Metal roofs don't heat a house any more than any other type of roofing material. In fact, they can help keep the house cooler during the summer months.
Metal roofs
are one of the most energy efficient materials available to homeowners and can help reduce the energy used to cool their home. This is a rumor that is patently false.The truth is that metal roofs do not increase the internal temperature of a house and can even help regulate the temperature of the house by cooling it in the summer months. Contrary to popular belief, metal roofs don't make your home any hotter than any other type of roofing material. In fact, many would be surprised to learn that while metal reflects light, shingles tend to absorb heat, which can cause a rise in the temperature in your home. Metal roofs tend to perform better in warmer climates than shingle roofs because they reflect heat, rather than absorb it.
Whether you're placing a roof in a new home or your existing roof requires a total remodel, there are plenty of materials available. But no matter what style of roof you have, metal roofs can be an attractive option because of their longevity, minimal maintenance and energy efficiency. Material options include steel (galvanized, galvalume, or weather resistant), aluminum, copper, zinc, and tin. The product types are panels with vertical stitching, preformed panels and panels with granular coating.
Style options allow you to look like shingles, slate, tiles, slats, or vertical panels. Make sure your metal roofing product is tested, labeled, and included in a testing organization such as UL, FM Approvals or Intertek to meet rigorous classification requirements for wind, fire and impact resistance. Also remember that installation may vary depending on geographical location, manufacturer guidelines and local building code requirements. If your roof isn't properly insulated then it's natural for your house to get hotter regardless of the type of roofing material you have. Since then we have designed developed and tested three more products Heavy Shake Ironwood Shake and IronStone Slate and we hope to be able to offer more metal cover options in the future. Metal exposed directly to the sun will certainly heat up but if it heats up more or less than other roofing materials it has to do with color and finish.
To correctly understand if metal roofs heat houses or not it is useful to know all the variables at play. One of the main concerns that many homeowners have when considering metal roofs is the internal temperature of their home particularly that of the attic. No roofing system will create a cool house in summer but most roofs help keep out the heat that comes from direct sunlight. You might be interested to check out these questions about roof replacement and the discounts on roofing material insurance for which you might be eligible.
Metal roofs cool homes because they are a lightweight material which means they will cool down faster and keep heat out of the house. While the color and material of the ceiling will certainly affect the amount of heat accumulated by the ceiling what most contributes to that heat reaching the lower room is the type of construction between the ceiling and the occupied space below. While the color and type of roofing material you choose can help it's ultimately the type of construction insulation and under-roof ventilation that most determine a home's temperature.
