How Do Metal Roofs Stand Up To Texas Weather?

Texas is known for many things; one of which is its extreme weather. Summers can reach temperatures over 100 degrees and winters can bring ice and snow. Hurricanes and tornadoes also frequently rip through the state. You may wonder which is the best type of roof to endure extreme weather. The answer is a standing seam metal roof. A metal roof can stand up to all harsh weather elements, lower energy costs at the same time, and lasts longer than other roofing options. In this article we’ll discuss how metal roofs fare against extreme weather.

Extreme Heat

A metal roof may seem like it would make your house hotter in high temperatures but it actually handles heat very well. Standing seam metal roofing panels deflect the sun’s rays away from the house. Deflecting heat away keeps your house cooler and in turn lowers your energy costs since you won’t need to run your air conditioning on high constantly. A light colored metal roof will deflect more UV rays than a dark colored roof so keep that in mind if you live in an area that has hotter summers than colder winters. Metal roofs also don’t deteriorate and fade in the sun as quickly as other roofing materials such as asphalt shingles and clay tiles.

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Extreme Cold

Image of snow on a metal roof in a extreme cold climate

Texas doesn’t suffer from extreme cold weather throughout the state but the West and the Panhandle can get considerable amounts of ice and snow in the winter months. Homeowners in those areas will benefit from a metal roof during the summer but it’s also helpful in the winter. Metal roofs with quality insulation are excellent at keeping cool air inside the house during summertime and work just as well keeping warm air from escaping through the roof during winter. This also contributes to lowering your energy costs. Another benefit is it’s harder for large amounts of snow and ice to accumulate on the roof because the metal acts as a slide and the snow falls off easily. You won’t have to worry about a roof collapse from excessive weight or leaks from melting snow if the snow and ice can’t build up on the roof. If you happen to live in an area that is prone to receiving large amounts of snow then ask your roofing contractor about a snow retention system to prevent any runoff from hurting people or property below.

Strong Winds

Texas experiences hurricanes along the coast, tornadoes in the central and northern areas and severe thunderstorms throughout the state. These weather events bring strong destructive winds with them. High winds create wind uplift which is when a gust of wind moves across the roof’s surface and creates a suction. This suction will lift the roof or sections of it off and leave the house and occupants exposed to the elements. Asphalt shingles can start to be ripped off in 70 mph winds and the whole roof could be lost in winds over 100 mph. Even if you only lose a couple shingles; your roof’s substructure will be exposed to rain and can cause leaks. Standing seam metal roofs on the other hand can resist wind uplift at 140 mph. Your roofing contractor can install special clips and hardware to increase your metal roof’s durability in winds up to 180 mph if you live in a tornado or hurricane prone area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which helps people and first responders before, during, and after emergencies, recommends metal roofs for hurricane and tornado areas.

Image of a metal roof enduring extreme wind

Wildfires

Image of a home surrounded by a wildfire

FEMA also recommends metal roofs for areas that suffer through the wildfire season. Although no roof is completely fireproof; a metal roof is the best fire resistance option. Several fires start with burning leaves or branches carried by wind that land on a roof. A newer asphalt shingle roof can withstand a small fire for an hour or so but an older roof may not fare so well. Consider installing proper fire resistant underlayment and a metal roof which has a Class A fire rating that can withstand severe exposure to external fire. Another benefit of a metal roof is that any flaming debris that lands on it will slide off as opposed to a different type of roof where the debris might get stuck on it.

All in all, we can’t always predict when a severe weather event will hit us but we can be prepared for it. Call Kresta Roofing today for a free roof inspection and quote on a new metal roof for your home or business.

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