For those looking to upgrade or replace the roof on their commercial or residential building, stone-coated steel could be the perfect solution. However, this roof style doesn’t fit everyone’s budget, and it does come with some drawbacks that you might not be aware of.
In this article, the roofing professionals at A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors are exploring the pluses and minuses that come with choosing stone-coated steel roofing for buildings in Colorado.
Stone-Coated Steel Roofing, Defined
What exactly is a stone-coated steel roof? Is it more stone than steel? How do the two materials coordinate to protect the building?
Simply put, most stone-coated steel roofs are composed of a 24- or 26-gauge steel sheeting base layer. This layer is often treated with a rust and corrosion resistant coating, and it serves as a durable, waterproof foundation for the overall roofing system.
The steel base layer is permanently fixed to the roof underlayment using metal screws. A properly installed metal roof should be able to withstand the Colorado climate on its own without any other additions; however, the stone pieces that are added to it are applied mostly for aesthetic and design purposes.
Pros of Stone-Coated Steel Roof Systems
Let’s have a look at the many advantages that a professionally installed stone-coated steel roof provides for property owners.
Design Appeal
With the right stone selected in a way that complements the architecture of the building in question, a stone-coated steel roof can be a beautiful enhancement to any building. And, because the size, shape, texture, and color of stone shingles are so varied, it’s easy to find just the right choice to suit the overall look and feel of the home or commercial building.
Long-Lasting Durability
Obviously, steel is harder and more resilient than stone. Even without the added stone layer, a steel roof can easily last for 30 years or longer before needing repair or replacement. When you consider the enhanced protection that the stone provides, you get a roof that is virtually impervious to leaks or elemental degradation.
Low-Maintenance, Energy-Efficient
Once the stone-coated steel roof is completed, there’s very little that needs to be done to maintain it. As long as there is a proper rain management system installed complete with gutters and downspouts, you shouldn’t need to do anything to upkeep the new roof.
A common misconception about metal roofs is that they have a convective heating feature to them. The myth is that metal roofs get hot in the summers, thus making the building more costly to cool. This is not true! Metal roofs actually do a better job of reflecting thermal and UV radiation from the sun, driving down cooling costs, not increasing them.
Cons of Stone-Coated Steel Roof Systems
Now, let’s consider some of the downsides that come with having this kind of roof installed.
There really are only two: cost and noise.
Cost
Whereas asphalt shingles are the least expensive roofing option (averaging $4-$7 per square foot), stone-coated steel roofs come at a premium due to the amount of raw materials required to manufacture them.
A professionally installed stone-coated steel roof composed of high-quality, well-made materials is going to cost somewhere in the range of $8-$12 per square foot. This cost is in addition to other costs related to removing and disposing of the old roof.
Some stone-coated steel roofs can be installed on top of existing roofs with an engineer inspection and approval. Reducing the overall cost of the job.
Noise
Stone has a surface that is unyielding, unlike asphalt. Asphalt shingles are engineered to absorb most of the impact of heavy rain and hail, a feature that partially deadens the sound that comes through the rest of the building.
So, a stone-coated steel roof is going to produce a few more decibels in the home or business when the rain or hail is heavy. And, because most stone-coated steel roofs have heavily textured surfaces, whistling can sometimes be produced by the roof during high-wind weather events.
When you consider all of the benefits that come with having a stone-coated steel roof compared with traditional asphalt shingles, the cons become marginal. A stone-coated steel roof is an excellent choice for lasting protection for Colorado home and business owners.
Interested in getting a quote for a stone-coated steel roof? The roofing technicians at A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors are standing by right now to take your call. We specialize in working with this type of roof, and we’d love the chance to earn your business.