Aluminum roofing shingles are the second most popular roofing system for residential besides standing seam metal roofs. Aluminum shingles are made with a stamping press after a 3-step procedure. Most aluminum shingles are installed from the bottom to the top during the installation, where they are first attached to the drip-edge or starter trim.
Then, they are secured with nails, built-in hems, or special clips. Here are the aluminum shingles pros and cons that can be considered for you who are planning to have them.
Advantages of Aluminum Roofing Shingles
Durability
Aluminum is amazingly resistant to fire, wind, and impact. It will give protection from external fire dangers to buildings. Moreover, aluminum does not rot.
Environmentally Friendly
Aluminum can be recycled so that it can be reused at the end of its lifespan. On the other hand, other roofing materials such as asphalt/bitumen roof contributes to a great amount of waste in landfills. Moreover, aluminum shingles have a reflective characteristic that reflects the sunlight. This helps reduce a home’s energy usage for cooling.
Appearance & Lightweight
The aluminum shingles have an overlapping design. So that it can give a more natural and staggered look. Moreover, aluminum is a lightweight material compared to other roofing materials so that it gives less stress to your house.
Lifespan
As it is said before, aluminum is durable. Because of their durability, it can last for a long time. There are many manufacturers of aluminum shingles and metal roofs that provide a lifetime guarantee or a 50-year guarantee for their roofing.
Disadvantages of Aluminum Roofing Shingles
High Initial Cost
In general, aluminum shingles and metal roofs have more expensive initial costs than other roofing materials, such as asphalt. However, homeowners can save more money by having aluminum shingles because of their durability.
Noise
Aluminum shingles siding cannot shut down the noise that comes from rain or hail. Some people can be irritated by this noise. Aluminum shingles are more likely to magnify the sound of rain hitting a metal roof. So, for you who have kids or wish to live in a quiet condition all the time, you might want to consider having this kind of shingle at your house.
Hail
Even though aluminum has fine overall wind, fire, and impact ratings, this material is most likely to get dented by large hails than other roofing materials.
Those are the advantages and disadvantages of aluminum shingles. If you doubt using this kind of shingles, there are some alternatives that you can use, such as composite shingles. Composite shingles are also environmentally friendly because they are made from recyclable materials.
They can be reused and recycled at the end of their lifespan. Or, you can choose architectural shingles. It is made from asphalt that has a layered design. So architectural shingles have as great durability as aluminum shingles.
Aluminum roofing systems are a popular choice for homeowners looking for energy efficiency and longevity. The lightweight aluminum metal shingles reflect heat and are backed by a transferable 50-year warranty, making them a great choice for energy-saving roofing products.
