- Aluminum Roofing- Lightweight, does not corrode, and compatible with coastal environments.
- Copper Roofing– A very long-lasting roof that will develop a protective layer and change color. Most expensive roofing material.
- Metal or Steel– This is the most common type of metal roofing available in different finishes.
Aluminum Roofing
Aluminum is the most lightweight roofing material on the market, but don’t let that fool you. Aluminum roofing is still very durable. The strength to weight ratio is actually higher for aluminum than the other types of metals used for roofing. This means you get the same amount of strength or more without having to use a heavy material that’s harder to work during installation.
An aluminum roof provides easy maintenance, a long lifespan, and comes in a variety of different colors. Aluminum roofing panels are mainly used for architectural roofing and not structural roofing.
Copper Roofing
Copper roofing is known for its incredibly striking and unique appearance. The copper will change color overtime, going from looking like a new penny like copper to a blue-green or brown patina. The patina will vary depending upon the climate that it’s exposed to.
Copper comes in different styles for roofing including:
- Copper Tiles
- Copper Shingles
- Copper Panels
- Copper Sheets
One of the biggest reasons people choose copper is for its striking and diverse appearance. It changes color overtime when it patinas and the natural variations in color from this process make the look of each copper roof unique.
Steel Roofing
When the term “metal roofing” is used, most commonly it’s referring to steel. Even though all of the materials we’re discussing are metal, when someone says “metal roofing”, they’re almost always talking about steel roofing. For this section, we’ll use the terms interchangeably.
Steel is an alloy, made from iron and other elements. Metal roofing has been commonly used on commercial buildings for years but now has been gaining popularity for use on residential homes as well for its affordability, longevity, and low maintenance.
Metal roofing comes in a variety of panel types, all of which affect factors such as its cost, appearance, and installation. We discuss the specific types of metal panels available in the next section.
