Metal Roofing in and around Charleston South Carolina

For those of you along the coast of South Carolina, a good metal roof is a fantastic option. Not only do you have the wind and rain, but you also have the South Carolina heat, albeit, not as bad as Columbia. 

There are a few things you want to look out for when choosing a metal roof if you live near the coast: 

1. Type of Metal:

   Don’t forget that steel will rust, just look around you. Read the warranties on steel metal roofing, which includes Galvalume. Most of the warranties, if not all of them, are void within a mile or so (depends on the manufacturer) of a marine atmosphere. Where in Charleston –considering the rivers and waterways and ocean– are you not within a mile of a marine atmosphere? There are much better options than steel: Aluminum or Copper to begin with. But if you look around you’ll see plenty of steel metal roofs, maybe even on your neighbor’s house. The question is why? If roofers know there are inherent problems with them, why do they keep installing them? For one of two reasons: Either a), they don’t know any better, which is scary in itself or b), because they are cheaper. They don’t inform the homeowner that there is are options out there that won’t rust away in the near future because they are afraid of losing the sale.

2. Fastening System:

3. Screw-Through Panels vs. Concealed Fasteners. Unfortunately, many of the roofs you see on houses now are nothing but glorified barn tin. Roofers tell homeowners that there is a lifetime warranty on the roof. And there may be on the metal itself, but not on the sytem –screws, grommets, etc… The panel may last for awhile, but it won’t do you a bit of good if, after 10 years, the fasteners have moved so much they are letting water in.

   The ONLY secure way to fasten a metal roof in South Carolina is with a concealed fastener; something not open to the humidity, heat and salt spray. But again, the reason there are so many screw-through panels being installed on houses is because they are the cheapest type of metal roofing available, and there will always be a market for cheap, crap material.

The question is this: What type of metal roof are you looking for? If you simply want a metal roof because you think all metal roofs are good then do a little more research into it. If you feel like you couldn’t afford a good metal roof, then you may want to stick with the asphalt shingles already on the house, save some more money, and in a few years buy the real thing. It will save you a ton of headaches down the road. 

Look into it. Don’t assume all metal roofing is created equal, because it isn’t. You don’t want to install a roof system that you think will last a lifetime and in a few years have to replace it. 

For further information on metal roofing and/or to talk with someone about looking at your project, click on the "Free Estimate" link on the right hand side.