Some Popular Solar Roofing Options

There are different solar roofing products used today. One of these options is the solar tile. This is a very popular choice among homeowners. However, using solar clay tiles involves different challenges and difficulties. But thanks to SRS Energy and U.S. Tile, solar tiles have been improved, imitating the shape of curved tiles, which allows the solar panels to combine well with the clay roof.

Another solar roofing product is the solar shingle. This is a relatively new solar roof material that was considered as one of the greatest inventions in 2009 by the Time Magazine. It can be easily installed over asphalt shingles and has been a good relief for both homeowners and commercial building owners.

Aside from these two, one more solar roofing product is widely used nowadays: the solar metal roofing.  This is a great way to save energy without losing the attractive originality of the building. With the plethora of choices for metal roofing colors, a building will not only be able to utilize sunlight energy to generate power; metal roofs can also make the house or commercial establishment save electricity! This is because metal roofs painted with appropriate Energy Star rated colors tend to make a building cooler inside.

Usual Types of Solar Metal Roofing

The most usual type of solar metal roofing is the standing seam metal roof fused with Unisolar PV Laminates. Standing seam metal roofs are very in demand today because of their strength, resistance and aesthetic appeal. Available in different colors, this roofing system has been developed to incorporate the features of photovoltaic laminate to make metal roofing with thin solar film. This thin film laminate can be easily installed on metal panels.

Another type of solar metal roofing is the solar metal shingle. It is a little similar to standing seam roofing; however, the shingles are much smaller. This also means that the laminates need to be smaller as well to meet the size of the shingles. Although this system is also equipped with various eye-catching colors for metal roofing, some people think that it is not as attractive as the other type of solar metal roof. Furthermore, installing this solar metal roof is more troublesome, not to mention that shingles cost more than standing seam panels. This being so, more people prefer standing seam roofing to shingles for their solar metal roofing system.

Solar Metal Roofing Installation

Installing solar panels on metal roofs is a little complicated. The Internet is abounding with various solar metal roofing installation videos and tutorials; however, manufacturers advise everyone to hire a professional roofer to do the job. Also, installing and making solar panels work requires assistance from a skilled electrician to make sure that they will function optimally.

Pros and Cons of Solar Metal Roof

Despite the complications it involves, solar metal roofing has a lot of benefits. According to most reviews, this system is the most cost effective way to have a lifetime-lasting roof with solar panels. It is also one of the few roofing systems that successfully combine functionality and beauty. Solar metal roofs are also very resistant to strong winds and heavy downpour.

But like other roofing systems, solar metal roofs also have different disadvantages. First of all, they are relatively expensive, and not everyone can afford installing one for their home. Also, if they are not properly installed, it might result to water leakages that may only cause discomfort and irritation. Lastly, some solar panels tend to be heavy. Installing very heavy ones can destroy the roof and may even weaken its support structure.

Even if it’s never found in nature in a pure state (it usually forms compounds with other elements), aluminum is a metallic chemical element that abounds on the Earth. As a matter of fact, the Earth’s crust has more aluminum than any other metallic elements.  It is a silvery-white, non-magnetic metal that has a very light weight but also a durable characteristic. Aluminum is also a good conductor of heat and electricity and is inherently safe and non-toxic.

This metal is also environmentally friendly. Aluminum is very recyclable and is energy-efficient. Today, it is used in a variety of application: from home window frames to railway carriages. Furthermore, aluminum is also a good metal roofing material. Because of its admirable characteristics, aluminum metal roofing is now widely installed on a lot of residential or commercial buildings in different parts of the world.

Aluminium metal roofing has gained popularity due to its various benefits and advantages. It may be a little more expensive than other metal roofing materials, like steel; nevertheless, many people still opt to install aluminum roofs. Who can blame them? Aluminum roofs are corrosion-resistant, malleable, and very stylish!

The Practical Benefits of Aluminum Metal Roofing.

Installing aluminum roofs has plenty of practical benefits.  First of all, it is one dependable roofing material. Homeowners who are looking for strong and durable roofs, installing either aluminum roofing shingles or aluminum roofing panels is always a good option. And because aluminum is lightweight, the whole roofing system avoids putting pressure on the building’s structure. But despite this, aluminum metal roofs do not easily give up to strong winds and threatening heavy downpour. For example, corrugated aluminum roofing sheets, once they are securely installed adjacent to one another, can withstand powerful gales, creating an ideal shelter structure for people living in hurricane- and tornado-prone areas.

Also, aluminum metal roofs are resistant to rusting. In fact, among all the various metal roofing materials, aluminum is probably the most resistant to corrosion. One amazing quality of aluminum is its ability to generate an oxide layer when it is exposed to air. This layer protects the metal from factors that trigger rusting, like oxygen. However, some manufacturers still release galvanized aluminum roofing  (zinc-coated aluminum roofing sheets) on the market. Zinc makes aluminum sturdier and longer lasting.

Aluminum metal roofing is also easy to install and to maintain. All aluminum roofs are designed for easy installation. Because of its weight, aluminum may be installed over other types of roofs or shingles. Most of all, because of its amazing durability and strength, it requires little maintenance. One does not need to spend a lot of money repairing or replacing roofs every other year, which is the usual scenario with other types of roofing systems.

The Aesthetic Benefits of Aluminum Metal Roofing.

Aside from the practical benefits of aluminum metal roofs, people also choose this roofing system because of its aesthetic features. Aluminum roofs look good on any style of house: from townhouses to huge manors. Perhaps one of the things that keep this roof very appealing to the eye is the variety of metal roofing color options. Some of the popular color choices for aluminum metal roofs are forest green, dawn green, regal brown, mission red and copper.

More often than not, a simple aluminum metal roofing system is used in residential buildings. Bigger buildings, on the other hand, like stadiums, auditoriums, airports and conference centers, use a stronger, more complicated version of this roof: the aluminum roof cladding. This is an alloy of aluminum, manganese and magnesium that is known for its exceptional tightness, welding performance and flexibility.

As mentioned, aluminum is a little expensive as compared to other metal roofing materials. This being so, it is important that the installation be given proper attention. Remember that a faulty method of installation may make metal roofs susceptible to damage and decreasing quality, resulting in expensive maintenance and repairs. This rarely happens if the roof is appropriately installed by a professional service-provider.