.
Common Metal Roof Defects That Home Inspectors Tend To Assess
- Rust
One of the most widespread defects of metal roofs involves rusting or corrosion. Corrosion is common along the metal roof edges where the protective coating has worn off and the same can happen around the metal fasteners. It can be difficult to spot early signs of corrosion from the ground level, but still, home inspectors avoid walking on metal roofs as they can bend easily. Moreover, on a hot, sunny day, these metal roofs can get very hot.
- Fastener Failure
This is another common defect that home inspectors tend to find with respect to metal roofs. Over time, these screws or fasteners get loosened up or even lead to corrosion, leading to fastener failures. Moreover, if these screws are over-tightened, then they can cause dimples or dents onto the metal roof surface. Over-tightening can lead to failures as well.
- Other Defects
Apart from the defects that are mentioned above, debris can also start collecting in between the metal roof seams, which can lead to leaks. And any water leaks will directly lead to corrosion.
And with that last point pretty much sums up our extensive guide on metal roofs. We hope that our guide will help you make better purchase decisions when buying a home with metal roofs and for any additional assistance, reach out to us any time.
