How Metal Roofing Lincoln NE Handles Harsh Winters
Lincoln, Nebraska, experiences a relatively harsh climate throughout the year.
As with the rest of the United States, summers are typically hot and humid in Lincoln. Summer temperatures average in the 80s and 90s.
Winters are brutally cold, with temperatures occasionally plummeting to sub-zero degrees. During winter months, Lincoln gets approximately 2 inches of snowfall. That’s around the same amount of snow as other US cities that receive measurable snowfall in a year.
Lincoln also receives its fair share of hailstones. Hail activity begins in spring and continues through summer, with peak activity typically recorded in May and July. That coincides with the city’s wettest times of the year, when it can receive around 4 – 5 inches of rain.
One way Lincoln’s property owners prepare themselves for the city’s diverse climate is by upgrading to metal roofing.
We’ve prepared a guide to the various ways metal roofs handle harsh weather.
1. Incredible Reflectivity
Metal roofs may be a great conductor of heat. However, they reflect more heat than they absorb. That makes them particularly effective against solar radiation, a common summer occurrence.
Thanks to their high reflectivity, metal roofs regulate heat transfer into your home. This helps keep your indoor space cooler, minimizing the strain on your air conditioners during warmer months.
To benefit from the reflective properties of metal roofing Lincoln, NE, prioritize light-colored metals. Studies have shown that white metallic roofs can reduce your home’s energy consumption by up to 35% compared to their dark-colored counterparts.
Additionally, consider installing proper ventilation and insulation on your roofing system.
2. Thermal Conductivity
Metal roofs usually boast superior thermal conductivity compared to other roofing materials.
Due to their exceptional thermal conductivity, metal roofing systems transfer heat more effectively. This can be a blessing or a drawback, depending on the seasons.
During summer, you want a roofing system that reflects more heat than it retains. But when winter rolls around, you’d want your roof to preserve more heat, as it helps reduce the overreliance on your space heaters.
But although asphalt and tile shingles may retain indoor heat more effectively, they don’t warm up as fast as metal panels do. That makes them undesirable for colder months, where a minute of sunshine can make a significant difference to your indoor temperature.
3. Encourage Snow Runoff
During winter, Lincoln experiences up to 2 inches of snowfall.
Two inches of snow may not immediately sound like a cause for concern. But if allowed to linger on your roof for days, the snow can leave massive dents and depressions.
Repairing such damage could set you back hundreds of dollars. Depending on the amount of pressure exerted on the roof, a total replacement may be necessary.
Installing a metal roof can avert snow damage by encouraging runoff. That’s due to metal’s smooth and slippery surface, which allows snow and ice to slide right off rather than accumulate on the rooftop.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
4. Minimize Leakage
Having snow accumulate on your rooftop not only predisposes the roof to severe structural damage, but it can also lead to leakage.
Fortunately, metal roofs are nonporous.
Unlike the more pervious tile shingles, which are prone to leakage, you can rest assured that ice won’t penetrate your metal roofs even if it lingers there for hours.
Besides, metal roofing sheets are designed with raised and vertically interlocking seams. This creates a watertight seal between the panels, preventing precipitation from leaking through the roofing system into your house.
5. Resist Wind Uplift
The past few years have seen a significant surge in wind gusts across the United States.
Even locations where hailstorms and tornadoes were previously unheard of now receive their fair share of these violent weather episodes.
Although metal panels are lighter than other common roofing materials like tiles and asphalt, they’re surprisingly resistant to wind uplift due to their interlocking seams.
Metal roofing can create a robust barrier against raging winds, with some able to withstand winds as fast as 140 miles per hour (mph).
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
6. Guard Against Rusting and Corrosion
Higher susceptibility to rusting and corrosion is perhaps the most commonly cited argument against installing metal roofs. But unknown to many homeowners, only steel rusts.
Even then, steel panels used for roofing often undergo additional treatments to protect them from rusting. Those include alloying, galvanizing, and painting.
It’s also exciting to know that steel isn’t the sole metal roofing material. In fact, its popularity has since been eclipsed by more anti-rust options like aluminum and copper.
If you opt for aluminum, ensure it’s anodized. Anodized aluminum is chemically treated to minimize corrosion, making it incredibly resilient against corrosive elements like salt and moisture.
7. Fire-Resistant Properties
The materials used for metal roofing are typically non-combustible, providing additional protection against fires. While metal roofing systems are relatively lighter, it takes considerable effort to set them ablaze.
Metal roofs are also engineered against ember intrusion.
Popular roofing metals, including steel, copper, and aluminum, don’t ignite easily. Coupled with their interlocking seams, an ember tossed onto the rooftop would extinguish long before it could penetrate the roof system.
To unlock the fire-resistant properties of metal roofs, insist on those with a Class A rating.
8. Don’t Dent Easily
Metal roofs’ smooth surface drains off ice and snow, preventing dangerous build-ups. However, the risks of denting are significantly low even if ice accumulates on your rooftop for hours.
Despite their light and sleek designs, metal panels are surprisingly robust. The sheets are engineered to maintain their structural integrity in the face of ice pressure or high-impact debris from strong winds.
As for fire resistance, consider metal roofs with a Class 4 rating.
Class 4 has the highest impact resistance rating available. It’s assigned to roofing material that can withstand hostile winds without ripping off or denting.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Braving Lincoln’s Unpredictable Weather With High-Quality Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are engineered with features that make them excellent for extreme weather, from their sheer strength, which enables them to withstand high impacts, to their smooth surfaces that accelerate snow run-off.
However, the efficiency of metal roofs depends on the material quality and installation.
Prioritize roofs that are fashioned from robust metals like steel, aluminum, and copper. Ensure the material is further reinforced against harsh weather through treatments like galvanization, anodizing, and painting.
More importantly, insist on having your metal roof installed by a skilled roofing technician. The contractor would ordinarily visit your property and conduct an extensive inspection before recommending the best roofing style.
To further cushion yourself from substandard workmanship, prioritize roofing contractors that offer a generous warranty.
