Metal shingles were predominantly used on houses with low slope roofs but now they are very popular with all kinds of roofs. The versatility of metal roof shingles is such that they can be made to look like asphalt shingles, tiles or wood shakes. Highly weather resistant, metal roofing is considered extremely strong.

Residential metal roofing is made to be fire resistant and lightweight. A metal roof is flexible enough to be made into any design, style or color that you might choose to have. Metal roofs can be made from metal alloys of tin and zinc, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, galvalume steel etc. Metal roof coatings are made of zinc-phosphate combination. A residential metal roof can be of any color and comes with a permanent color warranty.

Metal roofing materials used depends on the particular environmental conditions of the place you reside in. For instance, in a metal roof installation, stainless steel shingles would weigh far less than others. Metal can easily be cut with metal roofing shears.

Metal roofing shingles that are constructed of zinc and aluminum alloy and these are usually not painted and these are used mostly for coastal area homes. Tin metal roofs are painted once in about eight years. Metal shingles are advantageous in many ways. The initial cost of metal roofing compared to other types is higher but the advantages far outweigh the cost factor. The resale value of your home goes up, and there are substantial energy savings.
Since most metal roofs come with something like a fifty year metal and labor warranty, you can practically have it installed and forget about it – in other words, hardly any maintenance costs. Metal roofs are resistant to extreme weather conditions like strong winds, fires, earthquakes and other disastrous events. Metals don’t corrode and pests can’t eat at the material.

Another kind of metal roofing is the standing seam metal roof, which is fabricated at the installation site. A standing seam roof is made of several panels interlocked with each other. These roofs are available in customized shapes and sizes. You also get standing seam metal shingles that look impressive when installed.

Metal shingles can be easily recycled. There is so much choice available with metal roofing products that there is something for every taste. Metal roofs can also bring down your energy bills. By installing an energy star rated metal roof, you can claim government tax credits.