Breaking News

roofing materials

Zinc Roof: Do You Really Need It? This Will Help You Decide!

Installation can make your life easier, especially if you are installing a zinc roof over another solid roof. Installing zinc strips on your home’s roof is not only good for waterproofing but also adds value to your home. The cost of installing zinc strips on a roof depends on the size of the roof and how much you want to insulate (multiple sections can be done at once) but typically ranges from $550 to $950.

Budget

If your budget isn’t that big and you don’t need something with the same durability as zinc, a metal roof that looks like zinc may be a better cost-saving option. While zinc may or may not be the best choice for your particular situation, there are indeed many reasons to choose a metal roof. Metal roofing materials made of steel, copper, and zinc also have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Metal roofs are made from a variety of materials including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, zinc, and aluminum alloys. Metal roofs, including copper, zinc, and steel, are excellent roofing materials that provide protection for decades, require minimal maintenance, and beautify your home. Galvalume, aluminum, zinc, copper, and stainless steel are all great metal roofing solutions. Whether your roof is steep or has a relatively low pitch, metal can work well for your roofing needs.

Zinc is always a good choice for homeowners and entrepreneurs looking for a metal roofing material that will stand the test of time. To help you decide if a zinc roof is right for you, we’ll take a look at the impressive pros and cons of zinc. When choosing the right roof for your roofing project, consider the benefits a zinc roof can bring to your home or commercial building.

What should you choose?

Maybe you should reconsider: Few roofing materials can match the impressive durability and versatility of zinc. Like copper roofs, zinc is very durable and easy to form, making it a great option for those looking for a durable roofing solution while enhancing the appearance of their home. Zinc has greater environmental value because it requires less fuel to produce, in fact, boil it and form it into coils from the metal sheets used to make zinc roofing sheets.

In particular, the durability of zinc roofs will save you thousands of costly roof repairs since you will almost never need to call someone else to fix it. Expensive – The cost of stainless steel matches that of zinc and copper, making it the best choice for metal roofing. Currently, stainless steel roofing can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,200 per square of coverage depending on finish, panel type, and thickness. Copper roofs cost between $4 and $15 per square foot and are considered one of the highest quality types of metal roofing you can install.

When installing a new metal roof, keep in mind that the underlayment and other accessories needed to successfully install a metal roof can cost anywhere from $4.00 to $5.00 per square meter, which you’ll want to factor into your total installation price. The cost of materials ranges from $1.75 to $4 per square foot for aluminum and $4 to $7 per square foot for copper, depending on the complexity of the roofing. The base price for a copper or zinc roof installation starts at $1,800 per square meter for materials and labor.

Costs that will change your mind

Zinc roofs can cost anywhere from $600 to $900 per square meter, although many variables affect the price. In fact, to anyone familiar with the prices of standard roofing materials such as asphalt or clay, the price of a zinc roof can be shocking. While metal roofs have higher initial material and installation costs than tile roofs, they have a much longer lifespan, lasting anywhere from 40 to 80 years depending on the type of metal.

While you may have to pay to replace traditional tiles several times over the life of your home, a high-quality metal roof is likely to be the last roof your home needs. A properly installed metal roof typically lasts as long as a house, with an expected lifespan of 40 to 70 years, and a manufacturer’s warranty typically ranges from 30 to 50 years. When properly installed, some metal roofs can withstand wind speeds of up to 140 mph without corrosion or cracking, and are also impact resistant (depending on the product selected). There are more affordable metal roofing options, such as steel sheets, which usually cost slightly less, and high-quality materials, such as copper roofing, which tends to be an average on the more expensive side and the cost of a new roof replacement. Installation costs up to $48,000.

Cheaper than copper roofing

The only more expensive type of roofing is copper roofing. Copper can be 4 to 15 times more expensive than an asphalt roof, but with proper installation and maintenance, it can last over 100 years. Galvanized steel roofing can easily last 40 to 60 years with little to no maintenance, comes with its own warranty, and is cheaper than zinc. If you live in the US, you may not have thought about zinc before, since it hasn’t become hugely popular here yet, but here’s a fun fact: 70% of all residential roofs in Europe are covered with galvanized metal panels.

Improper installation is a danger to any roofing material, but the stakes are slightly higher when it comes to zinc and other metals. Steel and aluminum, the two most common metals used in residential roofing, hold up well to paintwork. However, zinc and copper roofing does not require any special coatings to achieve superior strength and durability in any environment, even in extreme marine conditions. 

In conclusion

Rooted in centuries of use, copper metal plating does not rust, has no “surface” to scratch or flake off, is soft enough to be easily machined, and naturally resists the beautiful green patina. Learn more at Litcore.ie.