Chris Says... The So-Called Metal Roofing Niche

It’s funny to hear homeowners today wonder about the appropriateness of metal roofing as an option for their home – especially considering that for centuries metal was the roof of choice for buildings intended to last for generations.

For a significant number of years in this country, throughout most of the 19th century, the options for homeowners were primarily slate, clay, wood, or metal. The use of asphalt and asphalt shingles didn’t even arise until the early 20th century. When it did, it was not because asphalt was a superior product to the usual options– but only because it was cheap and easy to install.

To this date, the roofs that are chosen for permanence still include most of the 19th century options. Asphalt was considered a patch or a short-term fix for the longest time because everyone in construction knows that tar-based roofs decompose in heat and sun. It’s never a question of whether they will need to be replaced, only a question of when. The reason that tar-based roof materials became such a significant product was due to the demand for cheap building materials.

In North America, with the value of residences at an all-time high, it’s no surprise that the roof materials chosen by artisans of years gone by are becoming noticed again, and metal roofs belong to that category.