Union Metal RoofingThe Advantages of Metal Roofing

Union’s Metal Roofing Products

Benefits of Metal RoofingMetal Roofing TechnologyFrequently Asked Questions

The Benefitsof Metal Roofing

Metal roofing offers homeowners numerous advantages in almost every performance category, these advantages have helped make metal the fastest growing segment of the residential roofing market.

Over the last 12 years, metal’s share of the residential remodel market has tripled, from an estimated 4% in 1998 to over 12% in 2010.

WeatherResistance

LifecycleCosts

EnergyEfficiency

GreenProduct

CurbAppeal

Weather Resistance

Metal roofing is in a class by itself when it comes to protection from severe weather. Unlike asphalt shingles, which are only

secured by one row of nails and an asphalt adhesive at the laps, metal roofing is secured by screws and is applied in one continuous piece from the eave to the ridge. This design significantly increases wind uplift resistance and minimizes the areas where wind or rain can penetrate the roof surface. Union’s metal roofing carries the highest wind, impact, and fire ratings, so no matter where you live, metal provides the best protection for your home.

• Florida Building Code High Velocity Hurricane Zone

• Miami-Dade County Florida Wind Uplift Approval

• UL Rated for Wind Uplift, Fire, and Impact Resistance

• Texas Dept. of Insurance Approved

Some of Union’s testing and certifications include:

Weather Resistance

Lifecycle Costs

On average, you can expect to pay 5 times more for shingles over the life of your metal roof. In other words, if your metal roof costs $6,000, the shingle equivalent will cost you roughly $30,000 at the end of 45 years. This estimate assumes a working life of 45 years for a metal roof and 15 years for shingles.

Additionally, metal saves you from having to do periodic repairs due to isolated shingle blow-offs – a common occurrence during thunderstorms and other high wind events.

Additional savings can come in the form of reduced homeowner insurance premiums. Many insurance companies offer reduced rates for homes with metal roofs because of its outstanding durability. These types of discounts are most common in states with frequent hail storms. Be sure to tell the homeowner to check with their insurance company for discount eligibility.

Metal roofs are a premium roofing option and usually cost more than asphalt shingles. However, this premium is now smaller than it has ever been due to an improved metal roofing installer base and the continued escalation of asphalt shingle prices. Homeowners can quickly recoup the upfront investment through significantly lower lifecycle costs.

Energy Efficiency

Another way metal roofs can save you money is by reducing energy costs. Studies conducted by the Cool Metal Roofing Coalition and Oak Ridge National

Laboratory have shown that metal roofs with Energy Star certified high reflectance coatings can reduce cooling costs up to 40% compared to asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles absorb and retain heat which translates to elevated attic temperatures both day and night. This increases the cooling load on your air conditioning unit.

Unlike shingles, metal roofs reflect up to 70% of the sun’s

energy, reducing attic temperatures.

In contrast, metal roofs reflect a large percentage of the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere and cool rapidly once the sun goes down. This results in lower attic temperatures and greatly reduced energy

consumption for cooling. In order to be Energy Star certified, a roof has to reflect a minimum of 25%. The best performing colors reflect as much as 70% of the sun’s energy. As a result of the better energy efficiency of metal roofing, homeowners are eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the material costs, capped at $500, for installing an Energy Star certified metal roof.

Metal roofs are one of the greenest roofing advantages is their recyclability. Asphalt shingles generate an astounding amount of landfill waste each year, estimated at over 6.8 million tons, or 3% of all municipal solid waste. Their production also requires oil refining by-products such as

asphalt which have continued to escalate in price. Conversely, metal roofs are 100% recyclable and are typically produced with a minimum of 20% recycled content. This allows metal roofs to meet industry recognized green building definitions.

Green ProductAdditionally, metal roofs can be installed directly over asphalt shingles in most applications, eliminating the need for landfill disposal. Numerous other factors contribute to metal’s performance as a green product, including its energy efficiency, long life, and its ability to reduce the

phenomenon known as the urban heat-island effect. The heat-island effect is caused when construction materials such as concrete and asphalt shingles absorb and retain heat, causing ambient temperatures to rise. This can cause urban temperatures to be 3 to 5 degrees higher than surrounding areas, decreasing air quality and increasing heat loads. The high reflectivity of metal roofing helps reduce the amount of heat build-up by reflecting a high percentage of the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere.

The paint and coating systems on Union’s metal roofing retain their original finish for decades, resisting the stains, buckling, fading, and granule loss that affects other roof types.This results in a better return on investment and home value increase compared to an asphalt shingle

roof. The residential cost handbook reported that the appraised value of a home increased by $1.35 per square foot when a metal roof was installed.

Curb Appeal

Metal RoofingTechnology

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Paint TechnologyUnion uses the industry’s best Siliconized Modified Polyester paint system which provides outstanding color stability and abrasion resistance for the life of the roof. Several elements make Union’s paint system superior to other manufacturers, and these are fade resistance, chalk resistance, gloss retention, stain resistance, and scratch resistance. These attributes ensure that the roof stays looking new, longer, and that the colors stay accurate for the life of the roof.

• All Union paint systems are real-world tested in south FL

• This paint system was tested for over 10 years prior to launch

• This testing accelerates chalk and fade 2 times faster than applications north of Jacksonville, FL

• Most competitive paint systems use accelerated testing which doesn’t mimic real-world conditions

Real-World TestingPaint Technology

Substrate TechnologyUnion’s high-tech paint system goes over a corrosion resistant steel substrate known as Galvalume. Union’s Galvalume coated steel carries a 30 year corrosion warranty which is the best in the industry. Most competitive metal roofing manufacturers use a Galvanized substrate which carries no warranty against corrosion. Galvanized steel uses a zinc coating for its corrosion protection whereas Galvalume uses a combination of aluminum, zinc, and silicon. Studies have shown that Galvalume steel has 4 times the corrosion protection of galvanized steel.

Scratch on Galvalume Metal Roof

Scratch on Galvanized Metal Roof

• Metal roofing comes with two warranties, one for the paint system and one for the substrate.

• Union’s standard paint warranty is 40 years.

• Union’s standard Galvalume warranty is 30 years.

• A Lifetime system warranty is also available that covers both the paint and substrate.

• The technology is the same – the customer is paying for the extended warranty provided by Union.

Warranty Overview

FAQRegarding Metal Roofing

Q: Are metal roofs noisy?

A: Not when installed on a solid roof deck. The only time metal roofs make that distinctive pinging sound is when they’re installed on open purlins, as is often the case in a barn or post-frame building. However, in the overwhelming majority of residential applications, the metal roof will be going on a plywood deck or over the existing shingles. In these cases the homeowner will likely experience no difference in sound.

Q: Will a metal roof rust?

A: Rust will not be a concern with a metal roof from Union. Our products use Metal Construction Association certified steel that’s protected by a Galvalume coating and carries a 30 year warranty against rust and corrosion. Galvalume coated roofs have been in service for decades in some of the most severe environments in the world and the results have been outstanding. Galvalume has become the standard for premium roofing worldwide and is widely used in residential, com-mercial, and industrial applications.

Q: Does a metal roof attract lightning?

A: A metal roof has no greater chance of being

struck by lightning than any other roof type.

In the unlikely event that your house isstruck by lightning, metal roofing can

bebeneficial in two ways:

1) It will help dissipate the electrical charge

2) Since it’s non-combustible it won’t beignited by the lightning or burning debris.

Q: What does the “gauge” of the metal mean?

A: Gauge is a measure of the metal’sthickness. The smaller the number, the thicker the metal. 29 gauge is theminimum recommended thickness forresidential applications and is themost popular gauge for panels likeMasterRib. 26 gauge is used more often in severe weather areas and is the minimum gauge for higher-endstanding seam panels like Union’sAdvantage Lok. Gauges of 24 andthicker are mainly used on commercialand industrial applications.

Thank you for learning aboutUnion’s Metal Roofing