Metal Roof Electricity

One way to reduce your electricity bill is to consider replacing your old tile or asphalt roof with a new metal roof.

Metal roof electricity.

Metal conducts electricity but when you are dealing with a full roof a lightning strike would ground out through the rest of the structure without causing damage or harm to the interior. There is a perception or at least a suspicion that a metal roof will increase the likelihood of lightning striking the building. The federal government even offers a 30. A study funded by the u s.

After all metal is highly conductive just like the materials used in lightning rods that are used to attract lightning strikes so doesn t it stand to reason that the metal roof will attract lightning too. Metal roofs on the other hand reflect the sun s heat away from a building leading to energy savings of about 50 percent and they can be about 100 degrees cooler on the surface than traditional asphalt roofs source. The misconception that metal roofs attract lightning is probably because metal itself is known as a good conductor of electricity and people therefore assume that a metal roof must attract lightning. Yes metal roofing will save on electric especially in hot climates.

The reflective nature of metal allows makes of the sun s heat to bounce off rather than be absorbed called reflective metal roofing. In reality when lightning strikes it is seeking a path to ground and almost always will strike whatever object is highest in the area that also has a direct path to ground. Some metal shingles interlock with the shingles both above and below creating a roof that is very strong against high winds. Installing solar panels on interlocking metal shingles requires a waterproof membrane which quickmount calls an underpan placed directly on the sublayer of the roof underneath all the shingles.

Soaring energy costs have caused many consumers to make home improvements that increase their home s ability to save energy and in turn save them money. Old style roofs tend to absorb the sun s rays causing your air conditioner to work harder in order to maintain a nice cool temperature in your home. It has been observed that installing a metal roof makes building owners think more about lightning and the dangers of lightning strikes. Installation of mechanical electrical or other roof mounted equipment should be avoided but if it is necessary the equipment should be supported by factory fabricated fully welded insulated metal roof curbs finished to match roof panels in color and type of finish pvf free to float with roof panels and supported underneath with structural framing with no connection between the roof curb and structural supports.

A shingle roof also weakens and curls over time making it less of a full proof barrier for the effects of rain wind and other environmental forces and necessitating roof maintenance and earlier replacement. The answer has to do partially with how the roof is installed. The lighter the color the better but even darker colors will be better than shingles. The short answer is no you don t have to ground a metal roof and you will incur no additional risk if you don t ground it in most circumstances.

The most durable but costly option is to have a metal roof installed. Metal roofs and lighting.