What are metal roof tiles made of?

The first line of defense for your home is the roof. It is the roof that protects your belongings and your family from the elements like the scorching sun, hailstorms, and heavy rains. Which roofing material you choose, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal roof vs tile, will make a big difference in that level of protection and your comfort. 

While it is a matter of personal preference, there are factors between these roofing materials that must be considered. Those factors include your home’s location and the climate of that location, your budget, and your home’s architectural style. If you have narrowed down your choice between metal roofing or tile roofing, here are the pros and cons you need to account for in your decision process: 

• Durability and Resistance: Concrete tile has a lifespan expectancy of 50 years versus metal roofing’s lifespan up to 45 years. Concrete tiles withstand the tough weather elements. Metal roofing is affected by environmental conditions resulting in rust. Metal roofing will dent versus concrete tile won’t. 
• Energy Efficiency: Both concrete tile and metal roof energy efficiency with concrete tile outperforming metal with better control over internal temperature.  
• Design and Style: Ceramic tile and metal roofing have both evolved over the years, but metal roofing has an advantage of a better fit with every architectural style. The design choice can impact a home’s aesthetic appeal and the resale value. The cost of a metal roofing has a 90% return of investment.
• Maintenance: Metal roofing tends to dull over time where concrete tile maintains its appearance. Metal roofing can be challenging to repair if replacement pieces are needed because of that color change. 
• Cost: Metal roofing should only be installed by a contractor with experience, skills, and technical expertise in using a metal roof tile cutter. Because of the specialty required of metal roofing, the cost of installation is higher. 

Can I walk on metal roof?

A myth came to be when someone said metal roofing could not be walked on because, in reality, yes, you can walk on a metal roof. You simply need to know how and that will depend on what type of metal roofing. In the case of a metal tile roof, you should only walk on the low spots that are close to the roof decking.

The truth about walking on a metal roof, it will hold up better under than a ceramic tile roof. In fact, even an asphalt shingled roofing can be damaged with too much foot traffic over a period of time. For the 50 year expected lifespan of a metal tile roof, it is safe for foot traffic when following the advice given above. 

Are metal roofs noisy?

The claim that a metal tile roof is going to be noisy is nothing more than a mislead rumor. The metal roofs that we all remember being noisy, on that old barn at grandpa’s farm, is because the metal sheets were installed right on the rafters. There was decking, felt, or any of the other materials used today with metal tile roofing. With a strong sheathing installed between the metal tile roof material and existing roofing surface, then adding insulation in the attic, the noise factor is reduced. 

What is the longest lasting roofing material?

Experts will tell you that a slate roof is the longest lasting material for roofing that you can have. A lifespan expectancy of 150 years or more, it can be the roof to give your home generations of protection. However, because of many drawbacks, expense being one of them, metal tile roofing is the next longest lasting material with a lifespan of 80 years with proper care and maintenance.