Metal Roofing Design – Explore the Unlimited Possibilities!

The roof is one of the most important elements of your exterior design. If you decided to install a metal roofing system, you’ve made the right choice. Besides being durable, weather resistant and energy efficient, metal roofs also offer unlimited designing possibilities – and not only because of the variety of metal roofing colors! The design of a roof comprises several elements: the shape, the materials and, of course, the color.

First, you should decide which shape is the most appropriate for your metal roof. If you’re installing the new roof over an existing one (or you’re replacing your old roof), there’s nothing to decide – you simply have to follow the old design and place the metal shingles or panels in the place of your old wood or asphalt shingles.

If you’re designing the roof of a new house, you have the option of choosing the shape you prefer more. Of course, in most cases the shape of the roof is decided by the architect who planned the building. However, in some cases you might have the possibility of choosing between several shapes of roofs or modifying the initial project according to your taste and needs.

So which are the most popular shapes when it comes to metal roofing? The gambrel roof, for example, is appropriate for sheds, barns and other industrial or storage buildings. Sometimes you may encounter such a roof on residential structures as well, but it is an exception.

Gable metal roofs have a simple design that is both good looking and easy to maintain. The higher the pitch of the roof is, the less it will be affected by melting snow and other precipitations.

Hip metal roofs are even more practical. The roofing angles are covering all the sides of the building, offering even more protection against bad weather, corrosion and other damages.

Lastly, flat metal roofs can be encountered as well, but they are not as versatile as the above-mentioned models. Flat surfaces are prone to corrosion and decay because they do not offer such a good evacuation for melting snow and rain. This type of roof is the cheapest, but on the long run it requires more maintenance.

After deciding the shape of your metal roof, it’s time to choose the materials. Metal roofing usually comes in three different types: standing seam panels, corrugated panels and metal shingles. Each of these styles has its particular advantages – make sure you study their features before deciding which one is more appropriate for your home or commercial building.

Then, analyze the particularities of different materials: metal roofing can be made of iron, aluminum, stainless steel and copper. Some steel tiles can be stone coated, while others are galvanized with a special anti-corrosion coating made of zinc or zinc and aluminum. All these roofing materials have different prices and, of course, they look different. Standing seam roofing has a rather ‘industrial’ look, while metal shingles can look exactly like the old-fashioned ceramic or cedar tiles.

After choosing the roofing materials, it’s time to choose a color for your metal roof! Fortunately, this is a simple matter. It’s very easy to paint a metal roof – you only have to make sure that you buy a quality paint and a good protective finish. Choose the metal roofing colors according to the other elements of your outdoor design – the color of the walls, doors and windows and the general color scheme of your residence.