Metal roof for home instead of shingles?

[Disneefun]

I read this (http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/07/06/1010970_the-little-known-disadvantage-of-a-metal-roof.html) and it pretty much turned me off of a metal roof.

I looked into it further after reading and the firefighters here told us that this is indeed true. They can't fight a fire from above with a metal roof as easily or quickly as a a shingle roof. And if it collapses, there's nothing they can do but wait it out.

I don't know about homeowners ins. going up or not, but the fact that a house fire cannot be as easily fought is indeed true, at least according to our local fire department (and since they'd be the ones putting it out, they're the ones I listened to).

 

[DawnS]

My DH is a Fire fighter and this is not true at all, in fact several guys on the dept have metal roofs on their personal houses. They do not require any different equipment if there were a fire. Also not sure where you get the acts as an oven , again not true. If a metal roof was less safe than a shingled roof home owners insurance would go up, but in fact your home owners insurance will go down with a metal roof.

I agree with you. My husband is a retired DoD fire captain, and we would not have had it installed if it was a hazard. Our homeowners ins. went down about $150 a year. We do have a cape cod with wraparound porch so it fits the style of our home.

 

[rock_doctor]

If you can afford it, the metal is the best way to go plus you get some great color choices. We have an aluminum roof on our house. It is a .025" thick aluminum. Went though the eye of Sandy (100+ mph winds) no problems what so ever. Our insurance actually gave us money back from our insurance premium because we did not have any wind damage. Go metal. It is likely the last roof you will put on the house.

 

[mickeyboat]

DH is a roofer and is not a fan of metal roofs. If you live in a snowy location, pay close attention to where all that snow is going to end up. Make sure it doesn't back up on a shallow-pitched porch roof. Make sure it won't pile up and block windows and doors. Make sure it won't cause any problems in the Spring when it all melts in your yard.

 

[brockash]

Thanks everyone. The house is in S. Alabama, so snow isn't a factor.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

When I was renting a house a few years ago, our landlord installed a metal roof. I really disliked it, because the house had a partial wrap-around porch. The roof of the porch was also covered with the metal, and when it rained, it was LOUD. The rain on the roof over the rooms didn't sound bad, but our bedroom windows were above the porch roof, and the noise coming in the windows was really too loud.

So, if you have a porch roof like that, maybe shingle just that part.

TP