For Gulf South residents, our top concern when buying a new home or renovating an old one is always the same: how the house will stand up to hurricanes. So as you compare different roofing options, you may find yourself wondering: Are metal roofs better for hurricanes?
When severe weather comes, one of the most vulnerable parts of your home is the roof. Weak roofing could fly off your house, let water in, or even cave in completely. Read on to learn why metal roofs are the better option for standing up to the weather.
Common Hurricane Damage
Most people know that roofs are often damaged or destroyed in hurricanes, but what does that actually mean?
- Wind Damage. Hurricane winds can reach over 150 MPH. Those winds are strong enough to rip shingles or tiles from the roof or even tear our roof fastenings. There’s also a sharp change in pressure between the air outside and the air inside a structure, which can cause the roof to literally uplift.
- Water Damage. When severe weather comes to town, you’re most likely to deal with some level of water damage or leaks. Heavy rain can often seep into small cracks and open spaces in your roof. Wind-driven rain from a hurricane can further break down shingles to let even more water into your home.
- Impact Damage. Tree limbs, debris, and other flying objects can be shaken loose by a hurricane, then fall directly onto the roof. These objects will often take shingles or tiles with them if they’re small, or if they’re large enough, fall in through the roof.
Are Metal Roofs Better for Hurricanes? A Comparison of Roofing Materials
There are several different types of roofing to choose from, with different aesthetic and practical advantages.
Asphalt Shingles
When you picture a generic roof of a residential home, there’s a good chance you’re picturing a roof with asphalt shingles. Affordable and compatible with almost any climate, these are the most common type of roofing in the United States.
While they technically work in all environments, they aren’t the best option in all environments. They have a relatively short lifespan, and due to their lightweight nature and many connection points, they’re vulnerable to weather damage.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles have a unique look that many homeowners love. They’re also sturdy–able to withstand high winds, heavy rain, and freezing temperatures. But they’re expensive to install. And because of their high weight, your roof might require extra reinforcement.
Slate
Slate has many of the same advantages (and disadvantages) of clay tile roofing. It’s fire-resistant, waterproof, and has the added benefit of being resistant to mold and fungus. But similarly to tile, it’s expensive, extremely heavy, and requires a reinforced roof to install.
Metal Roofing
Insurance companies have studied whether metal roofs are better for hurricanes, and their findings show that they are. Metal roofing gives homeowners the best of both worlds: The resilience and protection of slate or tile roofing, with the cost and weight of shingles. It can last 50-70 years, and it comes in panel or shingle form depending on your preferences.
Metal roofs are also especially energy efficient, which makes them a great choice for Louisiana homeowners who often spend a good chunk of their electricity bill cooling the house.
Why Metal Roofing Holds Up
Metal roofing has some clear overall advantages. But why are metal roofs better for hurricanes than any other type of roofing? There are a few clear reasons why metal roofs stand out.
- Metal Roofs are Durable. They’re far less vulnerable to debris than other objects, and their high-quality materials are harder to damage. Because most metal roofs come in panels, it’s also more difficult to dislodge an individual piece of a metal roof compared to a single shingle.
- Metal Roofs are Wind-Resistant. Their interlocking panel design makes metal roofs particularly well-equipped to withstand strong winds.
- Metal Roofs are Long-Lasting. Metal roofs are one of the most low-maintenance, long-lasting roofing options, which means that they’re less likely to encounter the sort of slow, imperceptible damage that can make shingles or other roofing options vulnerable to severe weather without your knowledge. Shingles can crack or mold without your knowledge, making them that much weaker in the event of a storm.
Proper Installation Makes the Difference
By choosing a metal roof, you’re setting your home, your family, and yourself up for minimal damage in the event of extreme weather. But that doesn’t mean you’re totally out of the woods yet.
When it comes to the strength of your roof, installation is everything. If your metal roof is installed poorly, it won’t matter that you have the best material for the weather. And if the installation was done incorrectly enough, you may not even qualify for your warranty.
For any roofing job–and especially ones where extreme weather is a concern–it’s essential that you don’t cut corners. This is not the place to DIY and try to save a couple bucks. Call in the experts, so you don’t end up needing to redo your roof right after the next storm hits.
Stay Calm Through Hurricane Season With a Metal Roof from Walker Metals
In the Gulf South, most of us spend June through November holding our breaths and watching the weather report. We’re concerned about our communities, our personal safety, and of course, our home’s preparedness for severe weather and hurricanes.
But you don’t need to wait until a storm moves into the Gulf to start taking precautions. Now is the time to finally repair that old roof or swap out the roof of your new home for one that you can trust.
There’s a pretty clear consensus on the question, “Are metal roofs better for hurricanes?” They definitely are. So take the next step in protecting your property and your peace of mind for next hurricane season.Give Walker Metals a call at (225) 791-7791 for high-quality, American-made metal roofing supplies that will make your roof sturdy, attractive, and long-lasting.
