8 Disadvantages of Aluminum Roofing Sheets You Should Know
Besides steel or zinc, aluminum is one of the types of metal roofs you can choose from. Not all metal roofs are created equal. Differences in material usage will have different properties and therefore different performance levels. In this article, we will analyze the disadvantages of aluminum roof Sheets.
Roofing suppliers will tout this major benefit of aluminum roofing, which is corrosion resistance. marvelous. However, as consumers, we should also be aware of other aspects of the material. This will provide a level of clarity and hopefully help guide your decision.
Disadvantages of Aluminum Roof Sheets:
1. Aluminum roof Sheets are much more expensive
Aluminum is considered a higher quality material than zinc or steel. This makes it more expensive in the metal roof market.
Installation costs are also much higher, as their durability is superior to that of roofing materials such as tile or asphalt shingles. It can be installed differently, so a trained roofer is required.
2. Aluminum roof Sheets may be noisy
A major problem with aluminum shingles and other types of metal roofs is noise when it rains. Every drop of heavy rain hits the drum like a drumstick.
During heavy rains, they create a chaotic drumming symphony that might be annoying to some. An additional layer of sound insulation can be installed just below the Aluminum roofing sheets to reduce noise.
3. Aluminum dents more easily
A characteristic of aluminum is that it is malleable. Ductility means it can be hammered into a shape without cracking or breaking. While this may sound like a good feature for aluminum Sheets, when it comes to protecting your house from severe weather, it probably isn’t.
Any heavy objects that fall on your aluminum roof, such as branches in a storm, will leave marks on the roof. Dent marks can affect the aesthetics of the roof. In addition, this reduces the efficiency of roof water flow.
4. Aluminum roof Sheets expand more when heated
This has a little more to do with science. So, bear with it!
Suppose there are two metal roofing materials, steel and aluminum. At the same temperature, aluminum expands about twice as much as steel. This is due to the metallic properties of aluminum itself. Nothing can change these properties.
This means that when the roof expands, there is a risk of damaging the aluminum roof sheet, or even tearing the nail holes, causing the roof to leak. That sounds like a terrible downside to aluminum roof Sheets.
But don’t worry! Times have changed!
Professionally trained roofers are able to properly install roof foundations and properly lay aluminum roof Sheets. Therefore, the expansion of the material in sunlight will not be a problem. On the downside, this will translate into more cost for the roof installation.
5. Roof repair costs can be higher for aluminum roof Sheets
Aluminium roof Sheets are fine, the Aluminum roofing sheets price
are arranged on top of each other. It’s not like shingles or asphalt shingles, where a cracked or damaged shingle can be easily replaced with a new one. The same goes for other types of metal roofs. Different materials may require different methods of securing a metal roof.
If it is damaged and needs to be replaced, the entire aluminum roof panel needs to be taken out and replaced with a new one. This is one of the common disadvantages of metal roofs. Therefore, roof repairs may not be as cheap as those shingle type roofs.
6. Oil canning will happen
Aluminum roof Sheets are prone to oil soaking. That’s the look of an uneven surface on a roof. At different times of the day, the roof appears to rise and fall. This look can be a little off-putting to homeowners.
The oil barrel phenomenon occurs due to the non-uniformity of the grinding process during sheet manufacturing. Other factors include improper handling of the aluminum roof Sheets during installation, and insufficient space for thermal expansion between the Sheets.
This can be overcome by using thicker roof sheets, using low gloss paint to reduce reflections, and choosing a skilled and experienced roofer to install your roof.
7. Improper installation of fasteners may cause roof leaks
Fasteners are the screws that hold the roof to the base plate or deck. Unfortunately, human error is one of the most common causes of fastener installation errors. These are potential open spots on the roof where rainwater can seep in.
Some common human errors in fastener installation are:
Eccentric Fasteners – Screws are driven into the roof panel at an angle. Therefore, the gasket cannot lay flat and effectively seal the hole.
Under-Driven Fasteners – This occurs when the screw is not driven to completely close the gap. When water flows, it can easily bypass the gasket fasteners and leak into the roof. This often happens when roof installers worry about over-tightening the screws.
Fasteners are over-tightened – This usually happens when roofing contractors over-tighten fasteners in an attempt to make it as waterproof as possible. However, this could crack or damage the washing machine.
The best way to avoid fastener problems is to choose a qualified, reputable roofing contractor to install your aluminum roofing Sheets for you. This will help reduce the possibility of roof leaks in the future.
There will also be a different approach when we talk about how to spot leaks in metal roofing compared to other roofing materials. But first, you can check the fasteners.
8. Susceptible to galvanic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion occurs when roofs of different metal types interact in the presence of an electrolyte (in this case rainwater). This will cause the deterioration of the roofing material to happen faster.
One metal will rust faster than the other, compromising the integrity of the roof. This is another important factor in choosing the right roofing contractor to install your house’s roofing system. Skilled contractors will choose the same metal material from roof Sheets to fasteners.
There’s a lot more to the roof than it looks. Understanding metal properties such as thermal expansion and galvanic corrosion is only part of a roofer’s job. This knowledge is very important to properly maintain a metal roof and ensure that your roof will last the expected lifespan.
