
A large storm producing a Tornado causing destruction. Illustration.
Investing in metal residential roofing is a smart choice for homeowners seeking both storm resistance and energy efficiency. Metal roofs are durable, reflect solar heat, lower cooling costs, and provide insulation against harsh weather conditions. Discover how metal residential roofing can safeguard your home and reduce energy expenses.
Topics we cover in this post:
- Introduction to Metal Residential Roofing
- Storm-Resistant Roof Characteristics
- Benefits of Metal Roof Installation
- Additional Advantages of Metal Residential Roofing
- Choose Prestige Roofing for Your Metal Residential Roof
If you could have the perfect roof for your dream home, what features and materials would it include? Let us know in the comments!
We’ve all seen the photos and videos of damaged homes after major weather events. Hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, hail, and heavy winds and rain pummel homes and cause major damage, even total destruction. And, the crazy weather seems to be happening more frequently. When homes do survive the storm, there’s often significant damage. The damage you see most often due to weather events is to the roof. And, quite often, roof failure can trigger damage or destruction of the home beneath it. This is why it’s important to have a well-built residential roof —one that not only stands up to the elements but also offers energy-efficient benefits. One such roofing option that excels in both durability and energy efficiency is metal residential roofing.
Roof Characteristics for Weathering the Storm
There are many roof types and roofing materials. Many are not designed to resist the severe weather that many parts of the country have seen in recent years. Home damage claims are in the billions of dollars, and rebuilding can be a long, slow process. More and more homeowners are choosing to replace their old roofs with metal roofing that is more storm-resistant and durable, reaping the benefits of residential metal roof installation.
There are a few things to know when looking to install storm-resistant residential metal roofing. In areas where hurricanes and other major weather events are common, the residential roof design and materials should be chosen to maximize the residential roof’s ability to withstand storm winds. And, selecting a knowledgeable and experienced roofer is key, as it means the residential metal roof will be properly installed to industry standards for the best performance in a storm. Here are some considerations when building a wind-resistant residential roof:
- Roof Shape: The best wind resistance is achieved with an aerodynamic design. This means fewer places where wind can get a hold and lift the roof up. An example is a square or multi-sided home where the roof slopes downward on all sides and only slightly overhangs the house on all sides. This type of roofing is called a hip roof and is preferable to a gabled residential roof, where there may be several protruding parts of the roof that could be uplifted by wind.
- Roof Slope: For wind resistance, a roof with should have a moderate and consistent pitch. A 30-degree pitch or less is usually recommended, allowing the roof to have a low enough slope for wind to pass over it.
- Minimize Eaves: Eaves and overhangs allow places for high winds to grab the roof and lift it from the home. It’s best to keep eaves at less than 20 inches from the walls of the home to optimize wind resistance.
- Minimize Openings: Vents, skylights, doors, and other openings give wind a chance to break open the roof, so these should be avoided or minimized when designing the roof.
- Strong Connections: The roof with metal residential roofing should be securely fastened to the rafters and walls of the home, using the right nails and other components. Roofs with weak connections allow one failure to then transfer to another area, leading to multiple sequential catastrophic failures that may allow the entire structure to break up.
- Roofing Materials: Roofing materials must generally be rated for wind resistance, so be sure to work with your roofer to identify materials that will best protect your home. Lightweight or easily lifted and separated roof materials are not ideal for wind-prone areas. Asphalt tiles break away easily and may be torn from the residential roof, exposing the layers below to the effects of the wind. Lower quality or poorly installed cement or clay tiles, while heavier, can be broken away and become dangerous projectiles. Metal residential roofing is a great choice as it is less likely to break up and be lifted away by the wind.
- Professional Installation: Choosing a qualified installer is a key factor in roof performance in severe weather. A professional roofer will help you select the best roof type for your local climate. He will use quality materials and components and use industry-standard practices during installation, making sure the roof is properly and securely attached to minimize wind damage and ensure a successful metal roof installation. And he will use a high-quality membrane and underlayment layer that is strongly attached to the home to help minimize leaks and damage to the home.
Metal Residential Roofing for Weather-Resistant Roofing
The many advantages of metal residential roofing make it a good choice in any location. In addition to their ability to reflect the sun’s UV rays in hot climates, metal residential roofs are also highly effective in handling wind, rain, hail, snow, and ice, making metal residential roofing a popular choice in storm-prone areas. Metal’s strength and durability play a role in its ability to withstand stormy weather. But other characteristics make metal residential roofing a great choice as well. Here are some metal roof benefits:
- Metal residential roofs meet wind resistance standards, handling winds up to 140 mph, so they meet local building code regulations in Florida and other storm-prone areas.
- Due to their strength, metal residential roofs, whether standing seam metal roofing, metal roofing panels, or metal shingles, resist damage from flying debris better than most other roof materials that may break or be crushed. Look for a roof with a Class 4 rating.
- Properly installed, interlocked metal roofing panels, tightly attached to the underlayment, will not leak. They can handle significant rainfall, shedding it rapidly from their surface. In severe storm areas, metal residential roofing may be tested to meet the TAS100 standard, which requires roofs to handle 8 inches of rain per hour.
- Metal residential roofs are lightweight. It may seem counterintuitive that a light roof would perform better in a storm, but the lighter roof has higher shear strength than a heavy roof. This means when it is hit with horizontal winds, it is less likely to shift its weight. When a heavy residential roof shifts, the home below is put under stress, buckles, and collapses.
- Metal residential roofing has Class A fire resistance and will protect your home in case of lightning-induced fires in the area. Metal roofs do not attract lightning and are designed so that, if struck, they conduct the electricity safely away from the structure and into the ground.
- Metal residential roofing will not be noisier than other kinds of roofing in a rainstorm if built with the proper underlayment and insulation.
- Metal residential roofing is known for its energy-efficient properties. It reflects solar heat, reducing cooling costs in hot weather and providing insulation to lower heat loss in winter.
- While metal roofing materials have a higher initial cost than alternatives like asphalt, cement, or clay tiles, they offer unique advantages. Metal roofs provide exceptional longevity, minimal maintenance, and enhanced property aesthetics, contributing to prolonged roof life and increased home market value.
Of course, metal residential roofs have many other good properties and aesthetics that are making them more popular these days. Metal residential roofs are strong and durable, lasting up to 100 years or more. They are fire-resistant and reflect the heat of the sun, keeping the home interior cooler on hot days. They require little maintenance. If replaced, they are fully recyclable so they are considered environmentally friendly. There are different metal roof types as well based on their respective metal roof materials. Zinc and copper roofs do not rust or corrode. Instead, they develop a beautiful and protective patina on the surface as they age, giving the home a timeless, classic look. Metal residential roofs come in many different designs and colors, so they are a beautiful addition to any home, creating curb appeal and adding value to the home.
Prestige Roofing Copper and Zinc Custom Metal Residential Roofing Specialists in Las Vegas
Prestige Roofing has been installing custom metal roofing in Las Vegas for over 25 years. Or metal roofing craftsmen create beautiful metal roofs as well as one of a kind features like arches, porticos, turrets, spires, rain gutters and downspouts, as well as interior and exterior walls and other features. A custom metal roof will protect your home for many decades. It is low maintenance, damage resistant and becomes more beautiful as it ages. And a custom residential metal roof will protect your home from high winds and rain. For a free estimate to see how a metal roof will fit with your project and help protect your home, give us a call at 702-646-7536.

Tom Romney has been working in the roofing industry for over 25 years. He is the co-founder of Prestige Roofing in North Las Vegas, providing luxury custom roofing services for homes and businesses in Southern Nevada, Utah and Arizona.