For homeowners and builders committed to smart investments and lasting value, metal roofing stands out as a proven, environmentally responsible solution. That’s because metal roofs provide durability, efficiency, and sustainability, meaning they can last significantly longer than traditional asphalt shingles. In this guide, we’ll show you how metal roofs deliver real-world environmental benefits—backed by decades of performance and measurable results.
Longevity Reduces Waste
People who are often pleasantly surprised by the longevity of metal roofing. A metal roof lasts up to three times longer than a traditional shingled roof. For many homeowners, that means only one roof remodel in their lifetime. This durability also means less waste. After all, every time you have to install a new shingle or shake roof, a lot of material winds up being disposed of.
Installation Directly Over Shingles
Metal roofing can usually be installed directly over asphalt shingles, as long as the process meets local building codes. This is what is known as a roof-over versus a tear-off. And it’s a double boon for property owners.
First, you save on labor costs because you don't have to remove the old shingles before adding the new roof. Second, you keep asphalt out of landfills, since some of it cannot be recycled. Recycling facilities may not be available in all areas.
Although asphalt shingles will eventually need to be removed, this roofing method lasts for decades. Hopefully, during that time, a new, more environmentally friendly way to dispose of asphalt may be developed. Right now, shingles are mainly used as paving material, but it would be better if a closed-loop process became mainstream to turn all old shingles into new roofing.
Strength to Hold Solar Panels
Another way metal roofing is more sustainable is that it is both lightweight and sturdy. Its lighter weight than traditional shingles and tiles means it may require less decking underneath and less structural support for the roof frame.
Additionally, its load-bearing ability makes metal roofing perfect for holding rooftop solar panels. These panels may look slender, but they weigh approximately 33-50 pounds each. Most homeowners install at least 15 to 21 panels—more if they have a larger home or higher energy needs.
That adds 600-840 extra pounds to the roof. Not every type of roofing material can handle this without changes to the underlying home construction, which isn’t feasible for most homeowners.
Solar panels also need to be removed for a roof remodel. So if you’re installing asphalt shingles, for instance, you’ll need to disassemble your solar array every decade or two, rendering it useless during the remodel. And of course there’s the extra cost of removing and restoring the panels before and after the remodel. All that’s avoided with a metal roof.
High Energy Efficiency
Metal roofing really shines in energy efficiency when it comes to environmental friendliness. This is especially true of stone-coated metal roofing.
This type of metal roofing has high reflectivity and thermal emittance. Depending on the color, it may reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorbing heat. Metal roofing keeps the home more comfortable in hot weather and can reduce cooling costs by up to 25%.
If you look for metal roofing with a hollow core, it helps keep your roof temperature year-round, even in winter, helping to keep heat in. It also discourages the formation of costly ice dams during freeze-thaw cycles.
Chemically Stable for Water Catchment
For many green households, water conservation is a top concern. This used to be a topic mainly for homeowners in the Southwestern US; however, many areas of this country and Canada are now experiencing drought conditions.
As a result, homeowners are increasingly interested in catching rainwater and snowmelt for later use. Water runs off the roof, through the gutter and downspout system into barrels or a cistern for storage. Homeowners can use it later for landscape irrigation and outdoor cleaning.
Coated steel roofing is fantastic for harvesting rainwater because it resists rust, oxidation, corrosion, and other chemical changes that could otherwise taint collected water.
Financial Savings for Other Green Initiatives
Retrofitting an existing home for green initiatives can be expensive. Metal roofing offers many cost savings that let homeowners reallocate their budgets to eco-friendly home features. These savings include:
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Fewer weather-related damage expenses when you choose a metal roof that provides hail, rain, wind, and fire resistance
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Insurance discounts when other homeowners are seeing increased premiums or dropped coverage for subpar roofs
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Potentially increased home value by up to 6% to build equity that can be used to refinance and make green home improvements
DECRA: A Great Choice for Environmentally Friendly Roofing
You don’t have to sacrifice curb appeal to get an eco-friendly metal roof today. Choose DECRA stone-coated metal roofing, and you’ll have a choice of colors and profiles that replicate traditional tiles, shingles, and shakes.
Want to check out DECRA up close? Request a complimentary sample today.
