If you are an architect or a local roofer, you must have heard the buzz about metal roofing sheets worldwide. These sheets not only bring out the best designs in your construction but also last for a longer period of time.
No roofing material can compete with the growing popularity of metal roofing sheets. Both commercial and residential metal roofing is made primarily of steel or aluminum, but there is always debate over whether steel is superior to aluminum.
Which roofing sheet appears to be the winner? Let’s investigate!
Steel Roofing
Steel is powerful, long-lasting, and affordable. It is one of the most popular choices among people looking for value and reliability. For the vast majority of roofing projects, steel roofs are a reliable option. You can find multiple steel products on the market with a guarantee of 40 to 50 years, which is unbeatable.
However, if we compare aluminum with steel roofing sheets, the people who live in coastal areas don’t want steel roofing sheets as their first choice. It is because steel is made of iron and carbon and is far more susceptible to seawater damage. The continuous moisture from the ocean oxidizes the iron present in the steel and creates ferric oxide (rust). To make the steel rust-resistant, manufacturers apply a coating of zinc or galvalume underneath the color that protects the metal from rusting.
Steel Roofs Offer Several Benefits
1. Durability/Gauge
The durability of the steel is determined by the gauge. If the gauge range is smaller, it means steel is more durable. Steel panels range from 22 to 29 gauge, where 22 gauge is the thickest.
2. Fast Installation
Steel roofing sheets can be installed very quickly. Some of the steel roofing sheets have “snap and lock” installation systems attached to them. As a result, installation is done very quickly.
3. Cost Effectiveness
Steel is more affordable than other roofing metals. Apart from that, steel saves you money because it has higher reflectivity than other metals. It reflects most of the sunlight, keeping the area under the roof cool in the summer. In winter, it works like an insulator by reflecting and redistributing heat from the bottom of the roof back inside the building.
4. Fire Safety
Steels have a class-A fire-resistant property. It is a non-combustible material, and unlike other roofing sheets, it doesn’t catch fire. Also, it insulates sparks, protecting them from catching fire, which ultimately stops a fire from spreading into a house.
5. Aesthetic Versatility
You can customize steel to look like wood, tile, slate, or shingles. Steel can be painted with desirable colors that suit your style.
6. Resistance to Environmental Factors
Steel is pest-resistant. Unlike materials like asphalt or wood, small insects cannot find refuge in steel. Moreover, like in woods, algae and fungi often tend to grow, reducing the lifespan of the material. Steel, on the other hand, will not cause you any such problems.
Aluminum Roofing
As aluminum comes with some amazing qualities and ranges higher in price than other metals, it is considered one of the premium metal roofing choices. Just after aluminum, a few other metals like copper and zinc also lie in the same quality and expensive category. When we compare the price of steel and aluminum, Aluminum is around 20% more expensive than steel.
Aluminum roofing systems are excellent in coastal areas because they provide great protection against saltwater corrosion. Due to the high cost of aluminum, it is produced in the form of thin metal sheets.
The strength-to-weight ratio of roofing material made of aluminum is higher than that of steel. As a result, places where the weather is harsh with high winds, hail, or other strong environmental pressures, resulting in roofing material damage
A few things to know about aluminum:
- Aluminum is often used after applying a coat of paint to its surface. As a natural metal, it loses its luster when it is uncoated.
- Because aluminum is fairly flexible and simple to deal with on-site, it makes it very easy for installers to use it for roofing applications.
- Aluminum is one of the lightest metals used for roofing. A thinner piece of aluminum may frequently perform the same function as a thicker piece of any other metal because it has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any other ordinary metal. This is why aluminum is used in the airframes of airlines.
Aluminum Vs Steel
Although steel and aluminum are two of the most remarkable metals with amazing qualities, you need to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages depending on your application when picking one for your roofing.
When does steel win?
Steel is more expensive and heavier than aluminum, more dent-resistant, and less expensive in terms of weight and cost. Additionally, steel panels are stronger and completely fire-resistant. If the construction is new, you can consider using steel roofing sheets, while keeping in mind their insensitivity to weather.
Aluminum Destroys Steel
Conversely, if you are living in coastal areas and are willing to install aluminum roofing sheets over shingles, it is one of the best choices. as it is ideal for houses or other buildings that are close to water.
Secondly, the weight would not be an issue if a homeowner was planning to install aluminum roofing sheets, as this metal is extremely light. The cost of aluminum tends to be higher, but its rust resistance is significantly greater.
Conclusion
Ultimately, you have to decide which type of metal suits your project. As we got to know, both metals have their pros and cons. You need to find out which one is the winner.
We hope you like this article and the insightful comparison between these two metals.
If you are planning to do the roofing, we at ReZa provide you with all sorts of assistance. Let us know about your roofing needs, and we will be more than happy to help you out!
