In years past, when you wanted a new roof for your home, you chose your roofing material based on your region and the seasons most impacted by weather. Now, though, many areas of the country are dealing with weather roller coasters, with huge swings in temperature and climate threats. Why worry about having the right roof for your region when one type of roofing can handle it all?
Over the last few decades, severe weather events have increased across the northern part of our continent. Summers are hotter and longer in many regions, especially those warming faster, like the Northeast. The area from Washington to the Canadian Maritimes has recently seen multiple disastrous rainstorms—often the remnants of Atlantic hurricanes that used to track further south—along with the typical winter blizzards and ice storms.
But even places where the climate used to be more uniform, like Texas, have suffered from an uptick in unusual weather patterns. The "Great Texas Freeze" brought snow, ice, and plummeting temperatures to the Lone Star State in 2021. Two years later, a mega blizzard collapsed roofs in Big Bear, California, a holiday destination known for skiing and winter sports, though it normally sees milder Western mountain conditions. "Snowmageddon" dropped over 80 inches of snow there in just a week.
When homeowners start seeing tornadoes on Cape Cod, heat domes in the Pacific Northwest, and hurricane winds in Ohio, they know they can't count on the predictable weather patterns of the past. That means their roofing needs to hold up under a wide range of weather conditions. Metal roofing is ideal for meeting those challenges.
No matter what seasonal weather threats your region faces, metal roofing can handle them. Here are five key weather and climate advantages metal roofing has over traditional roofing materials like asphalt shingles, wood shakes, and ceramic or concrete tiles.
Metal roofing is ideal for areas that deal with frequent hailstorms. Hail damage can be costly…particularly if your insurance company doesn't fully pay out on a claim. Is your roof damaged or older than 15 years? You might not get replacement cost reimbursement and instead receive actual cash value, which depreciates the roof and lowers your payout.
Avoid all those headaches by selecting a roof with a Class 4 impact rating from Underwriters Laboratories (UL). It will withstand hailstones as large as 2 inches across. Even better, choose a metal roof that undergoes independent testing and comes with a warranty against damage from 2.5-inch diameter hail—that's as big as a tennis ball!
Hurricanes, tornadoes, nor'easters, dust devils, derechos…they all hit virtually every corner of the US and much of Canada too. So, you need a roof that won't blow away or peel off (uplift) in high winds.
Look for metal roofing tested to stay put in hurricane-force winds up to 120 miles per hour, which residents of Miami-Dade, Florida contend with. You want roofing that also meets new building codes in some parts of Florida intended to reduce roof damage and improve safety.
That same wind can drive rain into tiny openings in the roof's surface. This can damage the roof's underlayment and decking, and possibly the home's interior. Choose roofing that employs an interlocking installation system to keep out wind-driven rain at high speeds.
The western US and Canada have managed wildfires for generations. But those fires have grown larger and more frequent, thanks to warming conditions and drought. Other parts of North America are also vulnerable to wildfires because of the same weather factors.
A metal roof is inherently noncombustible. To enhance this protection, install a metal roof with a UL Class A fire rating. It's the best fire rating you can get, and it means your roof will resist ignition better and stay in place during a fire originating outside the home.
Does your current roof sag under snow and ice? That could put your home at risk of serious damage should the roof give way.
The right metal roofing will be both lightweight and ultra-sturdy—the perfect combination to handle the weight of snow and ice without giving in.
That sturdiness also helps hold the extra weight of solar panels. If you need to meet Title 24 roofing requirements in California, for instance, you can be confident your new metal roof will check all the boxes.
Title 24 mandates were implemented to cut energy consumption and reduce grid strain in the hottest areas of the Golden State. A stone-coated metal roof helps by reflecting the sun's heat instead of absorbing it. This can potentially reduce warm-weather cooling costs by up to 25%, depending on color.
And if you choose a hollow-core roof, you'll enjoy stable roof surface temperatures in winter too. That discourages ice dams that form in cycles when the roof rapidly warms, snow melts, and then the melted water refreezes along the lower roofline.
Stone-coated metal roofing has an extra surface coating for added weather resistance and aesthetics. Those surface minerals are like the granules you'll find on traditional asphalt shingles, but they last much, much longer.
They also add texture and color to metal roofing, which lets it match any home style and paint scheme. For even more authenticity, you'll find stone-coated metal roofing in profiles that look just like conventional shakes, tiles, and shingles. It looks so realistic that even picky HOAs and gated communities are on board with metal roofing for roof remodels.
The stone coating on metal roofing has one more benefit: low maintenance. It resists moss and fungi while also protecting the roof from rust, corrosion, and oxidation. This makes it ideal for seaside and humid locations. For top protection, look for roofing that meets ASTM standards Designation A 792/A 792‑10; grade 37, with an AZ50 coating class.
For homeowners looking for the aesthetics of heavy-cut wood shingles or distinctive shadow lines of cedar shakes, DECRA by IKO Shake XD and DECRA by IKO Shake provide the rustic look and feel of wood without turning gray after a few months.
For designs that rely on the look of asphalt shingles, DECRA by IKO Shingle XD effortlessly provides the same colors and texture as asphalt roofing, but with a lifespan that lasts two to three times longer.
DECRA by IKO’s stone-coating manufacturing process involves adhering natural stone granules to the top of base steel sheets to provide a wide range of design options that can achieve the design requirements of any style.
>>>Related Resource: Learn more about DECRA by IKO’s stone-coated granules.
Want a few more reasons to opt for a stone-coated metal roof? Consider these advantages that benefit residents of every region:
Looking for stone-coated metal roofing that will protect your home in any region, in all four seasons? DECRA by IKO is a fantastic choice.
Explore DECRA by IKO metal roofing up close by requesting a complimentary sample. Or, to see what a new roof would look like on your home, use our online visualization tool.