| Installing a standing-seam roof can be a great | | | | Furthermore, metal roofing materials have |
| way to put your money into something that isn't | | | | another benefit over traditional materials, |
| going to wear out. While laying the paneling of one | | | | particularly when it comes to the hot depths of |
| of these hardy roofs over your home can be a | | | | summer, when heat gets absorbed by asphalt |
| swift, simple renovation that doesn't even require | | | | and fiber-glass, but copper, steel and aluminum |
| you to clear away the old roofing shingles, the | | | | reflect it. This means that you can save on your |
| ease of installation belies the hardiness of the | | | | air conditioning bills and enjoy the cool of regulated |
| materials. Furthermore, standing-seam roofs look | | | | temperature without solar interference. |
| great. The panels attach to a rigid base laid down | | | | Lastly, standing seam roofing panels are actually |
| over the existing roof, clipping neatly together in | | | | much more difficult to damage than other kinds |
| vertical lines stretching from the edge of the roof | | | | of roofing, due to the naturally elasticity of metal, |
| to the eaves. Since each panel conceals the clips | | | | and the consequent stress it can undergo before |
| that hold the one preceding it in place, the look is | | | | it becomes deformed. Under stringent tests, |
| neat, smooth and distinctively modern. | | | | metal roofing solutions have proven their capacity |
| Yet the fact is, the average contractor would | | | | to stay true to shape even in hurricane force |
| probably charge you significantly more to install | | | | winds, or when battered by hail the size of golf |
| traditional roofing materials, like clay, slate or | | | | balls. |
| fiberglass, than he would for installing a | | | | Still, it's hard to break a stereotype, and it'll be |
| standing-seam roof. The reason is that those | | | | some time before people hear "metal roofing" |
| old-school materials are much heavier than the | | | | without thinking of corrugated iron, and the |
| thin steel, copper or aluminum of which metal | | | | consequent associations of dull industrial buildings |
| roofing panels are made, and are hence a lot | | | | and cobbled-together shack homes. In all |
| more difficult to get onto someone's roof, not to | | | | probability, this is what keeps most people from |
| mention being more difficult to fix in place. Many | | | | even investigating the possibility of installing |
| manufacturers sell metal panels in pre-made | | | | standing a standing metal roof as an option when |
| sheets, cutting the amount of labor required to | | | | they start to build. Little do they know that the |
| assemble them by half. | | | | roofing materials they prefer, the slate and |
| In fact, aside from the fact that they might cost | | | | Tuscan tiling, can all be emulated to near exact |
| you a little more for the initial outlay, you'd find | | | | visual effect by disguised metal roofing, roofing |
| that making a list of the pros and cons of metal | | | | with all the benefits of modern materials and the |
| roofs would wind up leaving your page quite | | | | aesthetic appeal of traditional styles. Quite aside |
| lopsided. Metal panels get a first class rating in | | | | from these cases of masquerading metal, the |
| term of their fire hazard risk - meaning | | | | 90's trend towards minimalist architecture saw |
| they&'re no risk at all, and will protect you | | | | the creation of a wide range of beautiful metal |
| home from imminent combustion. With a lot of | | | | roofing products that, far from compromising the |
| insurance companies, this actually means that you'll | | | | visual appeal of your home, will only serve to |
| save a lot off your premiums - probably in the | | | | highlight it. |
| realm of 25 percent. | | | | |