Sustainable Steel Roofing

Ok, I’ve got a secret to tell you. I’m a man of steel. Steel roofing that is. I love the stuff. I put it on my cabin in Minnesota, my maple sugar shack (pictured above)  and my wood shed here in Massachusetts - even used it for an outhouse(a two seater!)  and the shed where my kids wait for the bus. I love sod roofs, too, but for steep slopes that won’t hold sod, steel is the way to go. When the time comes to replace the fossil fuel based asphalt shingles on my current home, I’m going for that steely edge. And I’m not alone. Currently, steel roofing comprises about 80 percent of the metal roofing market, and demand for this long-lasting, sustainable roofing material continues to rise. Builders and home owners like the long life of a steel roof. It is made from zinc-coated steel that provides excellent corrosion resistance and weathering, giving the roofing system a long life. It’ll probably outlast you, if you can deal with that concept. The steel itself boasts a minimum of 25 percent recycled content, so it saves energy costs. And 70% of all steel ends up being recycled. It’s nice to know that your roof can go back to the smelter rather than to the landfill at the end of its life. Other metals roofs, like aluminum and copper, have even higher recycled material rates, but they are more expensive and harder to install. In addition to being lighter and stronger than petroleum based asphalt shingles, you can get a steel roof in a wide variety of shapes and colors, which can give you the look of shakes, tiles, shingles, etc. allowing them to resemble different styles and materials for different areas.

Steel Roof that looks like shingles.

Using steel roofing in regions of frequent snowfall is growing thanks to its snow shedding ability, while on the West Coast; steel is used for its light weight and fireproof qualities, which are attractive features earthquake prone areas.

Light colored steel roofs help keep things cool in hot regions, and dark colored roofs absorb the sun’s warmth in colder climes. Metal roofs, for example, can be finished with heat-deflecting coatings to lower energy usage by reducing cooling loads. Available with baked-on finishes or granular-coated surfaces, “cool metal roofs” can reflect up to 70% of the sun’s rays, resulting in less heat transfer to the interior of the building and saving owners up to 40% in energy costs. And metal has a “low thermal mass”, meaning that it dissipates heat very quickly once the sun goes behind a cloud or sets for the day. So you may have a cat on a hot tin roof, but you don’t have to swelter underneath one.

Traditional standing seam roofing - sheds snow like butter!

Steel roofing is extremely durable. Prefinished steel roofs can easily last several decades.

Photo: Linmarie

Think of all the old barns you’ve seen easily 100+ years old, with the metal roof still in service. Steel will not crack, shrink or otherwise react to the effects of humidity and sunlight, extending the roofing system’s life beyond other materials. Steel doesn’t ignite; enhancing safety in the case of lightning strikes or sparks, and is not an inviting habitat for termites and other insects. In new construction, steel’s light weight reduces internal structural support needs, reducing material costs and labor. I put a 24 x26 roof in my cabin in a day with one helper, including flashing around a large chimney, and custom fitting a little “crow’s beak” on the front edge of the roof.

Steel that looks like Spanish tile - ole! These look like slate!

Usually if you’re going to replace a roof, you need to tear off and dispose of the old one,  h o w e v e r, steel roofing can often be installed directly over most old roofs, saving time and stuff to the landfill.

In addition to along life, a steel roofing system will give back to the environment after it is removed from service. The steel from roofing systems is as recyclable as the steel cans, cars and appliances recycled through community recycling programs. It won’t be long after the steel roof is removed that it will be a part of a new steel product. All new steel currently is actually made from a mixture of steel scrap and other necessary raw materials, creating its minimum of 25 percent recycled content. Steel is one of the most recycled, and recyclable materials, using old steel products and other forms of iron scrap to produce new steel lowers steelmaking costs and reduces the amount of energy used in the process by 75 percent. In fact, more steel is recycled than paper, aluminum, glass and plastic combined. Your new steel roof may have once been a part of an automobile, refrigerator or soup can. So be a woman- or man- of steel. At least as far as your roof goes.