Is Your Roof Ready for Winter?

If you are thinking it’s time for a roof replacement, choosing the right material is critical for optimal performance in Canadian winters. Traditional shingles often fall short when it comes to withstanding harsh winter conditions.

Why Metal Roofing is the Best Choice for Winter Weather

Winter brings unique challenges that can strain many roofing systems, particularly those that are aging or compromised. Metal roofing, however, shines as an outstanding option for winter resilience. Here’s why:

• Superior Snow Shedding
  Metal roofs excel at shedding snow quickly and efficiently. Their smooth surfaces reduce friction, allowing snow to slide off easily, preventing heavy accumulations that could threaten your roof’s structure. This capability significantly lowers the risk of ice dams forming, which can lead to leaks and water damage inside your home.
• Effective Ice Dam Prevention
  Concerns about sliding ice or roof avalanches are valid, but with the correct installation of snow guards, metal roofs can effectively manage these issues. Snow guards (pointed teeth-like objects on a metal roof) help regulate the flow of snow and ice, ensuring it sheds safely and reducing the risk of damage to your roof and home’s interior.
• Exceptional Wind Resistance
  Strong winter winds can wreak havoc on traditional roofing materials, often tearing off shingles. Metal roofs, especially standing seam types, are engineered to withstand extreme gusts. Their robust design and secure fastening systems ensure they remain intact even in the fiercest winter storms, providing you with security and peace of mind.
• Enhanced Insulation Value
  While metal is a conductor; it also provides excellent insulation properties that help keep your home warmer in winter. Research shows that indoor temperatures beneath a metal roof can be an average of 20°F warmer than those under asphalt shingles. This thermal efficiency not only enhances comfort and sustainability but can also lead to lower heating bills during the cold months.
• Winter-Friendly Installation
  Many roofing materials require dry and sunny conditions for proper installation, often leading to delays in roof replacements during winter. In contrast, metal roofing can be installed in colder temperatures, as long as significant weather events are avoided. This flexibility means you can replace your roof without waiting for spring, ensuring your home is protected as soon as possible.
• Low Maintenance:
  Metal roofs require minimal maintenance during winter, as they are less prone to issues like mold and mildew compared to other materials.
• Long Lifespan:
  Metal roofing typically lasts longer than traditional materials, providing reliable protection and performance for many winters to come.

Metal roofing stands out as an exceptional choice for Canadian winter weather. Its ability to shed snow, resist wind, provide insulation, and allow for winter installation makes it an ideal solution for homeowners. Investing in a metal roof not only protects your home but also enhances comfort and efficiency. Choose an Ageless Metal Roof this winter for a lasting peace of mind!

In every aspect of our daily lives, a lightning strike on an occupied building is a concern not only for the electronics surrounding us, but for the risk of fire caused by that strike. Concern over the use of metal roofs in construction has raised the issue of whether metal roofs attract lightning strikes more than other types of roofing materials. Research has shown that the material used in roof construction does not influence the risk of a lightning strike. There are several other factors that may influence the risk of a lightning strike that will be discussed however the presence of a metal roof may actually be beneficial in a situation where a lightning strike has taken place.

The probability for a building to experience a lightning strike is influenced by a number of significant factors:

1. Area Topography: The probability of a lightning strike is increased when the subject building is located on an elevated site such as a mountain or hilltop as lightning is drawn towards the highest object in a strike area.
2. Height of the Building: A tall building, relative to other structures in the surrounding area is more likely to have a lightning strike than a building that is the same relative height as surrounding structures (buildings, trees, towers, etc.) The presence of a very tall structure in proximity to a small, short building will tend to reduce the likelihood of a strike to the small building.
3. Size of the Building: While not necessarily the tallest structure in a strike area, those buildings covering a larger surface area provide a more accessible target for lightning strikes.
4. Frequency/Severity of Thunderstorm Activity: Certain geographic areas are more prone to the development of storms that lead to lightning and lightning strikes.

Note that none of the significant factors above include the material used in construction of the roof. Metal roofs do not attract lightning strikes; nor do metal roofs protect a building against lightning. A metal roof is no more or less likely to get struck by lightning. Based on the factors listed above, the probabilities of a strike to a metal-roofed structure are no more or less than any other kind of structure, as these probabilities have to do with height and size of the structure and its surroundings rather than its construction materials.

_{SOURCE: Metal Construction Association}