Your home is essential to you. Home improvements, repairs, and renovations are part of your homeowner's journey. Choosing the right roofing system is critical. Your roof acts as the shield to your home, protecting you and everything in it.
Day by day, metal roofing systems are becoming more popular. The advantages of choosing a metal roofing system have put them in competition with the already popular roofing system, asphalt shingle roofs. A metal roof may be something Toronto homeowners should seriously consider, especially with the harsh winter conditions and changing weather we face each year!
How can you benefit from a metal roof on your home in Toronto? Well, let's dig a little deeper.
Problems To Expect From Your Asphalt Shingle Roof
Before we jump into all the fantastic benefits and advantages a metal roof offers, we need to understand better what we are going up against. Asphalt shingle roofs are the popular choice for Toronto homeowners when replacing their roofs. However, here are some problems you can expect from an asphalt roof.
Blistering
Curling
Cracking
Mold/Moisture Build-up
Granule Loss
Poor Installation
Blistering
Asphalt shingles are made up of 3 layers. A fiberglass backing layer, a coating of asphalt, and a final layer of granules on top. The term “blistering” is a common problem found with asphalt shingles. Ever seen little chips missing from your roof? almost looks like damage from hail.
What’s really happing tho is moisture builds up between the layers of the shingles. Add exposure to the heat from the sun, and that same moisture in between the layers starts to expand. Before you know it you have a blistering roof. Blistering is an extremely common roof repair. If a blister gets too big or the roof begins to develop several of them, those blisters can get exposed to the elements and age that section of your roof prematurely resulting in an unevenly aged roof, lowering longevity, effectiveness, and future problems like leaks.
Curling
Ever seen a roof with its shingles curved upwards? Well, that's called “curling”. Curling can be an outcome of multiple different events. From shingles nearing the end of their useable lifespan to improper installation, ventilation issues, and trapped moisture. Another big one not talked about as much is thermal shock.
Thermal shock can happen when the shingles experience rapid temperature change. For example, you have a hot summer day with the sun’s rays beaming on your black asphalt shingle roof. All of a sudden the weather changes and it begins to rain heavily, quickly cooling down those same asphalt shingles. That rapid temperature change in the shingles occurring on a repetitive base mixed with a problem like ventilation issues or moisture buildup will result in curling. If not taken care of, curling can turn into leaking and nobody wants a leaking roof. Do they?
Cracking
Although cracking is a natural part of the asphalt shingle's lifecycle it is important to note that there is a difference between shingle cracking and shingle premature cracking. Premature cracking can occur by a manufacturing defect, ventilation issues, excessive moisture build-up, or an improper installation process.
If cracking gets out of control it can lead to leaks and underlayment issues. It is extremely important to hire a professional roofing company and reduce your chances of experiencing several of these issues. Especially if you want to maximize the lifespan and usage you get out of your roof. After all they're not cheap, are they?
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Granule Loss
Another common problem found in asphalt shingle roofs is granule loss. Granules are the first line of defense for your shingles.
They protect the roof from the sun's powerful UV rays. Now how can the loss of granules affect your roof? Good question, the loss of granule will lead to a failed roof and takes away your shingle's “armor”. Granules do naturally fall off, but if they fall off prematurely and unevenly it can result in a failed roof and be the cause for a roof repair or even a roof replacement if bad enough.
Mold, Mildew, & Algae
Ever seen dark black streaks on a roof? Or how about green moss and fungus on those shingles, typically on the north side of the roof in more humid areas?
Now some of these issues can be aesthetic, but most of the time though that's not the case. Mold development on your roof can result in underlayment issues and your wood frame rotating in your roof, which doesn’t sound good. Does it?
Poor Installation
Another problem Toronto homeowners can face with their asphalt shingle roof experience is hiring the wrong guys for the job. With asphalt roofing being an easy process, anyone with little experience can do it. Now doing it and doing it RIGHT are two very different things. Choosing a professional roofing contractor can significantly reduce the risk of a lot of issues talked about earlier. A good checklist to go over when looking for a roofing contractor is.
Testimonials
Certifications
Warranty
Experience
Reviews
Authority
These are just some things to take into consideration. Want to save time and find contractors who don’t only match but exceed that same checklist above?
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Choosing The Right Armor For Your Home
Your roof is your #1 shield against Toronto weather conditions. Choosing the best material to get the job done right is ideal, isn’t it?
Metal roofing systems have been around for hundreds of years. Their durability has continued to be a major factor in their rise in popularity over the years. Strong, light, and long-lasting. Metal roofs have even more benefits. Let's explore this.
Durability And Longevity
If you decide to go with a metal roof with a class 4 UL2218 rating, you have the insurance of a tested and proven system that you have a roof that's extremely durable. You can physically tear apart an asphalt shingle with your bare hands. Try doing that with a metal one. Good luck! While asphalt shingles have an average lifespan of 12-20 years, you can have confidence in your metal roof that it will last you anywhere between 40-70 years! Now the environment is a factor in how accurate these numbers are. In a city like Toronto, we are always experiencing changes in weather. A metal roof’s 40-70 year range lifespan sounds much more promising than an asphalt shingle roof’s 12-20 year lifespan. A metal roof typically lasts four times as long as an asphalt shingle roof.
Weight
Surprisingly a metal roof is 50% of the weight of an asphalt shingle roof. With winter snow and ice build-up on your roof in Toronto, that weight can add up and take a toll on the structure of your home. Take the weight reduction where you can.
Eco-Friendly And Energy Efficient
Another pro of metal roofing systems is they are 100% recyclable. In fact, a metal roof is 90% recycled material. That's not the only efficient factor that you receive when choosing a metal roof because of its reflective properties. A metal roof will result in a cooler inside. Yes, you heard that. You will save money on energy because of your metal roof. No need for air conditioning 24/7 during hot summers. Doesn’t that sound great?
The Bang For Your Buck $$$
A metal roof is more expensive upfront, but you will save more money in the long run. How do fewer repairs and a longer life span sound? A metal roof will last four times as long as an asphalt shingle roof. In other words, you would have replaced your asphalt shingle roof four times before replacing your metal roof once. More expensive at first, but in those 40-70 years, you would have spent much more on repairing and replacing your asphalt shingle roof.
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Severe Weather Conditions
In the event of an extreme storm or weather condition, you can count on a metal roof to serve you much better than an asphalt shingle roof. A metal roof can easily withstand strong winds, hail, heavy rain, high heat, ice, and heavy snow.
Style
With your asphalt shingles, you are pretty limited to the same colours: black, grey, and brown. Metal roofs completely change the game and give you full personalization regarding colour. Bright or dark, the options are almost limitless.
Maintenance
Although it is recommended to clean your roof often regardless of the material, a metal roof will give you much easier maintenance. In addition, with an asphalt shingle roof, maintenance is more likely to turn into repair. However, with a metal roof, you are far less likely to experience maintenance turning into repair.
How To Choose The Right Contractors To Install My Metal Roof
After you know all the facts, a metal roof outperforms an asphalt shingle roof any day of the week. The easy part is choosing the superior roofing system for your home. Now the hard part comes in finding the right contractors to do it. We have made it easy for you! Your hunt for the best Toronto contractors is over because you have already found them. Better Contracting is the Holmes's Official Contractors. 45,000 Happy Customers, 40 years of experience, CertainTeed Select Shingle Masters, and a 10-year warranty. We proudly serve Etobicoke, Toronto, North York, East York, York, and the GTA. Better Contracting is the best roofing company in Etobicoke.
Looking For A Roof Done Right, The First Time? Call The Best Toronto Contractors Now