Is a Metal Roof Worth It?

Do you put gutters on a metal roof?

Gutters can go on any home with a roof, that includes those with metal roofing. That is if the gutters can attach to the fascia and get bracketed to hold it steady. Gutters should be close to the edge of the roof by being held high on the fascia so as to make the system as efficient as possible. Furthermore, a metal roof can be superior to other forms of roofing due to water and debris flowing off of the roof faster thanks to the slick surface. 

That said, gutters are not necessarily a requirement for homeowners with a metal roof. This is due to a metal roof being highly resistant to what a gutter prevents. The gutter itself is meant to move rainwater from the roof and help with the natural flow that happens during storms. A metal roof naturally does that, so a gutter may be much better suited to gathering rainwater or moving it to a specific location if a gutter system were to be installed. 

This is the case for metal roofing installation over a shingled roof as well, which is an absolutely possible thing. While installing a metal roof over shingles will grant the house a superior toughness to the elements, it will also build the chance of moisture getting trapped inside. Furthermore, repairs to such a roof would be more expensive due to the layering a roofer would have to go through if there were a leak or heavy damaging.

Do metal roofs make houses hotter?

Metal roofing installation has more than a couple of misconceptions about how it can affect parts of normal living. For example, as mentioned a metal roof makes a home cooler in warmer months rather than the other way around. This is because metal roofing reflects radiant sunlight away and does not absorb as much energy as a normal roof does. This helps your air conditioner and home overall be more energy efficient. That is by way of the metal roof helping the installed HVAC system to keep the area at a better temperature-controlled state. When a home is cooler, other electrical appliances do not have to work as hard and do not short out as often. 

A similar misconception is found when people assume that a metal roof is loud when it rains. In fact, a metal roof is quieter than most roofs thanks to the deck beneath the roofing. While it may make some noise on the exterior of the home, it is not nearly as loud as older models. Residents with a metal roof installed will have no problems with the noise when the weather turns to rain.

Do metal roofs affect cell phone reception?

Metal roofing by no means affects a cellular signal inside your home due to it having no materials that work against such signals built into the panels used to create your roof. However, homes with weaker signals may experience an amplification in the spots that have weak and strong services. However, a homeowner that is interested in a metal roof will want to get a stronger wifi connection due to how the material reacts with that specific material. With a wifi system being similar to radio, metal tends to disrupt the signal sent out wirelessly. That is why we recommend a home that has a hard-wired system to compliment the wireless system if the signal is not strong enough.