Metal Roof Insurance?
We see old barns out in the country with metal roofing and commercial, industrial buildings with metal roofing. Is that something you’d like on your home? Probably not if it looked like the old barn roof, right?
Today, metal roofing looks much different than it did when that old barn was built. Metal roofing is designed and manufactured to look like any roofing material you want it to look like. It will match your home’s architectural style and it is available in different colors too.
Yet, many homeowners aren’t convinced about metal roofing, and there are many concerns that bring about endless questions. So, let’s answer a few of them and see if we can but that unknowing mindset to rest:
Replacing a roof is not cheap and nobody knows that better than insurance companies. The older a roof gets, the more susceptible it becomes to leaks, shingle loss, and more. So, when you have a new roof installed without an insurance claim attached, that tells the insurance company you’re a homeowner that is on top of your home’s maintenance and upkeep.
If that new roof is metal roofing, they will thank you with a discount on your homeowner’s insurance. They have done the research and studied the pros and cons of every type of roofing material there is and metal roofing wins hands down. It is less likely to be damage in storms, it is fire resistant, insect resistant, and durable in hailstorms and high winds. This means less likely you’ll be filing a claim on your homeowner’s insurance.
Does a metal roof need gutters?
For homeowners changing from an asphalt shingle roof to metal roofing, they wonder if metal roof and gutters are needed? The answer is not, not really, but it would be beneficial to your home’s foundation and landscaping.
An asphalt roofing will crack as it ages and those cracks allow rain to get under the shingles. With a gutter system in place, the rain flows over the asphalt shingles, into the gutter runs and out the downspouts.
Metal roofing doesn’t develop cracks where rain can get under it, so it just flows off the roof naturally. However, without a gutter system it runs straight down the roof, to the ground. There is pools up around your foundation, seeps under the foundation, causing it to shift and weaken. It floods your flower beds and gardens too, washing away the mulch and more. The rain can get behind your siding without a gutter system redirecting the flow too, causing more structural damage.
A neighbor’s metal roof is leaking, is that a common problem?
Metal roofing offers durability, performance, and strength that can’t be matched by most other roofing products. When installed by an experienced roofing contractor, there will be few issues with your metal roofing, but that doesn’t mean it will never have any issues. Five of the most common are listed here, much of which the experienced contractor is the answer, the rest is homeowner metal roofing maintenance:
- Metal screws – The metal roofing screws are a common problem that allows leaking. They are used with rubber washers and when the screw isn’t installed correctly, the rubber washer can’t create the gasket it supposed to. An experienced roofing contractor is aware of this and will make conscious efforts to assure each metal screw is properly installed with the rubber washer.
- Stack flashing – The stack flashings are another area that has tendency for leaks. These are rubber “boots” that fit around roof protrusions like HVAC vent, plumbing vents, etc. These boots will shift with the house and could allow leaks, or they age with the UV rays beating on them every day.
- This is why homeowner monthly checks are important. When you notice a boot misaligned or looking cracked and old, you can have it replaced before leaks begin. A temporary fix of caulking, sealing, or using roofing tar can help, but they can also create a place for water to pond, which will seep into the house.
- Sealant missing – Metal roofing sealants are installed when the roof is installed and will last as long as your metal roof lasts. As the rubber boots for stack flashings, they become aged and worn by the sun UV rays too. They also move with the house as it shifts, causing them sealant to loosen. Again, homeowner monthly maintenance check can catch these issues before they become a problem.
- Curb Flashing – When metal roofing has the HVAC unit installed on it, they are placed on curbs. An experienced HVAC contractor and roofing contractor will know that there isn’t room for error with this installation. The metal roofing installation on those curbs needs to be done correctly, or leaks will happen. As with the stack flashing, you can use caulking, sealing, or using roofing tar, but the same problem of ponding can happen and create leaks.
- Overlaps and seams – Where two pieces of the metal roofing overlap and create a seam, when not installed correctly, it can leak . This is a Capillary Draw, meaning the water travels uphill in between the two pieces of metal. It can be fixed with butyl tape or roofing sealant, but again, if not done correctly, that can create leaks and more problems.
